Fertilizing your lawn is an important part of keeping it healthy, but it’s not something that should be taken lightly. You’ll have to choose the right time to fertilize and use the proper product for your particular lawn type.
In this article, we’ll go over all the different aspects of fertilizing so you can make sure your lawn is fed correctly and not just during springtime!
Understand Local Laws And Regulations Before Fertilizing
Research local laws and regulations before you begin. You should also check to see if there are restrictions on the type of fertilizer you can use, as well as how much of it is allowed.
Know When To Apply Fertilizer
This is one of the trickiest parts of home lawn care. The best time to apply fertilizer is when it’s warm enough for the grass to absorb it, but not so hot that it burns them or when it will be dormant. Generally speaking, this means applying in late spring or early summer.
Fertilizing in winter can be effective because there are no weeds growing yet and your soil should be dry enough for easy application.
However, if you have healthy plants already established in your yard, applying fertilizer at this time will likely cause burning damage from too much nitrogen being absorbed by your existing plants.
This is why we recommend waiting until after the fall season ends before fertilizing again; so you don’t burn out all of your nutrients before spring arrives!
Adjust Your Fertilizer Plan Based On Your Location
Before you begin, it’s important to know that the location of your lawn can make a big difference in what nutrients it needs.
Lawns in hot and dry climates will require more nitrogen than those under cooler conditions, for example.
If you’re unsure about what types of fertilizer are best for your area, consider having a soil test conducted (typically by a local university extension office). The results from this test will help determine which types of feeders and how much fertilizer is appropriate for your lawn.
Another thing to keep in mind is that different types of grasses have different nutritional requirements—and even within one species there might be differences based on variety or seasonality.
In general terms: cool-season turfgrasses (such as tall fescue) do not need much spring fertilization; warm-season turfgrasses (such as Bermuda grass) benefit from regular applications; cool-season bermudagrass benefits from an early spring application followed by another application when annual growth resumes after summer dormancy; warm-season bermudagrass requires only one application per year during its active growing period.
Apply Fertilizer Evenly Across Your Lawn
Using a spreader, apply fertilizer in small doses in several directions. Smaller applications of fertilizer will allow the nutrients to be spread out more evenly and reached with greater precision than one large application.
If you over-apply, it may be harmful to your grass or other plants. You can also use a broadcast spreader to apply dry fertilizers as well as seeds and seedlings for new lawns, but this method should only be used on established quality turfgrass such as Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass (see below).
Water In The Fertilizer To A Depth Of 4 Inches
If you’re using a granular fertilizer, water it in to a depth of 4 inches. This will ensure that the fertilizer is wet enough to work effectively.
You can tell whether or not your soil is moist enough by using your finger or a trowel to dig into the ground about 6 inches from where you’ll be applying the fertilizer. If it’s wet, you’ll be able to feel moisture at that level; if not, let more water soak in until it does.
Avoid over-watering your lawn as well—too much can wash away excess nutrients and kill off young roots before they have time to take hold and grow properly.
Know How Much Fertilizer To Use
Deciding how much fertilizer to use is one of the most important decisions in this process. You can find out exactly how much you need with a fertilizer calculator, which will give you the recommended amount based on your lawn’s size and type.
Alternatively, bring your questions about proper application to your local lawn care professional or ask at a local nursery or garden center—they’ll be able to help with this too!
Choose The Right Type Of Fertilizer
Select the right type of fertilizer. The three main types of lawn fertilizers are nitrogen-based, phosphorus-based and potassium-based.
Choose a fertilizer with a complete nutrient blend that contains all the major nutrients your grass needs to grow healthy and green. The most common ratios are 10:10:10 (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium), 12:12:8 (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium) and 16:16:8 (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium).
If Possible, Apply Slow-Release Nitrogen
If possible, apply slow-release nitrogen. Slow-release nitrogen is more effective and less likely to burn your lawn than quick-release forms of nitrogen. It’s also safer for pets and the environment, and less expensive over time.
Feed Your Lawn With Compost
Compost is a great way to fertilize your lawn.
Compost is organic matter that has decomposed. It can be made from many different things, such as leaves and grass clippings, wood chips, food waste (like vegetable peels), manure or even coffee grounds.
Compost is a good source of nutrients for your lawn because it contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium—all three are essential for healthy growth. As the compost breaks down into smaller pieces, these nutrients are released into the soil where they’re readily available to plants like grasses!
Composting also improves soil quality by adding microorganisms called mycorrhizae which help plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil better than they could otherwise do on their own.
Avoid Applying Too Much Fertilizer
It’s important to avoid over-fertilizing your lawn. If you apply too much fertilizer, it can cause an imbalance in the soil that promotes disease and plant death.
To avoid this issue, make sure you don’t apply more than twice the recommended amount of fertilizer for your grass type and soil condition.
Also, avoid applying it on windy days or rainy days (the wind can blow excess fertilizer into other areas). And never apply fertilizer in the evening or morning (this will increase its chances of being blown around).
Fertilize Your Lawn According To Its Needs
By fertilizing your lawn according to its needs, you’ll be able to:
Fertilize in the fall. When fall arrives, the grass is growing and producing new roots that will help it survive the winter.
In addition, because it’s colder outside, there’s less competition from weeds and other plants, so your fertilizer will be more effective than if you did it earlier in the year.
Fertilize in the spring. With warmer weather approaching on the horizon after a long winter, your lawn will start growing again in earnest once temperatures start to warm up and any time spent not being used by your lawn will go towards developing weeds instead of grass or other plant life!
So make sure that before those pesky weeds can take over again (which they will), get out there with some fertilizer so your grass gets enough nutrients until summer rolls around again when it can do most of its growing itself without having extra help from an outside source like us humans who tend our yards now and then too!
Use Turf-Specific Products To Make Sure You Get The Right Nutrients For Your Lawn Type
The best way to fertilize your lawn is by using a fertilizer that’s been specially formulated for turf. These types of products are designed to provide the right nutrients for your specific type of grass and soil, and they can be more expensive than general fertilizer.
If you’re not sure which type of fertilizer you should use, consult a professional or visit the website of a local nursery or garden center that specializes in lawn care.
If your yard has nutrient deficiencies like magnesium deficiency, nitrogen deficiency or potassium deficiency (or any combination thereof), applying a turf-specific product may help correct these issues.
Turf-specific products contain lower amounts of phosphorus than other fertilizers do, as well as higher amounts of micronutrients like zinc and iron because these elements are essential for healthy plant growth but tend to leach out over time if not replenished by human intervention and many people find them easier to apply since they often come in granular form that’s easier on equipment such as mowers than liquid fertilizers can be.,
Conclusion
If you’re new to fertilizer, consult with a professional before applying any kind of fertilizer. They can help you choose the right product for your lawn and determine whether or not it needs to be applied every time you mow. Otherwise, follow these basic guidelines:
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to help you with your home-maintenance needs. Whether it’s building a better yard or just trying to fix a garden—I can show you how.
