Fertilizer is an essential component of a lush, green lawn. As a result, the vast majority of homeowners do not fertilize their lawns because they lack the knowledge to do so. In addition, lawn fertilizer can actually do more harm than good if it is not applied correctly.
So we asked Jeff Turnbull, president of LCS Lawn Service in the Twin Cities, for advice on how to properly fertilize a lawn. Here are his nine easy-to-follow rules for fertilizing lawns, which you can find on his website.
Check the Temperature of Your Soil
Fungicides work best when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit, not air temperatures. When the soil reaches a temperature of 55 degrees, the lilacs will bloom and the grass will begin to grow.
Check the soil temperature at any time by purchasing a soil thermometer. The first application of lawn fertilizer should be made around mid-April in most areas of the country. Mark that date on your calendar if you haven’t started yet.
Know Your Statistics
On the label of fertilizer, you will see three numbers. Nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium are the three most important nutrients for your lawn, and these percentages represent how much of each you need. As a result, a 20-5-10 bag contains 20% nitrogen, 5% phosphate, and 10% potassium. The rest of the bag is usually filled with filler material to ensure an even distribution of the fertilizer. In addition, a basic spring lawn fertilizer mix is a 20-5-10 fertilizer.
Slow-Release Fertilizer
The nutrients in slow-release lawn fertilizers are degraded over a longer period of time, allowing you to space out application intervals. It’s possible to feed your lawn every six to eight weeks instead of four with slow-release fertilizers, according to Turnbull. You’ll save time and money this way.
Slow-release nitrogen, but not too much. “One tenth of a pound of nitrogen is all that is needed on a lawn each week. That’s the greenest grass I’ve ever seen. If you use more, the grass will only grow faster, requiring you to mow it more frequently “Turnbull clarifies the situation. “Getting it as green as possible without having it grow rapidly is the key to success here.
Nitrogen should be applied to your lawn every other week for the entire growing season,” says Turnbull.
One pound of nitrogen can be obtained by using 25-0-4 fertilizer. For a period of four weeks, that equates to a quarter-pound of nitrogen per week “Says Malcolm Turnbull. In other words, “you’re no longer mowing a lawn; you’re now baling hay.”
Go with Granules
It’s common for landscapers to arrive in a tanker truck and spray your entire lawn in a short period of time when applying fertilizer. Those who work in the industry on a daily basis, on the other hand, are well-versed in how to account for wind and ensure an even distribution of coverage across the yard. With the proper tools and training, they’ll do a great job! Granules, on the other hand, are ideal for homeowners because they are easy to apply with a spreader (see tip No. 7).
Turnbull says that “grainular fertilizer is very easy to apply precisely.” A consistent, even application of fertilizer is difficult for a homeowner to achieve when using a hose to apply it.
Starting in April, we’ll submit five applications.
As previously stated, Turnbull advises giving your lawn its first fertilizer feeding in the spring when the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is usually in the middle to late April in most regions. In addition to a soil thermometer or the blooming of lilacs, your local university extension office can tell you the soil temperature in your area.
The second feeding will be applied four weeks after the first, around the middle of May. Continue fertilizing every six to eight weeks until the end of October, at which point you should stop. Instead of traditional lawn fertilizer, use an organic material like manure for the third feeding.
Also, don’t forget about fall feeding, which is crucial. “Grass grows all year long, even in the fall. Fertilizer is required because the roots are penetrating the soil deeply “Turnbull claims. For the entire year, fertilizer should be applied at this time. Using a fall fertilizer with more phosphorous and potassium will help improve root development.
