Everyone knows a beautiful home is framed by a gorgeous green lawn.
Homeowners want their lawns to look attractive, but keeping the grass green and lush is challenging. Fertilization is important for the beauty of a lawn.
Without it, lawns can have a patchy growth that does not hold up well to summer’s heat or winter’s chill.
With this comprehensive guide to lawn fertilization, homeowners can learn how to take care of their lawns and feed them the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
First, homeowners need to understand the types of fertilizer and what those numbers mean on the bags.
On each bag of fertilizer, there are three bold numbers, and many people feel confused trying to figure out what they mean.
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- The first number is how much nitrogen is in the fertilizer mixture.
- The second number indicates the percentage of phosphorous.
- The third number on the bag represents potassium.
For instance, a 50-pound bag of fertilizer may have the numbers, 10-10-10. These numbers mean the bag contains 5 pounds of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
The rest of the bag contains additions like limestone or sand, which act as fillers for delivering the fertilizer to the grass.
Some fertilizer blends may contain other beneficial ingredients that promote healthy grass growth.
There are also release rates that need to be understood.
In the world of fertilizer options, there are only two release rates-slow and fast. Fast-release fertilizer is usually water soluble and delivers the nutrients to the grass roots immediately.
Slow-release fertilizer slowly releases into the grass, offering ongoing nutrients to keep grass growing at a steady rate and staying green.
Most lawn care professionals recommend homeowners use slow-release fertilizer, especially if they plan on fertilizing their lawns themselves. Fast-release fertilizer must be used with caution because it can easily burn a lawn if not applied carefully.
Homeowners need to choose between organic and inorganic fertilizer.
Organic means the ingredients in the fertilizer have not been overly processed. Inorganic fertilizer simply means the mixture is made of synthetic materials. Some homeowners prefer organic fertilizer, but inorganic is beneficial too.
The final choice is between liquid and granule fertilizer. There are pros and cons to both of these types.
Granular Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Overall, this fertilizer is cheaper to buy in bulk.
- If stored appropriately, this fertilizer stores for longer.
- Granular fertilizer only needs to be applied once or twice a year.
- This fertilizer is easy to use.
Cons:
- Granular fertilizer can burn the grass if applied too heavily.
- This fertilizer is challenging to apply evenly.
- The fertilizer is not absorbed quickly.
Liquid Pros & Cons
Pros:
- This type of fertilizer is easy to apply for beginners because it usually doesn’t burn the grass.
- Homeowners can blend this fertilizer with other liquid nutrients and products.
- The nutrients are available much faster to the grass.
- The coverage is more consistent.
Cons:
- Liquid is usually more expensive than granular.
- This fertilizer must be applied much more frequently than granular.
- The application of this fertilizer depends on the weather.
Once homeowners decide on the right fertilizer, they should create a schedule. When using a granular fertilizer, apply two to six times during the year.
Liquid fertilizer should be applied to the lawn every two to four weeks. Homeowners should never fertilize their lawns during the dormant stages.
Only fertilize during active growth phases. Homeowners also need to realize they may not need to fertilize their lawns if they leave grass clippings in place.
These clippings are full of nutrients that feed the grass. Fertilize only when not grasscycling.
One of the most difficult steps involved in fertilizing a lawn is getting into a schedule.
Busy lives make fertilizing more of a chore than it should be. Before they realize, homeowners find themselves late in getting their lawns fertilized.
Having a proper schedule is important for keeping up with the nutritional needs of a lawn. Many people schedule their lawn care fertilization via an online app.
Busy homeowners frequently rely on professionals to help them keep their lawns fertilized.
One of the mistakes homeowners make is throwing fertilizer all over their lawns with abandon.
Understanding the amount of fertilizer necessary begins with knowing the size of the lawn.
It is important to apply light fertilizer over heavy applications to help give the grass the nutrients it needs throughout the growing season. With regular applications, anyone can have a beautiful lawn.
If a homeowner finds it cumbersome to keep with a fertilizer schedule, they should consider hiring a professional lawncare company to feed their lawns without having to worry about the stress involved in getting out the bags of fertilizer and walking the yard.
A consistent schedule will bring beautifully green results.