Everyone
wants the nicest looking lawn on the block. It’s just human nature.
Understanding the need for and
effects of a well-planned fertilizer program is the first step in
not only keeping up with but actually making the Joneses jealous. Of
course you can always have a lawn service apply your fertilizer
program but for a significant cost savings (and most likely better
results) you can easily do the job yourself. Here’s what you need to
know to effectively feed and protect your lawn all year long.
Why?
Every time we mow our lawns, we remove part of the plant causing it
to work harder and grow a new shoot. He most important thing you can
do for a growing lawn is to feed it with the proper nutrition.
Regular fertilizing also strengthens grass, helping protect it from
heat, drought, insects and diseases. Furthermore, the best way to
prevent weeds is with a well-fed, thick and healthy lawn.
This discussion will center on
chemical fertilizers because they’re much more commonly used, but
there are also effective natural methods for keeping your lawn
healthy throughout the year. If you are interested in a natural
fertilizing program, consult your local garden center and research
various methods. Most natural fertilizers have distinct benefits and
over-fertilizing is not an issue. The biggest drawbacks to natural
methods are their release can be dramatically affected by weather
and they’re much slower acting than chemicals.
When?
Most lawns require four to five feedings each year, beginning with
your first mow and ending when your grass is finished growing for
the year. Here’s a basic feeding timeline:
Early spring
(February to April) – A spring feeding strengthens roots and helps kick off a good
growing season. This is also the time to apply a pre-emergent
crabgrass control, which can usually be found in combination with
fertilizer for a one-step application.
Late spring/early
summer (May to June) – This is the big
growth season for your lawn and also when broadleaf weeds are
actively growing. Your best bet this time of year is a fertilizer
mix with broadleaf weed control. Be sure to apply it to a damp lawn
(onto morning dew is ideal) and allow at least two days with no rain
after application.
Late summer
(July to August) – Your heat-stressed grass that’s
been subject to running kids and dogs does not need a lot of
fertilizer but an application will certainly help the recovery
process. Be careful not to fertilize when temperatures are above
90°F.
Early fall
(September to October) – Since fall is the
best time to seed a lawn, it makes sense it’s also most important
time to fertilize your lawn with the nutrients it needs to recover
from the summer, especially if you skipped the mid-summer
application.
Late
fall/early winter (November to December) – This will be the last time your lawn is fed before the winter months and the appropriate fertilizer will
strengthen roots and increase nitrogen storage to give your lawn a
head start in the spring.
What?
There are two basic types of lawn fertilizer, soluble and
controlled release. As mentioned before, we’re concentrating on
synthetics or chemical fertilizers, although many natural methods
are also available.
Soluble synthetic fertilizers are
produced by chemical reaction, from organic or inorganic materials.
They quickly release nutrients into the soil and deliver a fast
green up. Because they don’t depend on microbes, like natural
fertilizers, they’re readily available, delivering at critical time
periods with precise and known effects. These fertilizers do require
more frequent feedings, even as many as six throughout the year and
have the capability to burn your lawn if applied incorrectly.
Controlled-release fertilizers are
sometimes called timed-release or slow-release and combine some
characteristics of natural and synthetic fertilizers. Some contain
nitrogen as part of a complex compound that breaks down slowly in
soil while others are actually coated pellets that release each time
they get wet, introducing small amounts of nutrients into the soil.
Be sure to talk to a lawn care
specialist at your local garden center to make sure you’re using the
correct fertilizer formulation for your location.
How?
The final step in fertilizing, after you’ve chosen the day
and type of fertilizer, is application. If you plan on continuing to
fertilize your lawn on a regular basis, you’ll want to buy a
spreader. There are many makes and models available but the basic
choice is if you want a rotary-style or drop spreader. Choose a drop
spreader if you have a very small lawn or wish to apply your
fertilizer very precisely, although it will take some time. Rotary
spreaders literally throw the fertilizer in a swath of several feet,
getting the job done much more quickly. One consideration is how
many flowerbeds you have in your lawn. If your yard is “crowded”
consider a drop spreader to avoid overfertilizing garden beds.
Everyone has their own pattern for
spreading fertilizer but the experts say to make header strips at
each end of the lawn and to go back and forth shutting off the
spreader and turning around after each row. Watch the spread of your
fertilizer and adjust aisle widths accordingly.
What next?
Many people overseed their lawns every year, simply spreading
a light layer of grass seed over their entire lawn before winter to
help fill in any bare spots in spring. This is a good idea that will
only help keep your lawn healthy and full. Grub control is another
issue for homeowners in some areas, but that’s an entire topic of
its own. If you notice sections of your lawn dead, gone or peeled
back, chances are you have grubs. The best way to check is to
tightly grab a section of turf near the damaged area and pull it
straight up. If it comes up easily (like a toupee) grubs have
sheared off the roots and you need to treat with a grub control
product immediately. Another common lawn problem is moss, which can
be easily treated with powdered or palletized lime. For help with
these and other problems, contact your local garden center as soon
as you detect a problem.
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