| Just as you need food to survive, so does your lawn. | | | | needs. First, is your soil hard, soft, or somewhere in |
| There are, in fact, sixteen needed elements for a | | | | between? Does it have a high or low pH level |
| lawn to survive and thrive in green glory. Most of | | | | (acidity)? You can test this with simple test strips |
| these elements are a part of nature and need little | | | | available from any garden store. The three major |
| from you to help your lawn's success. Others, | | | | kinds of fertilizer are spread in different ways and will |
| however, definitely need your attention and should | | | | work best in different conditions as well. So if you |
| be attended to. | | | | choose pellets, sprays (liquids), or synthetics vs. |
| Don't dash out to the store just yet to get a | | | | naturals, you'll need to know how you're going to get |
| complete fertilizer kit and a thousand dollars worth of | | | | it onto the soil underneath the grass. |
| stuff you probably won't need. First, let's get to | | | | Once you have a result from a pH test or know |
| know your lawn and why it needs these things and | | | | what your soil needs, it's time to pick a fertilizer to |
| how you can provide them for it. | | | | match. |
| Nitrogen is one of the most talked about and least | | | | Granular (spread) fertilizers are the most popular |
| understood element in lawn care. Everyone knows | | | | because they're so easy to use. If you choose this |
| what nitrogen is and that plants need it, but that's | | | | method, you should be aware of a couple of things. |
| about the extent of their knowledge. Just because a | | | | First, they work better with short grass so the |
| fertilizer or spray has nitrogen in it doesn't mean it's | | | | fertilizer can get right to the soil. Second, they should |
| getting to your lawn in the way your lawn needs it. | | | | be spread in the evening so they have time to settle |
| Did you know that nitrogen is what gives grass it's | | | | in under the grass blades (this prevents "fertilizer |
| green color? It also naturally helps fight off pests and | | | | burn"). Make sure it's spread evenly on the lawn and |
| bugs. Nitrogen is absorbed through the root system, | | | | that you don't water for at least a day. This allows |
| not the atmosphere, so spraying it on your lawn | | | | the granules to settle in and do their thing. It also |
| doesn't always have the desired effect. | | | | allows the natural moisture of the grass to work on |
| Potassium and Phosphorus are often overlooked | | | | the grains and loosen them up. Watering right off |
| outside of our health food diets. Since you can't feed | | | | may wash away much of the nutrients before they |
| your lawn bananas and milk is too expensive to be | | | | can absorb into the soil. |
| pouring onto your grass, you need a way to transmit | | | | Liquid fertilizers are harder to spread, but usually |
| these two important ingredients to your lawn. Lucky | | | | much more beneficial to your lawn thus they are |
| for us, a huge portion of most fertilizers is these two | | | | highly recommended by many lawn care advice |
| ingredients. These are natural "leechers," so they get | | | | references. Spray them liberally, early in the morning |
| into the soil readily if introduced correctly. | | | | or later in the evening, so they can soak in before |
| Beware of the cheaper fertilizers as they'll often | | | | the sun gets to work on them. It won't take long, |
| have a bad mix of these three ingredients, along with | | | | though, so burn isn't as much of an issue here. Over |
| a few other things for good measure. The | | | | doing it is, however, so don't soak the lawn down, |
| measurement of how much of each is in a fertilizer | | | | just get it sprayed well. Follow the directions on the |
| will usually be given as three numbers, separated by | | | | mix. |
| dashes (e.g. 30-10-10). That's the percentage of each | | | | Synthetic or naturals is a choice you'll have to make |
| of the three elements, in the order they're listed | | | | as well. Natural fertilizers are easier on the |
| here. So "30-10-10" means 30% nitrogen, 10% | | | | environment and possibly your pets and children, but |
| phosphorus and 10% potassium, with the balance | | | | can have an odor and may not be as easily applied. |
| made up of other materials. | | | | Synthetics are faster and usually cheaper, but not |
| This can be a quick guide to what the fertilizer will be | | | | always better either. |
| good for; example: heavier on the potassium is a | | | | Whatever you choose, fertilizing your lawn and |
| good winterizing blend for colder climates. | | | | knowing its needs to thrive will make for a greener, |
| Before you can choose and spread a fertilizer, you'll | | | | healthier, more beautiful lawn overall! |
| need to know a few things about your soil and its | | | | |