5 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Fertilizer for Your Lawn

Fertilization is considered by many the key to healthy grass. Fast growth and intense green colors can be achieved through properly applied fertilizers. The five points touched on below can help you to select the right fertilizer for your lawn.

Use Grass Fertilizer

Selecting the right fertilizer for your yard can be difficult due to the vast selection available at most stores. A simple step to using the right fertilizer is to select one that is made to work on grass. All products will list the levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contained within them. This is referred to as the NPK rating and it varies between products designed for grasses and those designed for shrubs and flowers.

Consider The Amount Of Applications Needed

Fertilizer products are designed to function in various ways. General fertilizers release their contents normally and could require you to apply it every other month or even more often. On the other hand, slow release products take longer to break down and may only need to be applied in the spring and in the fall during the year.

What Type Of Grass Do You Have?

Each species of grass has unique characteristics that may require special considerations. Warm weather species such as Bermuda and SAt. Augustine grows fast and may need more nutrients. Cool weather species like Kentucky Blue Grass may actually become dormant during parts of the summer growing season. With these types of grasses, you will want to consider fertilizing less or using a slow release variety of fertilizer.

Types Of Fertilizer

The main types of products available are granular, liquid, and organic. Liquid products act quickly and are designed for fast growth and colorization. Granular varieties will offer you more control of the feeding process as they take more time to break down and results are more gradual. In recent years, a resurgence of commercial and home organic recipes have been developed for homeowners wanting to use non-chemical fertilization.

Fertilizer Considerations Before Reseeding

If you plan to reseed your lawn during the upcoming growing season, you may want to avoid certain types of products. Many popular brands of fertilizer not only supply nutrients to the grass, but they also help to eliminate or inhibit weeds. Unfortunately, these types of products can negatively affect grass seed and should be avoided during reseeding seasons.

Building A Healthy Yard

Taking into consideration these things, you should be able to find a product and method that suits both your grass as well as your lifestyle. Finding the right fertilizer makes application easier and more enjoyable. It can also help keep your thumb and yard green!