It that time of year when your neighbors lawn starts greening up and you wonder to yourself… why can’t my lawn look like that? Well, the answer is… you can! There are a few things your lawn needs to look it’s best. These include:
- Water;
- Oxygen (aeration);
- Regular Mowing; and
- Food
Today we’re going to talk about food.
Lawn is like a teenage boy, it always hungry… for nutrients! And the nutrient that is most lacking in the soil… and the one required to make your grass lush and green… is nitrogen.
When you go to your local home improvement store you are going to see many different makers of lawn fertilizer. Which one is better? Well… I can tell you that I’ve used several different brands and I have always been more or less happy with the results… that is, a green lawn.
Most soils are lacking in the nitrogen needed for a lush green lawn. There are three numbers on bags on lawn fertilizer. The numbers are usually on the front of the package in big bold numbers. But sometimes you might have to look a little more closely.
This first number is the percentage of nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes healthy shoot growth and is what makes your lawn nice and green! It is easily flushed from the soil by your irrigation water which is why it needs to be added regularly.
The second number is phosphorous which promotes strong root growth. It is not easily flushed from the soil so it is typically found only in small quantities in commercial fertilizers.
The third number is potassium and is the second most important nutrient for your lawn. Potassium strengthens your lawn against disease and helps it stand up to wear and tear. It is just as important as nitrogen and is easily flushed from the soil as well. But unlike nitrogen, potassium is supplied in a considerable amount through the soil so they do not need to add as much to commercial fertilizer.
Personally, I like to use a “Weed and Feed” type fertilizer. I have found that they do a great job of cutting down on the weeds I find in my lawn… such as dandelions.
Read the instructions on the package for application rates and time of feeding, etc.
For cool-season grasses that grow actively in the cool weather of spring and fall you will want to fertilize in the spring and fall. For warm-season grasses that grow actively in the warm summer months you will want to fertilize throughout the growing season.
Here a little trick I’ve discovered with my own lawn: If you want your lawn to be one of the first to green up in the spring, put down an application of fertilizer late in the growing season. I’ve found that it really helps come spring!
Tomorrow: Aeration… does it really help?
