How often should you fertilize your lawn?

Generally speaking, you need 55 degrees Fahrenheit temperature around the yard to start fertilizing. So, depending upon the place you are based, you will decide the timing and frequency of fertilization. However, on average, the months of March and April are the best time to fertilize your lawn. It is always a good idea to have watered your lawn before applying your chosen fertilizer.

How do you know about the frequency of Fertilization?

If you are fertilizing too little, you cannot provide the required level of nutrients it needs. Even if you apply the fertilizer, it can become yellow and brittle. If you use excessive fertilizer, it can lead to burning the blades. As said above, fertilizing twice is always a good idea for lawn owners. 

The best time to apply is during the early spring and fall seasons. However, this would depend more on any lawn you have. Some people consider fertilizing four times a year. These people opt for the timing during Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Halloween. If you are using synthetic fertilizer, you have the choice of applying it for 8 to 10 weeks. 

However, once you find the temperature reaching its peak during the summer, it is always a good idea to avoid the fertilization process. Also, the bad time for fertilization is when you consider it during the grass growing season. So, depending upon the grass and plant’s growth schedule, the application of fertilization is worked out.

When to Apply Fertilizer? 

The timing and frequency of the fertilization depend upon the types of grass you have in your yard. Generally, we have two types of grass – warm-season and cool-season grasses. Let us check when these common types of grass need fertilizer. 

• Warm-Season Grasses – These are often found in the southern states and mostly considered during the summer season. The grasses in this category include Zoysiagrass, Carpetgrass, Bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass. When it comes to finding the right moment to fertilize them, it all starts during the late spring season when the grass turns lush green. You can even fertilize the grass during the summer season. However, you should avoid fertilizing during the fall season. Fertilizing it too late in the year can weaken the grass during winter when it is dormant. 
• Cool-Season Grasses – These grasses, including bentgrass, ryegrass, fescue grass and Kentucky bluegrass, grow primarily during spring. Hence you have the option to fertilize when the grass is actively growing and especially when you intend to mow it. When you see the temperature dropping during the fall season, it is always a good idea to wait till the first week of May and then fertilize these grasses. Choosing this time will reduce the risk of grass burns due to chemical use. However, you should fertilize it for around six weeks before the winter season. Carrying out the fertilization late during the fall can weaken the lawn.  

Once you know when to apply the fertilizer to your lawn, choosing the right day is vital. It is always good to fertilize the lawn once you have received a good downpour or have watered your yard properly. However, you can always use slow-release fertilizer that offers good nutrition in the long run for better results. Once you apply it, gently water the yard as this can prevent washing away the fertilizer without actually leaving the soil.

Things you do After Your First Use of Lawn Fertilizer

Once you apply fertilizer, you have to keep a few tips in mind. Have a look: 

• Avoid using the lawn for at least 24 hours after the fertilization process. Keep away the kids and pets from the grass till you find things dry, and once you find the soil has absorbed fertilizers. 
• Avoid mowing for at least two days. The reason is simple: it can hamper the setting of fertilization.

These are basic things to keep in mind once you apply the fertilizer. 

Applying Fertilizer When Grass Is Growing

The best time to fertilize your lawn is when you have your turf active during the growing phase. It is the crucial reason you have to identify the kind of grass you have. However, it would help if you avoided the excessive supply of fertilizer. It will not help your lawn in any way.

When you apply your chosen fertilizer at this stage, you only support the natural growth cycle of the grass. It can help in maintaining the cool-season or warm-season grasses. Also, you are not allowing the grass to grow in a balance by demanding it to grow in an excessive quantity. Applying fertilizer helps you gain a strong root that helps sustain itself in a significant way.

Types of Fertilizer you should use in your yard 

When choosing fertilizer for your yard, you can choose between organic or inorganic and granular or liquid fertilizer. 

• Liquid – These are quick and effective but, at the same time, difficult to spread on the surface. These are used mainly by professionals who have backpack sprayers to spray large areas with fertilizer.
• Granular – These are very simple to spread on the yard’s surface and prove the best choice for home gardening. 
• Organic – These fertilizers are used for simple lawns for animals and plants and fall under the slow-release type. It helps in keeping the effect last longer. 
• Inorganic – These are made up of synthetic components, which helps release the nutrition fast. These also have long-lasting effects. 

So, depending upon your requirements,  you can use the Best Fertilizer for the soil type for your lawn.

The Ingredients in your Lawn Fertilizer

If you look at the ingredients of the lawn fertilizer, you can further break them into three vital macronutrients which feed your lawn. These include potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. You need to check the nutrient proportion, which is often marked over the bag with the letters – NPK. 

Check more on getting healthy green grass on the lawn. 

Applying Fertilizer to Your lawn 

When it comes to applying lawn fertilizer in your yard, you need to check the following points in your mind: 

• Thorough watering – At least two days before you intend to fertilize your lawn, make sure you put across a thorough watering and then allow it to dry. Avoid fertilizing when you find the grass is wet. Also, avoid doing it when you expect heavy rains in the coming 2-3 days. 
• Choose the right spreader – You can find three common types of spreaders for home gardening. These include rotary and drop spreaders. The former works very smoothly when you deal with significant areas to fertilize, while the latter is suitable for regulated fertilizer application. Check for more Fertilizer Application Equipment.
• Fill the spreader – In this step, you need to fill your spreader from the fertilizer bag until you settle down with the process. Using split fertilizer can give you good ground. 
• Start moving over the lawn – Check the perimeter of your yard to cover the entire lawn. You can move the spreader over an orderly row over the lawn. You may find some rows overlapping, but ensure that you cover everything. 
• Covering accidents – If you find any spot in your lawn with too much fertilizer, make sure you spread them using a broom to move over a bigger spot. You can apply as much water as you want to ensure that the fertilizer gets ample ground and you do not burn the blades of the grass. 

These steps help in effectively applying the fertilizer.

What After your lawn Fertilization 

Once you carry out the lawn fertilization, make sure you check the following things: 

• Watering your lawn after fertilizing the space is always a good idea. This helps the fertilizer stuck on the grass blades to seep into the ground. However, ensure you do not water it too heavily, making the fertilizer deep inside the soil. 
• To reduce the excessive fertilization impact, you must leave the grass clippings on the turf once you mow. It helps put nitrogen back into the soil, naturally feeding the roots. 
• You can easily find new grass on the lawn once you start planting it in your yard. To make this technique work, you can help make things more effective. It would help if you tried fitting a mulching blade over your lawnmower. It helps reduce the grass into small pieces, allowing the quick start of the decomposition process. 
• If you find your soil having a heavy clay nature, or you have excessive traffic on your turf, then relying on some manual lawn aeration options regularly is a good idea. However, if your area is significant, you require your efforts behind the aerator, which you can easily pull using the garden tractor.

Fertilization after seeding your lawn 

Opting for fertilization is not a good idea once you have completed your seeding on your lawn. Instead, you should try the opposite, which means the best time to apply fertilization is just before seeding. Make sure you only rely on starter fertilizer as you start using it.

It helps get an instant release of nitrogen which will help you enjoy the best of the seeding process. It will then help in getting a good nutritional boost. So, when you follow this schedule, you will likely see your grass overgrowing. In a nutshell, you get green, lush and healthy grass in your yard. 

The Best fertilizers to use

One of the best fertilizers to use is the slow release. When you rely on this type of fertilizer, you can find the grass green that goes without growing too quickly. During the spring, the mixture of around 20-5-10) (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) is very suitable for use. 

At the same time, you have the choice of performing the soil pH test before you start the process. Relying on pH tests can offer you a quick potassium outcome. You should choose the test that offers the desired results. 

In conclusion, the frequency in which you should fertilize your yard depends upon your location and the kind of grass you have on your lawn. The best way is to follow the thumb rule that suggests your yard should start looking too green. 

The warm-season grasses demand greater frequency for fertilization, especially during the summer. You can apply fertilizer to your lawn every 4-5 weeks. However, the cool-season grasses only need fertilization two times a year. These include the early spring days, and the next is during the fall season. Eden, a known professional lawn care service provider, can help you by offering quality fertilization solutions. You can consult them for effective lawn maintenance.