Lawn fertilization can be a complicated part of lawn care. It is essential for making the grass grow and creating lush land, but there are many ways it can go wrong and there are a lot of details that the person doing the fertilizing needs to pay attention to in order to ensure maximum success. Some lawn owners choose to fertilize their own lawns and end up not doing the best job due to lack of information and technical ability.
First off, every fertilizer has its own percentage of three key elements, called nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Getting the right combination of percentages relative to your soil and the seasons is one of the key aspects of properly fertilizing the land. These are the three nutrients that your lawn needs, so too little of one could deprive it whereas too much could cause oversaturation. A mixture of twenty percent nitrogen, five percent phosphate and ten percent potassium is a popular choice for spring season fertilizing, but it is by no means universal and each lawn has its own requirements.
The speed of the fertilizer’s release is also something to keep in mind. Slow-release fertilizers are common as they double the time between application and ensure the grass won’t grow too fast. Too much nitrogen in the fertilizer being released too soon can cause overgrow and increase your lawn mowing efforts considerably. On the other hand, if your lawn is deprived you might want to consider adding a bit more nutrients sooner than would otherwise be advised.
You should also plan out the number of applications carefully, as fertilizer needs to be re-applied constantly. Planning five applications ahead is ideal, with the first being around April. There should be no more than eight weeks between each feeding to prevent the soil from running out of nutrients. You will also need to know the temperature of the soil before the first fertilization, as 55 degrees Fahrenheit is generally agreed upon to be the best starting point.
If some of these instructions are confusing to you, you should consider hiring a professional lawn service company. These companies will have experienced lawn care professionals that will know every step required in order to perfectly nourish your lawn. The professional will assess the soil and determine the exact type and amount of the fertilizer needed. Unevenly spread fertilizer can cause the grass to grow more in some places than in others, creating an unpleasant sight that calls for extensive soil work on the entire lawn – with lawn care services, this problem can be avoided.
Lawn care professionals will also determine the right combination of nutrients that your particular lawn needs, something that can be difficult to gauge on your own. Lastly, too much fertilizer can also cause a buildup of thatch and an overgrowth of weeds and algae, all considered a nightmare among lawn owners and enthusiasts. Due to the potentially large negative implications associated with incorrect application of fertilizer, if you remain unsure on some aspects of fertilization it might be best to leave this job to the professionals in order to preserve your lawn’s health and appearance.