Spring is the time of growth and rejuvenation. All the trees, plants, and grass on your property emerge from the dormancy brought on by winter, and experience a period of bloom and blossom. You need to take advantage of this nurturing environment and suitable weather to revive the lawn as well.
The lawn soil and grass will be in a bad shape after the winter season. You should make sure the soil is loose, fertile, and suitable for grass growth once again; and for that your need thorough lawn fertilization.
Spring Fertilization Tips – Why is Fertilization Necessary?
The soil doesn’t have unlimited amounts of nutrients. As the turf grows and thrives in the ground, it consumes a lot of nutrients from the soil. If you don’t replenish the nutrition in the ground, your lawn grass won’t receive sufficient nutrition and will eventually die.
You will see brown patches and dry grass in your lawn in spots that provide the least amount of nutrition. Regular lawn fertilization will help you avoid this problem and ensure your turf is always lush and green. Healthy grass will also keep weed and pests away from your lawn so you won’t need to use weed killers and pesticides as often.
Fertilization is an essential aspect of the lawn maintenance routine and should be done at least twice a year. Landscaping experts usually apply fertilizer during spring and fall to encourage growth and help the lawn survive the winter conditions.
Tips For Fertilizing Your Lawn – Top Three Problems
Fertilization isn’t as easy as it sounds on paper. You can’t just purchase any fertilizer from the store, toss it on your lawn, and expect the grass to grow and thrive. Lawn fertilization requires experience, knowledge, and planning for it to be successful. Inexperienced landscapers find a number of problems and inadvertently do more harm than good because of poor planning and execution. Here are the three problems you can face during fertilization:
Bad Fertilizer Choice
There are many different kinds of fertilizers available in the market so it’s difficult to pick the right one. Here’s a brief explanation of the products available in the market:
- Slow Release – The most effective but the most expensive fertilizers are slow-release products. They release nutrients into the soil gradually and are safer to use. They also don’t need to be applied as frequently as other fertilizers so you won’t have to look after your lawn as often.
- Fast Release – As the name suggests, this fertilizer releases nutrients into the soil quickly and you see fast results. However, it is very potent and can burn the soil so you can only apply it in small amounts. This means you will have to apply the fertilizer more often to ensure your soil has adequate amount of nutrition in it.
- Organic Fertilizers – People have used organic fertilizers like compost and dry manure for a long time. They’re safe to use and won’t cause pollution but they don’t provide as much nutrition as man-made fertilizers. You will have to apply this fertilizer more often to ensure the soil remains healthy.
- Weed and Feed – Weed and feed fertilizer is a combination of herbicide and a fertilizer. It’s considered a two-in-one product that eliminates weed and feeds grass at the same time. Experienced landscapers rarely use it because this product has the potential to cause long-term damage to the lawn and soil.
- Spray Fertilizer – Spray fertilizer might appear convenient, but it’s risky to use on lawns. You need to apply fertilizer evenly to ensure it doesn’t burn the soil and damage the lawn. With a spray fertilizer, it’s impossible to control the amount of spray on the surface and that can cause the problems mentioned above.
Application Technique
The fertilizer should be applied evenly and carefully throughout the surface of the soil to ensure your lawn grows well. If you don’t apply the product evenly, you’ll see brown patches and dry grass in certain areas of your lawn. Uneven application can also lead to burnt soil and grass. If you apply too much fertilizer, you’ll see white patches and dead grass in that location. Good application technique will help you maintain your lawn and ensure it is healthy.
- Spreader Application – A spreader is the most useful tool in lawn fertilization because it allows you to spread fertilizer evenly over the ground. You don’t need to worry about burnt soil, dead patches, and other such problems. Spreader also gets the job done quickly so your lawn is fertilized and ready for new growth without delays.
- Hand Application – Hand application is more time consuming and there’s always a risk that you won’t apply an even coat of fertilizer on the surface. However, hand application is more affordable as you don’t need to hire a professional or lease a spreader for the job. You can simply choose a good fertilizer and apply it carefully to your lawn. If you plan it well, you shouldn’t face any problems.
Is the Lawn Ready for Fertilization?
Many homeowners ignore this question and simply apply the fertilizer during spring and fall. If the soil isn’t properly prepared to receive the fertilizer, you won’t see any benefits and will have to fertilize the lawn once again. Here’s what you need to do to ensure your lawn is ready for fertilization:
- Make sure the soil is loose. Tightly packed or compacted soil won’t allow the fertilizer to sink in and reach the grassroots. Make sure your soil is well aerated before you apply fertilizer.
- Water the lawn a few days before the treatment. This will ensure your lawn doesn’t suffer from drought stress and that the soil is loose and moist enough to accept the nutrients from the fertilizer.
Proper lawn fertilization will keep your grass healthy and green and encourage springtime growth. You just need a combination of good soil preparation, good fertilizer, and the right technique.