Even though fertilizer seems like the answer for all lawns, there is no single guide when it comes to using fertilizer correctly. The reality is that all healthy lawns require sunlight, water, and food; however, too much fertilizer can also be bad for a lawn. When it comes to how to fertilize the lawn, there are a few DOs and DON’Ts that you need to keep in mind.
DO Identify the Type of Grass
First, figure out the type of grass that makes up your lawn. Every type of grass requires the right amount of nutrients from elements such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Different types of grass require different amounts of these elements. If one of these elements is out of balance, this can damage the grass itself. The goal of fertilization is to strengthen the root system, helping the grass grow stronger while keeping out weeds. Different types of grass use different types of root systems which can impact the rate at which grass can absorb elements from fertilizer, so check the type of the grass and use the right fertilizer. It is important to ensure you are using a balanced fertilizer. The most common fertilizer programs are nitrogen fertilizer, when in fact it is very important to have a well balanced fertilizer, with high amounts of potassium in lawns.
DON’T Overapply Fertilizer
Make sure that you don’t use too much fertilizer. Some people think that is some fertilizer is good, then more must be better. This is not always the case. If too much fertilizer is used, this can create serious runoff issues that might damage the water supply. It can also make the lawn prone to certain diseases that will damage the lawn. Finally, this is also a waste of money, so it is a good idea to use the recommended amount of fertilizer.
DO Determine the pH of the Soil
Check the pH of your soil. This is important because it reveals where the soil is strong and what needs to be improved. If you use a soil that has too much of a single nutrient (or a nutrient that is already present in the soil to a high extent), this can overload the soil and cause problems for the lawn. If you already know the pH of the soil, you can choose the right fertilizer and make sure there is a healthy growth of the lawn.
DON’T Apply Fertilizer Before Heavy Rain
While the weather reports are not always accurate, it is a good idea to at least check them. If there is a big storm coming in the next few hours, do not apply fertilizer at this time. HEAVY rainfall will simply wash away the fertilizer. This is a waste of both time and money.
DO Seek Out a Trained Professional Lawn Fertilization Service
It can be confusing to fertilize a lawn properly, so be sure to talk to a professional about how to care for a lawn properly. It is easier to keep lawns healthy than to fix problems that have already started. A professional can come up with a customized treatment plan for the lawn.
Contact Big League Lawns Today
At Big League Lawns, we serve Weber and Davis counties in Utah. We have more than four decades of combined experience and provide work that is always 100 percent guaranteed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can keep your lawn happy and healthy!
