how do you fertilize your lawn

When should I apply lawn fertilizer?

Ideally, the ground should be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on where you live, March to April is the best time to fertilize your lawn. It's also best if your yard is watered a few days before you want to apply the fertilizer, whether that's from rain or a sprinkler.

How often should you fertilize your lawn?

A well-fed lawn is healthier, which means it has a better root system to combat heat, cold, drought, mowing, foot traffic, and other stresses. While feeding your lawn once a year will improve its condition, feeding it 4 times a year will make it even healthier and more beautiful.

Can I apply fertilizer to wet grass?

Yes, you can apply fertilizer to wet grass and this may even improve the effectiveness of the fertilizer. That is, provided that the grass is not waterlogged and that you are using granular or liquid fertilizers that are meant to be diluted.

Should I fertilize my lawn myself?

But if you're a budget-conscious, meticulous homeowner with a green thumb, you might want to just do it yourself. Either way, make sure that lawn fertilization is something that you put on your home maintenance to-do list.

Do I fertilize my lawn before or after rain?

It is best to wait a day or so after a rain before applying fertilizer. At this time, any pools of water will be gone, but the ground will still have moisture in it. Do not apply fertilizer on grass blades that are still wet. Check the forecast and make sure some sunshine is in order.

Should I fertilize my lawn before it rains?

Using Fertilizer Before Rain It's fine to spread your fertilizer before it rains as long as it's more mild or light conditions. Of course, water is important for plant growth and is similarly important to helping the fertilizer's nutrients break down and get absorbed through the roots.

Should I mow before fertilizing?

Though there are no hard, fast rules to lawn care, as a general rule, the grass should be mowed first, then fertilized; this removes excess lawn waste and exposes the soil, which helps the fertilizer work more efficiently.

How many minutes should I water my lawn after fertilizing?

How Long Should You Water Your Lawn After Fertilizing? The fertilizer and soil should be thoroughly moist, but don't water so much that the water begins to form puddles. About 20 minutes should do the trick.

Should you water right after fertilizing?

At Master Lawn, we typically say to wait 24 hours before watering your lawn after fertilizing. But it is important to make sure that it does receive a good watering session soon after that 24 hour waiting period. Watering helps the fertilizer to activate and to break down and begin feeding nutrients to the lawn.

How do I fertilize my lawn without spreader?

If you have no other way to do it, you can certainly spread it by hand. Just make sure to use gloves and apply it very carefully. Walk backward, throwing fertilizer out as you go in a sweeping motion. Of course, you can use water-soluble or liquid fertilizers with a hose too.

How do I make my grass thicker?

Improve Your Soil. To get the most out of every step to a thicker lawn, take a tip from lawn pros and test your soil. ... Overseed. Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick—or keep them from getting thin. ... Fertilize. ... Boost Your Lawn. ... Irrigate. ... Mow Properly. ... Control Weeds.

Can you fertilize your lawn every two weeks?

Can I fertilize my lawn every 2 weeks? To avoid over-fertilizing, applying a fertilizer every two weeks is not recommended. Fertilizing as often as every two weeks will likely lead to problems such as lawn burn, excessive grass growth, as well as polluted water that can lead to toxic algae growth.

How often should fertilizer be applied?

Homeowners using traditional fertilizer might want to apply two or three light applications per growing year—one in the spring, one at midsummer in regions where it is necessary, and one "turf-builder" application in the early fall. The actual timing depends on your region and the type of turf grasses you have.

When should you not fertilize your lawn?

Do not apply fertilizer on an abnormally hot day, not even in the morning. Wait until the weather cools back down to a normal temperature. You can mow anytime after fertilizing with a granular treatment. With a liquid treatment, wait a day or two.

How often should I fertilize my lawn with Scotts?

Ideally, you should fertilize your lawn with the right Scotts® Turf Builder® lawn food for your grass type 4 times a year: in early spring, late spring, summer, and fall. Feedings should be spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart. To save you time, you can choose products that conquer all of your lawn issues in one fell swoop.

Why fertilize your lawn?

Is your lawn patchy with spots that are thinning? Fertilizing your lawn can help you get the lush, green grass you desire. To properly fertilize your lawn it's important to prepare the ground , pick out the right fertilizer, and use a method that will give your lawn the best chance to grow in stronger and healthier. Once you've laid out your fertilization plan, try and remain consistent from season to season. With a little work, it truly is easier to keep and maintain a healthy lawn.

Which is better for lawn: chemical or organic fertilizer?

Choose between chemical or organic fertilizer. You can get fertilizer that also kills weeds, but using an organic fertilizer is better for your lawn's health in the long term.

How to determine pH of soil?

If your soil has high acidity or alkalinity, you'll need to pick out a fertilizer that will balance things out for optimal growth. Take samples from multiple locations and various depths, up to 10 to 12 inches (25–30cm).

What is cool season grass?

They include Fine Fescue, Bluegrass, bentgrass, and ryegrass. Cool season grasses are more cold-tolerant , but will still fade to a light tan or brown color during the coldest winter days in most climates.

What are the three nutrients in fertilizer?

Fertilizers are always labeled with three distinct numbers, representing these nutrients in this order: nitrogen (N) for leaf growth, phosphorous (P) for development of roots, flowers, seeds & fruit, and potassium (K) for stem growth, water movement in plant, flowering & fruiting.

How to find the square footage of a lawn?

You'll need to know the square footage in order to buy the right amount of fertilizer. Multiply the length of your yard by its width to find out the square footage. Make sure you subtract the areas that won't need to be fertilized, like your home and any landscaped areas.

Where do warm season grasses grow?

Warm season grasses grow primarily in the southern regions of the US.

When Should You Fertilize Your Lawn?

When to fertilize your lawn will depend on what kind of grass you have. Here we split them into the cool and warm season grasses.

When to fertilize grass in warm season?

Warm Season Grass. Warm season grasses grow during the spring time and throughout the summer. To help it through this growth spurt, you want to apply fertilizer once the first sign of spring comes around. That’s often easy to tell because the first green wedges of grass start to come out.

Why is it important to spread fertilizer on your lawn?

Before spreading the fertilizer on your lawn, it’s important to understand what you’re doing. The reason why it’s essential is because not all fertilizer is the same. This is why it’s not a good idea to just pick out the cheapest bag in the store or get something that fits your budget.

Why is phosphorus important for grass roots?

Next up is phosphorus. This element is needed for roots to grow. This makes it very important because you want your grass to have a solid foundation. The roots are what keep your grass healthy. That’s because they’re the parts that absorb the nutrients form the soil.

Why do plants need nitrogen?

Plants need nitrogen to grow leaves. So, anything that has green leaves will need nitrogen. This is why your lawn will want a fertilizer that contains this element. It helps the grass grow and stay green. Notice that the focus is on leaves and making the plant green. For this reason nitrogen is very important for lawns.

What are the elements in a lawn?

That is, it contains all of the three elements, namely, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. How much of each will vary. But for most lawns you’ll want something that has 3 parts nitrogen to 1 part phosphorus to 1 part potassium. You do need to consider all other factors as well.

What are the factors that help plants grow?

So, to start from the beginning, plants need certain factors to grow. These include sunlight, water, soil and fertilizer. Technically, fertilizer is just a booster. It basically contains a bit more of the nutrients found in soil.