Warm season grasses grow primarily in the southern regions of the US. They include St. Augustine, Bahia, Carpetgrass, Centipede, Bermuda, Zoysia, and Buffalo, among others. These grasses turn brown in the fall after the first frost of the year. Cool season grasses grow primarily in the northern regions of the US. 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. Both warm and cool season grasses can grow in the middle regions of the US.
Take samples from multiple locations and various depths, up to 10 to 12 inches (25–30cm). Record all the results for later reference. For more detailed information about your lawn’s nutrients, send the soil samples into a soil testing lab or your local agriculture extension. If the pH is too low or too high, the nutrients won’t be available to the lawn. [1] X Expert Source Ben BarkanGarden & Landscape Designer Expert Interview. 14 April 2020. If the soil pH is too low, you may need to add limestone to raise the value. [2] X Expert Source Ben BarkanGarden & Landscape Designer Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.
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. [4] X Expert Source Ben BarkanGarden & Landscape Designer Expert Interview. 14 April 2020. Most lawns do well with a 3:1:2 or 4:1:2 fertilizer. [5] X Research source If you used a soil testing lab, the report may recommend that you look for a fertilizer or soil addition with extra nutrients. Possibilities include the three macronutrients calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S), as well as the micronutrients copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese, (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), boron (B). Occasionally specialized plants or soil conditions will require silicon (Si), cobalt (Co), vanadium (V), or other rare mineral catalysts.
You can get either liquid or granular fertilizer. Liquid fertilizers work quickly, but they’re also absorbed quickly so they need to be reapplied every few weeks. Granular fertilizers are sprinkled across the lawn and get absorbed more slowly. Choose between quick release and slow release granular fertilizers. Slow release fertilizers only need to be applied once or twice in a growing season. 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.
Choose a rotary spreader for larger lawns. Pick a drop spreader for smaller lawns or for lawns with areas that need precise fertilizing, such as around flower beds and landscaping.
Fertilize warm season grasses when the grass begins to turn green at the beginning of spring. Fertilize the lawn again just after the hottest part of the summer is over. Fertilize cool season grasses after the heat of the summer is over, since their growing season gets under way in early fall. You can use a Winterizer fertilizer toward the end of the summer to protect the grass over the fall and winter. Fertilize again early in the spring, making sure the fertilizer is timed to be used up before the hot summer weather begins.
Cover your entire yard with the fertilizer. Be cautious about not overlapping or skipping areas. Be sure not to spread too much fertilizer. Your yard could experience chemical burn if you aren’t careful. Clean your spreader when you’re finished. Spray the inside and the outside of the spreader with a water hose.
