Did you know that 57% of Americans think that if their lawn is not green, it isn't healthy?
If you are asking "when to
fertilize your lawn?" you are in the right place. We have put together
this short guide to explain more about the different types of grasses and when
it's best to fertilize.
Read on to learn when lawn
fertilization is best for your landscaping needs.
Grass
Type
The first thing you have to do is
identify the type of grass you have. For those that have warm-season grasses
which thrive in the Southern part of the United States, your grass benefits
from warmer temperatures.
This makes mid-summer time the ideal
growing season. Common warm-season grasses include centipede grass, St.
Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, zoysia grass, and kikuyu grass.
Cool-season grasses are more common
in the northern parts of the U.S. This grass type prefers lower temperatures,
and their peak growing periods are in the early springs and in early fall. Some
common types of cool grasses include ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall and
fine fescues.
For people that live in a
transitional zone, you might have a combination of warm and cool-season
grasses. These combinations will require a bit more work at different times of
the year.
When
to Fertilize
Once you know what type of
grass you have, you can figure out the best time to fertilize it. For
warm-season grasses, you want to time spring fertilization right when the grass
starts turning green. You will need to feed it between 3 and 4 pounds of
fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn per year.
After you apply the fertilizer, take
the time to water the grass thoroughly to wash the grains off the grass blades
to make sure they go into the soil. Be mindful of not overwatering where you
create runoff. After the peak summer heat passes, you will want to apply
another round of fertilizer.
For those with cool-season
grasses, the best time to fertilize your lawn is in the fall and early
spring. When you fertilize in early spring, you want to do a light fertilizing
session, but in the fall you want to fertilize heavily. You will only need
1 to 2 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet per year.
We highly recommend reaching out to
a professional such as Heartlandturf.com if you are not too sure of the grass type you have.
They will not only apply the right amount of fertilizer but will use
high-quality products to ensure your lawn is in tip-top shape.
Now
You Know When to Fertilize Your Lawn
Now that we answered the
question "when to fertilize your lawn?" you can make an informed
decision on when to buy fertilizer and get to work on your landscape.
Feel free to continue browsing the rest of this section for our latest tips and tricks to keep your home and garden looking their best.