Landscape Maintenance - Grass Fertilizers
About Grass Fertilizers
Introduction
| Grass fertilizer will assist your grass in achieving a healthy steady growth, with a beautiful end result. Grass fertilizer provides your lawn with all the essential nutrition required to grow healthy and thrive with loads of natural color. It will also help your lawn recover from stress and protect it from dryness, patches and disease. Fertilization for your landscape grass is an integral component to a beautifully maintained property. Especially in regions that expect extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain or harsh sun, a grass fertilizer will shield your landscape from the forces of nature. |
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Grass fertilizer should be applied one to three times every year, depending on the type of grass. Keep in mind that it is common to find the cheaper grass fertilizers are more water-soluble and therefore the more often fertilizer must be applied. A slow-release grass fertilizer is recommended as it will prevent burning and one good application will provide 10 to 12 weeks of constant feeding. |
Fertilizing New Grass
| New seeds planted for grass growth requires a different regime to established grass. The two important additives in the first stages of growth are the Phosphorus and Potassium levels. These two elements promote healthy strong roots which is essential for newly sodden grass areas. The other element contained in grass fertilizer, Nitrogen, is best used in the foliage growth and development. A higher level of Nitrogen can be added later to accommodate the grass growth, however in the beginning, potassium and phosphorus are required to nourish the soil. |
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Work the starter grass fertilizers into the area before planting the seeds. Avoid the use of weed killing fertilizers for new grass plantings, these fertilizers are great for established grass, but using them in the early stages of growth can kill the newly planted grass, as the chemicals are too strong for the seedlings.
Fertilizing Cool Season Grass
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Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass hold up well to cold winters but don't do well in very hot weather. During the cooler seasons throughout the year they will only need one or two light feedings of grass fertilizer. Lightly fertilizing during the early fall will promote healthy root growth, and not too heavy to encourage top growing. It is not recommended to heavily fertilize during the summer or late spring months. Grass fertilizer is best applied during fall, as the grass is able to store all the nutrients allowing the cool season grass to survive a harsh winter and thrive at early spring. |
Fertilizing Warm Season Grass
| Warm-season grasses such as Bermuda grass, love heat and sunlight, therefore grow the most in late spring to early summer. Applying a grass fertilizer during this time is best as this is when they need the most nutrients. One application in early spring will allow the grass to begin the growth period. The amount of grass fertilization needed thereafter is dependent on the variety of grass, the climate conditions, watering schedule and soil condition. Do not fertilize warm grasses during late fall as this could make the grass susceptible to cold weather injuries. |
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