Introduction: 0:00 PART 1: What is Fertilizer?: 0:34 PART 2: How to Select Fertilizer: 1:27 PART 3: Before Application: 2:51 PART 4: Applying Fertilizer: 4:04 PART 5: After Application & Following Up: 4:56
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Fertilizer is a formulated product that contains the nutrients necessary for plant growth. These nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, sometimes referred to as N-P-K. Once the fertilizer is applied to the soil, these nutrients are absorbed by the grass, pushing the grass to grow. As the grass grows, especially during its growing season, it consumes a lot of the energy stored in its roots. You can apply fertilizer to replenish the energy and keep your grass growing strong and healthy.
When it comes to selecting the right fertilizer, look for the three big numbers, usually displayed on the front of the bag. This is the fertilizer’s NPK ratio, and it tells you how much Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are in the fertilizer. Another thing you should do before buying fertilizer is to get a soil test done. A soil test measures the amounts of each element within the soil, so it’ll tell you if your soil is lacking in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and any other nutrients your soil may be in need of.
Before you get started, the first thing you should do is put on your personal protective equipment, or PPE. Before fertilizing your lawn, do an inspection and look for any signs of weed activity or lawn disease. These will need to be dealt with first, as fertilizer can actually increase the damage from any active weeds or fungi. It may take several weeks after treating to see results, so plan to treat these from your lawn well before you plan to apply fertilizer. Once you’ve confirmed there are no active weeds or diseases, get your lawn’s soil temperature. Depending on the time of year, your soil shouldn’t be too cool or too warm when you apply fertilizer. In spring, you’ll want to apply fertilizer when the soil temperature warms to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In fall, you’ll want to apply fertilizer before temperatures drop too low, about 6 weeks before the first frost of the year.
First, determine how much fertilizer you’ll need by calculating the square footage of the area you wish to treat. Solutions 15-5-10 Weed & Feed recommends you apply 3.2 to 4.0 pounds of product per 1,000 square feet of turfgrass. So, if you measured an area of 2,000 square feet, you would need to apply between 6.4 and 8.0 pounds of 15-5-10 fertilizer to your yard. With a granular fertilizer, load your measured amount of product into a calibrated push spreader, and broadcast half your granules in parallel lines once across the area. Then broadcast the other half at a perpendicular angle to cover the area in its entirety. Be sure to walk at an even pace to ensure an even spread across your entire yard. Once the product is fully applied, water it in.
Once you’ve made your fertilizer application, observe your lawn over the next few weeks. You should start to notice results from your fertilizer about 1 week after application. Most fertilizers are designed to release nutrients over a span of 4 to 6 weeks, while a slow-release fertilizer can take 6 to 8 weeks. If you feel a follow-up application is necessary, be sure to check your fertilizer’s label before doing so.
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