Introduction: 0:00 Why Fertilize in Spring?: 0:26 How to Choose the Right Fertilizer: 1:00 When to Apply Fertilizer: 1:50 How to Apply Fertilizer: 1:59
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Spring is when temperatures warm after a cold winter, so it’s one of the best times of the year to fertilize your lawn. Fertilizing once in spring can set your lawn up for the rest of the season, so in this video, we’ll go over a few helpful tips and how to apply fertilizer properly.
Turfgrass is like any other living organism: it needs the right amount of energy and the right nutrients to thrive. During winter, many grasses stop growing and rely on a store of nutrients to survive in harsh conditions. By spring, they’ve spent much of their stored energy and need more when consumption increases and active growth starts. Fertilizing your lawn in spring encourages strong root growth, top growth, and color. Not only will fertilizing jumpstart your lawn, but it can also repair patches that may have been damaged due to winter temperatures or disease.
To determine which fertilizer is best for your lawn, start by conducting or requesting a soil test to determine your turf’s nutrient makeup. Pay attention to the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in your soil, and use these to find a fertilizer that suits your turf’s needs. On a fertilizer product, you’ll see the nutrient content of the fertilizer displayed as an N-P-K ratio. Different turf grasses require different amounts of each of these nutrients, so the best spring fertilizer for your lawn will vary.
Check out Solutions Weed and Feed. Weed and feed is a slow-release fertilizer that contains 15% nitrogen, 5% phosphorus, 10% potassium, and a micronutrient pack. It also contains trimec, an herbicide that controls a variety of emerged weeds including dandelions, spurges, and ivys.
Application timing is important. A mistimed application can result in overstimulated grass and can encourage weed or disease development. The best time to apply fertilizer depends on your turfgrass species and the local climate.
Turf falls into two categories: Cool-season turf and warm-season turf. Cool-season grasses include Kentucky Bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue. Warm-season grasses include Centipedegrass, St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, and Zoysia grass. If your lawn is composed of cool-season grass, then the best time to apply fertilizer is when your soil temperature is between 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be between late February to early April. If your lawn is composed of warm-season grass, the best time to apply fertilizer is when your soil temperature is between 65 to 70 degrees, which could be between early March to late April.
Before you apply your fertilizer, you’ll need to calculate your lawn’s square footage and use that to determine how much product to apply. To get the square footage of a rectangular lawn, just multiply the area’s length by its width. Irregularly shaped lawns use different formulas, and they can also be broken down into simpler shapes and added together. Don’t forget to subtract the areas of spaces you don’t intend to treat.
After you’ve figured out your lawn’s square footage, refer to your fertilizer’s label for an application rate. In Solutions Weed & Feed, the label states to 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 evenly distribute between 6.4 to 8.0 pounds of fertilizer over 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.
With even distribution, your lawn will gain the nutrients it needs and grow evenly and without any patches.
Click the link to learn more about lawn care and shop the professional-grade products featured in this video! https://bit.ly/spring-fertilizer
