There are 16 elements needed to enable a lawn to live. Most of these are available naturally, others need to be added by using fertilizer with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
The most important element for your lawn is Nitrogen. Nitrogen ensures growth and gives a lawn its green color. It also encourages more density, thicker shoots, and sturdy growth. Thick lush lawns will naturally fight off pests and bugs.
Potassium enhances a lawn’s ability to resist disease, drought, wear and cold weather.
Phosphorus is used to encourage strong root growth.
Lawn fertilizers usually contain all three of these elements and there are different amounts of each. This is reflected in a three-digit number, such as 30-10-10, which tells the percentage of each in this order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilizer blends serve different purposes. More potassium in blends are good for winter. Some of the factors you need to consider are grass type, climate, time of season and soil type. Once you know what your needs are, you will be able to determine the right combination of these elements. Another way to check what your soil needs is to take a simple PH test.
In addition to variation in percentages of the key elements, there are also different types of fertilizers to consider. There are four major options that will greet you in the fertilizer aisle: Granular (slow and fast-release), Liquid, Synthetic and Organic.
Granular fertilizers are popular, because they’re easy to use. They are dry which makes them much easier to spread. Granular fertilizers come in a slow time-release formula, which provides fertilization over two to six months. Granular is also available in fast-release, and although applied in the same manner, the nutrients are released quicker and work better in cold weather. This method also costs less. However, grass burn can occur and there will be a greater need for watering.
Liquid fertilizers are just as the name says- in liquid form. These are applied by attaching a hose and nozzle to a spray bottle. The contents of the bottle are usually in concentrated form, thus the need to mix with the water. If you can use a hose, this is another easy method. Also, since this a liquid, nutrients are available immediately to the roots of your vegetation. Herbicides can also be added or applied during this treatment. But, since the results are immediate, applications will have to be repeated more often than granular, and since liquid is more expensive to begin with, it can be more costly.
Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured chemically. These engineered fertilizers offer immediate release of nutrients, and make lawns green. They simply penetrate the soil quicker. However, they are not natural, and many argue that lawns should be treated naturally. Applications of synthetic fertilizer needs to be redone more often, as results don’t last as long. They can also burn your lawn if not applied in a proper manner.
Finally, organic fertilizers are made from once living organisms and their bi-products. These are applied to the lawn by spreaders, rakes and even by hand. Since this a totally natural fertilizer, the organics tend to break down slow when releasing nitrogen. They will improve the texture and density of your lawn, especially when added to soil or lakebed sand. There are some drawbacks including a foul smell in the case of manures. Also, these tend to have more nitrogen than other elements.
In summary, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to consider many things: The current nutrition of your lawn, how much money you want to spend, how much labor you want to invest in application- initial and repeats, as well as personal preference. But with the spurt in technology, choices keep growing as more combinations are being introduced.
Until Next Time
All the best and happy gardening
Margarete
