Tips for Fertilizing Your Lawn

Properly fertilizing your lawn can give you beautiful grass that will look great for the entire summer. Most lawns do well if they're fertilized once a year in the spring and then again partway through the growing season. The first round of fertilizing should be done in the springtime after the grass has had a chance to green up and has been cut one or two times.

Some people like to fertilize more often than this however you should make sure that your lawn can stand up to that much feeding before choosing to fertilize more often. Depending upon the type of grass that you have you may also need to apply a winter formula in early fall if it is recommended for your lawn.

Here are some tips that will help make fertilizing your lawn a success.

When fertilizing your lawn timing is essential. You should fertilize after the lawn has a chance to green up and it has been mowed once or twice in the spring. Never apply a nitrogen fertilizer when your lawn is in a dormant state or has not yet greened up. The nitrogen could actually encouraged unwanted weeds to grow in your lawn. Also avoid fertilizing your lawn during periods of drought or when the weather it is excessively dry since the fertilizer could burn up your lawn without water.

You should choose a fertilizer that is specifically made for your type of grass. The label on the bottle or bag of fertilizer will say what grass it can be used on and how often it should be used. Lawn fertilizer can be purchased at department stores, home improvement stores, and garden centers.

If your lawn has been recently seeded or you have just laid sod you will want to look for a fertilizer specifically designed for new grass. These fertilizers are usually labeled as starter formulas or will bear the phrase "new lawn". These types of fertilizers will help to thicken your new grass and let it grow to its full potential.

If you have an established lawn that is older than two years old you can select a slow release complete fertilizer. Just as the name implies a slow release fertilizer will slowly release fertilizer to your lawn for a longer period of time. Always look for fertilizers that have more than one ingredient since they will do a better job of fertilizing your lawn unless you have tested your soil and it indicates otherwise.

To apply the fertilizer to your lawn you can either rent or buy a fertilizer spreader. Before using the fertilizer spreader you will need to calibrate it for the granule size that your lawn requires. Load your fertilizer into the spreader and then walk behind it at a brisk pace - you don't want to run but you don't want to dawdle either. Try to create a pattern on your lawn in your mind that you follow when applying the fertilizer so that you don't hit any section of your lawn more than one time. By moving briskly and only hitting each section of your lawn once you will avoid overfeeding your lawn.

It is better to apply fertilizer and weed control products separately rather than using a combination product. You should always wear gloves when you are handling fertilizers, and it is also a good idea to wear a dust mask to avoid breathing in any fertilizer dust.

Applying fertilizer just once or twice a year can give you the green beautiful lawn that you've always wanted. Always follow the instructions on the particular brand of fertilizer that you buy to ensure that you are using it correctly and that it will not damage or burn your lawn.