A Guide to Lawn Fertilizers

Helping your lawn look its best is easy. Choosing the appropriate fertilizer and the right time to apply it will keep your lawn looking lush, healthy and beautiful all-year-round.

All lawn fertilizers provide the three basic nutrients that lawns need: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

Nitrogen encourages the growth of foliage, while phosphorus stimulates root development. The potassium component encourages strong stem growth as well as disease resistance.

The amount of each nutrient in a bag of fertilizer is indicated, as a percentage, on the bag as three numbers: N-P-K, respectively. A 50 kilo bag labeled 5>10>10 contains 2.5 kilos of nitrogen, 5 kilos of phosphorus and 5 kilos of potassium. The remaining weight is made of up filler, usually organic matter and secondary nutrients that fuel healthy growth.

Avoid fertilizer products that contain herbicides and pesticides. While they may seem convenient, such mixes contain harsh chemicals that may harm your soil. If you have a pest problem, spot treat the affected area with a pesticide that is specific for the pest. Keep lawns healthy and less susceptible to pests by fertilizing regularly.

Fertilizers are available packaged in one of two forms: granular or liquid.

Granular fertilizer is made up of dry pellets that are cast over the lawn with a wheeled or hand spreader then watered in. Granular fertilizers are designed to either break down over a period of many weeks (slow-release) or in a matter of days (fast-acting).

Liquid fertilizer is actually a powder that is dissolved in water and then sprayed over the lawn. All liquid fertilizers are fast-acting. While spraying may be more convenient that applying granular fertilizers, liquid fertilizer down not last long. Spraying must therefore be repeated six to eight times with careful timing to provide grass with sufficient nitrogen over the season.

Synthetic and organic fertilizers are available and both are sold in slow-release or granular form. The nutrients in organic products are derived from animal, vegetable and mineral sources, while synthetic nutrients are man-made.