Posted on July 5th, 2022
Applying fertilizer to your lawn is one of the most important lawn-care tasks you’ll take on this spring. By feeding your lawn the important nutrients provided by fertilizer, you’re preparing it to thrive throughout the growing season.
But which type of fertilizer is best for my lawn? There are slow-release fertilizers and quick-release fertilizers. There are granular applications, and then there are liquid and organic applications. How much nitrogen do I need in my fertilizer? Thankfully, we’re here to help! Here’s what you need to know when it comes to choosing the best fertilizer for your lawn.
Whether to utilize a quick-release or slow-release fertilizer depends on the status of your lawn, as each has its pros and cons. If your lawn is nutrient-deficient, suffering from disease or drought, or in need of immediate growth, a quick-release fertilizer is the best choice, as the nutrients will be made immediately available to the soil. But be careful! Too much quick-release fertilizer can cause damage (for example, burning and rapid depletion).
If you’re looking for consistent, uniform growth across your lawn, a slow-release fertilizer is ideal, as a steady amount of nutrients will be supplied to the soil over an extended period of time. While fewer applications are needed, it’s important to remember that the nutrients aren’t instantly made available, so be sure to apply slow-release fertilizer properly and carefully.
Liquid fertilizers contain essential nutrients in water-soluble form. They’re easy to apply, they provide your grass’s root system with instant access to nutrients, and they mix well with other pesticides that you’re applying to your lawn (for pests, weeds, etc.). Unfortunately, their quick-release formula means you’ll have to apply liquid fertilizer more often than granular fertilizer. You’ll also need to beware of applying too much too often, as it may cause burning.
Granular fertilizers contain essential nutrients in dry form. The biggest perk of granular fertilizers is how they provide you with the option to customize how much of each nutrient is in your desired fertilizer (example: N-P-K, 22-12-12). This means you can provide your lawn with exactly what it needs at the exact time it needs it. The necessity for re-application is much less frequent with granular fertilizers, too, as the nutrients are slowly released to the soil as needed.
Choosing the right fertilizer for your lawn is not easy, and it’s often difficult to get the perfect mix. At Turf Unlimited, we have a five-step conventional program and a five-step organic program that will provide your lawn with the precise nutrients it needs at the right time.
Take the hassle out of finding the perfect fertilizer, and let us do it for you. Contact us here, or give us a call at (888) 649-9919 to hear more about our services and how we can help you get the best lawn on the block, all year long!
