If you've always used the same lawn fertilizer, you may be wondering if you could branch out and try something new. Or, maybe you have a new lawn to fertilize for the first time in your life and you're not sure where to start.
Here are some types of lawn fertilizers you should know about and the applications they can have in caring for your lawn.
High-Nitrogen Fertilizer for Fast Growth
High-nitrogen fertilizer may seem like the right choice for anyone who wants their grass to grow quickly. But because nitrogen is a powerful chemical, you have to be careful how you apply it. Use fast-grow fertilizer only during the growing season for your lawn (this may be the summer or the fall depending on what type of grass you have).
In addition, you need to be careful not to burn sensitive new growth with high nitrogen levels. To avoid fertilizer burn, calculate the amount of fertilizer needed carefully and spread it evenly over the lawn. You should also keep your lawn well watered and avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizer on new sod, seedlings, or dormant grass.
Starter Fertilizer for Sod
When you're laying sod for a new lawn, you typically don't want to use the same fertilizer. That's because the new sod can't really grow well until it's established its roots, so feeding it a lot of nitrogen straight off could be counterproductive.
Specialized starter fertilizer for sod helps by giving the plants the phosphorus they need at first. It also typically has nitrogen on a timed release, which will give the grass plenty of growing power once it's starting to get past the initial stage of establishing roots. Keep in mind that this type of fertilizer is typically applied to the ground before laying the sod out.
Natural Fertilizer for Non-Toxic Lawncare
If you want a more kid-friendly, pet-friendly, or eco-friendly lawn, you might want to choose a more naturally based fertilizer. Fertilizer made of aged or composted manure (such as poultry or goat manure) can be a great choice. Kelp, bone meal, corn gluten meal, and fertilizer made of food scraps are some other more natural fertilizer ingredients.
Weed and Feed Fertilizer to Eliminate Weeds
If you're not concerned with eco-friendliness or kid-friendliness, you may want to go the other route and apply a synthetic fertilizer that also contains a targeted weed killer. These fertilizers don't just feed the grass, they also give it more room to flourish by removing any weeds that are trying to take over.
These are just some of the options available when it comes to fertilizing your lawn. For more information on lawn care and the best lawn fertilizers for your situation, get in touch with your local lawn care experts today.