The Right Way to Feed Your Hungry Lawn

Early summer is a good time to discuss your lawn's nutritional needs. I get lots of questions about fertilizing and fertilizer. Everything from "Do I really have to fertilize?" to "What's the best type of fertilizer I can use - organic or synthetic?"
Let's take a closer look at the ins and outs of fertilizing, from what to use, when to use it and how to get it to the roots of your lawn where it will do some good.

Why do I need to fertilize?

Fertilizing your lawn, combined with mowing it correctly (never scalp it!), are two critical keys to having a healthy, nearly weed-free turf - even if you don't do anything else. Your lawn, like any other plant, needs nitrogen for strong, green growth. This is the most important nutrient in a bag of lawn fertilizer. If you don't fertilize, your lawn will weaken and thin over time, allowing more weeds and pests to set up shop. So feed your lawn to have a thick, green and healthy one.

What should I look for in a fertilizer?

When you fertilize your lawn, you are applying three key nutrients for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Every bag of fertilizer will have these nutrients listed as three numbers on the bag, always in the same order. A bag that has the numbers 20-5-10 means that there are four parts nitrogen (first number) to one part phosphorus (second number) to two parts potassium (third number).

For a mature lawn, the most important nutrient is nitrogen. Look for the words "slow release nitrogen" on the bag. This type of nitrogen will be released over a period of weeks to continually feed your lawn. Also, you have less chance of burning and damaging your lawn with slow release nitrogen. If you are just starting a lawn or seeding bare patches, you will use a starter fertilizer which contains a higher percentage by weight of phosphorous to help develop the roots in your young lawn. You will actually find bags labeled "starter fertilizer" to make it easy for you to find.

Is organic fertilizer better than synthetic?

Should you purchase an organic or synthetic fertilizer? It's a matter of personal preference. But understand that the nutrients provided by either organic or synthetic fertilizers all act the same when it comes to feeding your plants. With many organic fertilizers (manures), the nutrient content can be inconsistent. With synthetic types, you always know exactly what you are getting because their production is controlled, and you will have a wider choice of nutrient compositions. For example, you may not want any phosphorus in your fertilizer especially if you are fertilizing near a creek or pond. You can get this with a synthetic fertilizer but not always with an organic one.

How often should you fertilize?

Ideally, your lawn should be fed at least three times a year. You only want to fertilize when the lawn is actively growing, never during a drought. Fertilize around the holiday schedule to make it easy to remember when to pull out the spreader:

• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• Labor Day

In the South, where you have warm season grasses, you can slip in an extra feeding in early August, especially if you are watering your lawn. In the northern half of the country, where you have cool season grasses, a fourth application in November will start your lawn out strong the following spring.

Do I have to worry about burning my lawn with fertilizer?

There are two keys to never burning your lawn with fertilizer: Use a slow release nitrogen fertilizer which makes it much less likely you will burn your lawn; and follow package directions - don't apply more than recommended.

If you have an accident and dump too much fertilizer in one area of your lawn, sweep, rake or vacuum up as much as possible and then wash it down immediately with plenty of water to dilute its effect and help it move more quickly through the soil. By the way, any time you spill fertilizer on your driveway or any solid surface, sweep it up and put it in a flower bed. Don't wash it down the sewer where it can end up in ponds and streams.

What type of spreader is better - drop or broadcast?

Broadcast (sometimes called rotary) spreaders cover a greater area because they throw the fertilizer off to the sides as you walk. If you have a large, open yard, this will make the job easier. A drop spreader releases the fertilizer only directly under the spreader. It works well for small yards and also around flower beds, ponds and creeks where you don't want your fertilizer or weed-and-feed product to end up. Later model rotary spreaders now have edge guards that allow more accuracy around sensitive areas.

To learn more, check out our how-to video on fertilizing.