Lawn Fertilization: Getting The Most Out Of Your Grass

One of the biggest differences between a really nice looking, healthy yard and one that looks as though it has been neglected is the food that grass receives. Lawn fertilization is the most important aspect of yard maintenance. Unfortunately, it is also the area where most people tend to slack, due to laziness or ignorance about what their yard craves. Grass needs to be fed periodically. While some of its nutrients can come from the environment, much of it usually needs to come from an alternative source. Good brands can be found at hardware stores everywhere.

The best lawn fertilization comes from getting food that has a slow release mechanism. Most kinds of grasses can’t intake all the nutrients from the food all at once. That means they either get choked up with too many nutrients or much of it goes to waste. A slow release formula means the grass can take what it needs at the time and then get more as the days and weeks go on. It also means that you as the homeowner can spend less time feeding your yard and more time enjoying it.

If you prefer to stay organic, there’s a place for that as well. Instead of using lawn fertilization bags from the hardware store, you can start composting at home. Turn your compost frequently to help it break down more quickly. Make sure you have a good mixture of brown and green materials in your compost pile so that the nutrients are balanced out. When the compost is sufficiently degraded, scatter it on your yard at the rate of approximately twice a year. Though it represents significantly more effort, you’ll probably be very pleased with the results.

The best way to accomplish lawn fertilization is with the use of a good spreader. This is not only the cleanest method, but the quickest and the easiest way to ensure an even spread. You may wish to fill the applicator away from your yard, however. People have killed their grass with over feeding by filling the spreader in one place while the machine spits out the food on the other side.

Make sure when purchasing and using a new bag of lawn fertilization material that you read the instructions carefully. Many similar products have drastically different directions. Failure to follow these directions to the letter could be hazardous to your yard. Of course, if you feel like you’re not up to the task, there are companies you can hire to take care of feeding your grass and giving it the proper nutrients.