If you want your lawn to look amazing, it’s important that you feed it properly. To do this, there are several things you’ll need to know first. This guide explains grass growth and how soil nutrients will help you get the most out of your fertilizing routine.
How to Feed Your Lawn Properly
If you want to get the most out of your lawn fertiliser, follow these steps in order. Make sure you go through all of the information and pay special attention to the key things.
Step 1: Soil Temperature Check
The first step in any lawn care involving fertilizer is to check the soil temperature. Soil temperature informs you when you may use fertilizers after the colder months of the year, when grass plants go dormant.
Take the temperature of the soil rather than the air. For accuracy, use a soil thermometer. In April weather in the UK, you’ll typically get to grips with temperatures of around 13 degrees Celsius.
Step 2: Fertilizer
Make sure you get the right fertilizer. It implies that it has the appropriate balance of nutrients and is readily available in a simple-to-use formulation.
Three digits appear on all lawn fertilisers to indicate the amounts of nitrogen (1), phosphorus (2), and potassium (3). Other chemicals that may be used include, for example, sulphate, weed killer, or moss killer. If you’re new to fertilizers, stick with a basic combination of the three most important components.
The most important component is the nitrogen content. It promotes plant growth. If you apply too much nitrogen to your grass type, it will just produce uncontrolled growth that necessitates more frequent mowing and maintenance.
Always choose slow-release lawn fertilisers when shopping for fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers will let you go longer between applications without making your grass yellow. Finally, granules are preferable to powder in this case. Liquid fertilizers are more commonly used by businesses. Granules make it easier to apply precisely and consistently.
Step 3: Application of Fertilizer
When preparing to perform lawn care in the United Kingdom, timeliness is critical. In the spring, you will give your grass a feeding. The spring lawn feed aids in the development of root systems and overall grass health. You’ll keep feeding it until October.
You should give your lawn a good feeding in the fall, just like you would before winter. While regular feedings will be done throughout the spring and summer, autumn feeding is most essential. The food gives your grass the nutrients it needs to develop strong roots that will keep it alive through the winter.
After the first summer lawn feed, you’ll repeat it after four weeks for the first summer lawn feed. After that, you can apply it every six to eight weeks as needed. You probably won’t need to fertilise your grass if it’s bright green and developing well at this time.
You should also make sure you have the appropriate weather conditions in order to apply your fertilizer. Avoid applying it when it is about to rain, since water will wash it away. You don’t want to apply fertilizer on a bright and hot day because it may scorch your grass.
A spreader is required. The feed will need to be dispersed using a broadcast spreader so that you may evenly apply it to every part.
Keep your walk steady and consistent. The greatest application procedure is to use half a bag on the entire lawn, which you can traverse horizontally before moving vertically at the end.
Step 4: Cleaning Up
When you’re done, sweep up any granules on the sidewalks, driveways, or anywhere else. You don’t want it to end up on the grass and cause burns or drain into waterways.
Place any remaining granules back in the bag. Keep it in a cool, dry place.
Step 5: Watering
Allow your lawn to drink water only when it absolutely needs it. Make sure you follow the directions on the package carefully. Some may need to be watered at a specific stage in the procedure. In addition, keep an eye on the weather forecast; changes in requirements due to rain are possible.
When learning to feed a lawn, it’s important to understand the health of your soil. This ensures you get the most out of fertilizing, so that your grass gets exactly what it needs.
Soil Type and Fertilizers
When learning to feed a lawn, you’ll need to consider what type of fertilizer is being used. There are three main types that are used for lawns. These are slow, medium and rapid release fertilizers.
Slow-Release Fertilizers
Considered the best option since they provide nutrients over a long period of time. This type of fertilizer is ideal if you have infrequent rainfall or live in an area with dry soil conditions.
Medium-Release Fertilizers
Ideal if you have frequent rainfall or live in an area with wet soil conditions. These fast-acting fertilizers are the best for dry, sandy soils that are low in organic material.
Rapid Release Fertilizers
Used when your grass needs a quick nutrient boost. They contain large quantities of nitrogen to quickly help grow your lawn, but they don’t last as long as the other types of fertilizer.
Regardless of what type you use, it’s important to know how much fertilizer your lawn will need after its initial feeding. To do this, take a soil sample from the area where you want to apply the fertilizer and send it to a laboratory for testing. Once you have the result back, you can determine which fertilizer to use and how much of it your lawn will need. You’ll then want to follow the fertilizer product label for application rates.
Wrap Up
To recap, there are a few things you should remember when learning to feed a lawn:
- Make sure the weather conditions will be conducive to application.
- Water your grass after you have applied fertilizer – or follow the watering guide for your specific type of lawn fertiliser.
- Consider taking a soil sample from your lawn and having it tested to determine what nutrients are needed.
- Match the fertilizer you use to your soil’s nutrient requirements, and follow the directions on the package carefully.
By keeping these few guidelines in mind, you’ll be able to ensure that your grass is healthy and vibrant this summer!