Fertilizing your lawn will help it grow thick and healthy, choking out weeds. While fertilizing needs vary by lawn type and origin of the country where you live, there are some basics that apply to everyone. Read and follow the information on the fertilizer bag so you know what you are buying and how to apply it.
On the bag, you will see three numbers. The first number is the amount of nitrogen shown as the letter N in the fertilizer. The second number represents phosphorous shown as the letter P. And the third number represents potassium shown as the letter K. All three are essential nutrients for your lawn. With nitrogen responsible for making grass grow and giving it that deep green color.
A good choice of fertilizer is one that contains a combination of quick release and slow release nitrogen to meet the needs of your lawn. Fertilize early in the day ideally, when the lawn is moist from dew or just after the rain. To apply fertilizer, use a spreader. Select either a broadcast spreader, sometimes called a drop spreader or a rotary spreader.
A rotary spreader covers more ground in a single pass than our drop spreader. Carefully fill the spreader on the driveway or sidewalk, not on the lawn. The fertilizer package will tell you how to calibrate your type of spreader to distribute fertilizer correctly. This is important so that you do not over or under apply the fertilizer giving you poor results.
Always wear gloves and a mask when handling fertilizer. Begin walking before you turn the spreader on. When you want to stop or turn, shut off the spreader first. Make your turn and start walking as you turn the spreader on again. If you are using a drop spreader, make sure the wheels overlap the previous wheel marks. Do this for each pass you make. This prevents any fertilizer gaps or missed areas. With the rotary spreader, overlap the edges of each row.
When you are done, wash the spreader thoroughly. If you decide to use a weed and feed type of fertilizer, use the same application process. When fertilizing a round flower beds, be sure to use a drop spreader. Always follow package directions.
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