Dreaming of a green, healthy lawn? A beautiful yard isn’t as hard as you may think — especially when you feed your lawn right! Stop crossing your fingers and hoping that you get it right, make it happen with these Agfinity fertilizing tips!
Why Fertilize Your Lawn?
Beyond basic lawn care such as watering and mowing, fertilizing your lawn is the next step in keeping it healthy and protected from drought, pests, and other stresses that may stifle its condition — homeowners not only love the look of a bright and thriving lawn, but it’s also a place that gets a lot of summer foot traffic as kids (and adults) enjoy it!
A well-fed lawn is more robust, making it ideal to combat the Colorado summer heat and promote a better root system. At the end of the day, the more nutrients your lawn has, the better it will look and function.
Pre-Fertilization Pro-Tip #1:
While you can fertilize your lawn at any point, if you take one extra step and prepare it by aerating and overseeding it, this will set you up for even more success.
Aeration is a great thing to do before you fertilize because it allows your lawn to breathe — after a long winter, the soil becomes compacted from the weight of the snow, foot traffic, etc.; putting fertilizer on an unaerated lawn, isn’t optimal because the nutrients can’t always get to where they’re supposed to go.
Pre-Fertilization Pro-Tip #2:
Overseeding is also a great thing to do as you’re aerating your yard — once the aeration is complete, the seeds can be sprinkled and are allowed to deeply penetrate the soil. This provides a good environment for them to root and emerge as a thick and lush lawn.
Fertilizing Your Lawn — The When
Be your own lawn care company and implement a fertilizer schedule. As far as when you should fertilize your lawn in the warmer seasons, early spring, late spring, and summer all have their advantages.
Early Spring:
Many people love to fertilize in early spring to help get their lawn off to a good start. In Colorado, however, you might not always have to fertilize in early spring.
According to Colorado State, if you fertilized late last year — between September and November — you can delay fertilizing until late spring and even early summer (May and June).
Late Spring:
A late spring feed keeps your lawn well-nourished and helps protect it from extreme heat and drought conditions that Colorado often experiences.
Nitrogen is the most vital nutrient for supporting growth and a good turf color, and its balance is essential. Too much and too little nitrogen can cause issues including thatch buildup or a dull, lackluster color susceptible to pests and drought.
Summer:
As the full swing of summer hits, the high temperatures, foot traffic, drought, and insects can all be tough on grass. Summer fertilization helps fortify the grass to better strengthen and protect it from summer elements.
Fertilizing Your Lawn — The How
Lawn fertilization is easy! With a couple of considerations, you’ll be ready to roll this weekend!
Step 1. Test The Soil
Collect a couple of soil samples from a depth of about three to four inches — there may be a landscaping company in town who can test them, but otherwise, there are many companies you can send it off to be tested.
The soil tests may seem like overkill or an unnecessary step, but they’re truly not. If you have a lawn that has been having issues — brown patchy spots, thatch buildup, dull, dry, etc. — or desire the healthiest green lawn, a soil test will help.
It determines what nutrients your soil is lacking, and typically measures nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in addition to testing the pH.
Once you get the soil test back, you’ll know exactly what your lawn will need in order to thrive this season.
Step 2. Choose A Spreader
There are two main types of fertilizer spreaders — drop and broadcast (walk-behind and hand-held).
Drop Spreaders – This type of spreader is excellent for smaller lawns that are under 5,000 square feet or 0.11 acres. They are easy to operate and provide efficient and precise coverage.
Broadcast Spreaders – This type of spreader covers a broader area than drop spreaders in a fan-like motion. The size of the holes and the rate at which you walk determine the product application.
Step 3. Choose a Quality Fertilizer
A key factor to a healthy lawn is choosing a quality fertilizer option. Agfinity carries a line of premium, results-driven fertilizer options designed for any time of the year. We also have a team of friendly lawn and turf experts happy to assist with any fertilizing questions!
Step 4. Apply Conservatively
The more fertilizer you use the better, right? That’s not always the case. Remember, when you get too much of a nutrient(s) it disrupts the balance. Begin by using the recommended amount and ensure you distribute the fertilizer evenly.
Ready To Tackle Your Lawn?
Agfinity makes fertilizing your yard effortless. Find all your lawn fertilization needs at our local Brighton Ace Hardware store or give us a call at 970-454-4000 to speak with an agronomy expert and learn more about the varieties we carry that can help combat weeds while giving your lawn the nutrients it needs.