A healthy lawn can be characterized by lush and verdant patches of grass that can easily grow back despite the how often you mow the lawn and normal wear and tear. However, most lawns will require you to invest most of your time and effort in making sure that the grass receives the right amount of nutrients and minerals that are not readily available in the soil. This article will discuss the best fertilizer methods for lawns.
Understanding Micronutrients and Macronutrients
Grasses, just like humans and other organisms, need several macronutrients and micronutrients in order to be healthy and perform necessary functions. Some of the important micronutrients that grass needs include Boron, Chlorine, Iron, Copper, Molybdenum, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. These micronutrients are also sometimes referred to as trace elements. With the exception of iron, most of these micronutrients, do not come included in a regular bag of fertilizer.
On the other hand, the main macronutrients needed by the grass as re Potassium, Nitrogen and Phosphorus. These macronutrients are usually present in a bag of lawn fertilizer. These nutrients are usually absent in soil and essential in plant function. There are also other equally important macronutrients such as carbon, calcium, hydrogen, oxygen, magnesium and sulfur.
The Components of a Fertilizer
Have you ever asked yourself what is in fertilizers? Often, you will see three numbers on a bag of fertilizer. These numbers represent the three main macronutrients namely Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, in exact order. More importantly, the three numbers tell the percentage by weight that the fertilizer bag contains of each specific element.
For instances, if a fertilizer bag weighs 25 pounds and the first number shows 10, this means the bag comes with 2.5 pounds of Nitrogen. If the fertilizer bag weighs 30 pounds and the first number shows the number 20, it means that the bag comes with 6 pounds of nitrogen content. There are several tools on the internet that you can learn more about the different mathematical formulas utilized by turf experts.
Different Types of Fertilizers
The most common type of fertilizer used by many people is synthetic fertilizer. This type of fertilizer is usually available either in granular or liquid form. If you are looking for a synthetic fertilizer that is easier to apply, granular fertilizers would be your best choice. All that you will need is to apply the fertilizer using a rotary or drop spreader.
On the other hand, liquid fertilizers typically require complex equipment to apply. The majority of liquid fertilizers are used by professional companies. If you are asking which of the two is better, there would be no definite answer as both types perform equally well.
It is important to note that not all fertilizers are created equally. This is because there are fertilizers that are referred to as “all mineral.’ This type of fertilizer allows all elements to be released as soon as water is added. All-mineral fertilizers are usually the cheapest option and you can purchase a 50-pound bag from any feed store for only a few bucks.
Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, come with various micronutrients and are also available in different forms. A “certified orga
nic” fertilizer means it comes with “all natural” components with zero synthetic materials involved. However, it does not necessarily mean that the fertilizer is not processed. Organic fertilizers are primarily used to gradually fertilize the grass as the soil tends to naturally break down the organic matter into different elements the roots of the grass can take up. This type of fertilizer is also deemed safe and easy-to-use.
Generally, organic fertilizers are available for usually utilized for turf application. Most organic fertilizers are made of animal byproducts such as manure and plant byproducts like corn gluten meal while there are some made of sewage-based materials. There are approximately 25 different organic products ideal for lawn use. Each of these products vary in terms of efficiency and quality.
Bridge products are considered to be organic fertilizers mixed with synthetics. Some products contain as much as 90% of organic materials and are mixed to work best on different seasons of the year. Soil microorganisms are naturally less active during cold seasons and peak during summer. Hence, summer blends come with the most organic matter. The organic matter blended with different synthetics can provide the grass with the right amount of nutrients during colder seasons.
Before you purchase your own fertilizer bag and start fertilizing your lawn, make sure you know what is in your soil so that you can easily deal with any potential issues. You may need to get in touch with the manufacturer to know more about the specific fertilizer you are looking for.
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