All lawns need three critical things to survive and thrive: food, water, and the protection from unwanted guests, pests, natural forces, etc.
If you are looking to revive your dying lawn, or if you are looking to make your grass greener, thicker, and more beautiful, here are some tips to finding the best lawn fertilizers available.
Choosing the Best Lawn Fertilizers
Three elements that are very important to the survival of grass are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. These natural elements give your grass the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, and common fertilizers contain a variety of amounts of these particular ingredients.
– Nitrogen is the most important, as it helps give grass its bright green color and thickness.
– Potassium, not only important to humans, is important to grass as well. It is useful in toughening grass roots and making it durable enough to resist unwanted forces like drought and cold weather.
– Phosphorus is another critical team player, aiding in the development of the roots under the surface.
All fertilizers found at your local home garden center or nursery will contain these three elements. However, the variety among choices regards the percentage of each element that is blended into the fertilizer. For example, when looking at different fertilizer brands or blends, you will see a code-like number, such as 15-8-8. These numbers represent the percentage of each element, in this order: nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium. In this case, the particular fertilizer bag labeled 15-8-8 will contain a 15% nitrogen-8% phosphorus-8% potassium mixture.
These blends will differ based on needs and preferences. In order to choose the best fertilizer, you should take note of your grass needs, grass type, time of year, soil type, and climate. For example, if you want to prepare your lawn for winter, you might want a blend with higher concentrations of potassium.
Making your decision more complex is choosing the best fertilizer type: either granular (slow vs fast release), organic, liquid or synthetic. In addition, you will find variety in different fertilizing methods and tips for application. You can choose based on specific preferences and/or needs, with each having their own benefits and disadvantages. By talking with your local home garden center or a professional landscaper, they should be able to assist you in choosing the right fertilizer.
Additional Help
If you are still not sure which lawn fertilizer is best for you, or if you would like some professional help in fertilizing your lawn, try using TalkLocal to locate a landscaping company near you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable landscaping professionals in your neighborhood, within minutes. Just enter in your problem, location and availability and TalkLocal will contact multiple companies, who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.
