The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
Your lawn is alive.
And just like every living creature on this planet, it needs to eat to survive.
But it’s never enough to just survive. You want your lawn to be healthy and thrive.
Just like people need to eat the right balance of foods, vitamins, and nutrients, so to does your lawn.
That’s why fertilizing is about so much more than just spreading a bag of colorful dip n’ dots over your lawn. It’s about understanding what your specific lawn needs, and being able to deliver that.
Because just like people, no two blades of grass are identical and each lawn possesses its own unique set of requirements.
So, let’s get down to the grass tacks of applying lawn fertilizer.
Section 1: Understanding Your Lawn’s Needs
Section 2: Choosing the Right Fertilizer
Section 3: Determining How Much Fertilizer to Buy and Apply
Section 4: Preparing for Fertilization
Section 5: Types of Fertilizer Spreaders
Section 6: How to Apply Lawn Fertilizer
Section 7: Post-Fertilization Care
Section 1: Understanding Your Lawn's Needs
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
Before we delve into the intricacies of lawn fertilization, first you need to get familiar with your lawn.
Factors like grass type, climate, and soil conditions shape your lawn’s unique needs. Understanding these factors is essential for providing tailored nourishment.
Here’s our guide to identifying your grass type:
Here’s our tool for identifying your grass climate region:
But to truly understand your lawns needs, you’ll need to run a soil test, which unveils nutrient deficiencies and pH levels.
How To Run a Soil Test
There are a few ways to run a soil test, but the easiest is to purchase a kit. These kits come with instructions and can involve taking a soil sample from your lawn and mailing it to a lab for analysis or there are DIY versions available.
Once you receive your results, you can determine what nutrients your lawn needs and the pH level of your soil. This information will guide your fertilizer choices and application schedule.
Here’s a kit we recommend to get this job done yourself.
Section 2: Choosing the Right Fertilizer
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
Now that you understand your lawn’s needs, it’s time to choose the right fertilizer.
Fertilizers are labeled with three numbers, representing the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium they contain.
The primary macronutrients found in fertilizers—nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)—serve as the foundations of your lawn’s health and vibrancy. The secret lies in selecting the fertilizer with the perfect NPK ratio, tailored to your lawn’s needs, as indicated by the soil test.
The ideal ratio will be determined by your soil test results, but in general, a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 is a safe choice.
However, not all fertilizers are created equal. Some are slow-release, while others are quick-release. Some are organic, while others are synthetic.
Regardless of the type of fertilizer you choose, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, organic fertilizers release nutrients more slowly than synthetic fertilizers, providing longer-lasting benefits for your lawn.
On the other hand, synthetic fertilizers typically provide a quicker boost in growth and are easier to apply.
Consider the pros and cons of each type, as well as your personal preferences and values, when deciding which fertilizer to use.
Section 3: Determining How Much Fertilizer to Buy and Apply
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
If you’ve ever been to a garden store, you know there are dozens of fertilizer options to choose from. So how do you know how much to buy and apply?
The amount of fertilizer you need depends on the size of your lawn and the fertilizer’s concentration.
You can use the results of your soil test to determine the appropriate amount of fertilizer per square foot.
But a general rule of thumb for a typical 10-10-10 fertilizer is to apply one pound of fertilizer per 1000 square feet of lawn.
Now you just need to determine the total square feet of your lawn. To do this you simply need to measure the length and width of your lawn in feet and multiply those numbers together to get the total square footage.
For example, if your lawn is 50 feet long and 30 feet wide, the total square footage would be 1500 square feet.
Once you know the total square footage of your lawn, you can calculate how much fertilizer you need to purchase and apply.
For our example lawn of 1500 square feet, you would need 1.5 pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer to apply one pound per 1000 square feet.
Make sure to carefully follow the instructions on your chosen fertilizer regarding application rates and timing to ensure the best results for your lawn.
Section 4: Preparing for Fertilization
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
Timing is crucial. Understanding the cycles of your grass and the rhythm of your location will guide you towards the optimal time for fertilization. Refer back to your local grass type and region for the optimal timing and use our lawn care reminder tool so you always know the best time to apply fertilizer.
But before bestowing the gift of nutrients, let’s get a few things out of the way…
Mow your lawn to an appropriate height (usually around 3 inches).
Remove any debris and weeds.
For the best results, water your lawn the night before fertilizing to help your lawn accept the fertilizer.
Now, you’re ready to feed your lawn.
Section 5: Types of Fertilizer Spreaders
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
There are a few different options available to you for applying lawn fertilizer.
Hand Spreader: Great for small yards (5,000 sq. ft or less) and precise applications. Simply pour the fertilizer into the spreader and walk around your lawn, carefully spreading the fertilizer as evenly as possible.
This Chapin is affordable and effective: https://amzn.to/4671cYIBroadcast Spreader: This is a larger hand pushed spreader that is ideal for medium to large yards (anywhere from 5,000 – 15,000 sq. ft). It can cover a larger area more quickly than a hand spreader, but it is not as precise.
This one from Scotts works great: https://amzn.to/42HmTLXDrop Spreader: This is also a larger spreader that drops the fertilizer directly onto your lawn. Ideal for lawns that are 10,000 sq. ft to 30,000 sq. ft. It is more precise than a broadcast spreader, but it can take longer to cover a larger area.
This one from Scotts is priced well: https://amzn.to/42LnIn7Hose-end Sprayer: mixes water with the fertilizer and sprays it onto your lawn. This method can be more accurate and efficient than using a spreader, but it may also require more time and effort. Recommended for spot treatment or lawns under 5,000 sq. ft.
Here’s a good one from Chapin: https://amzn.to/3CESUJTTow-behind Spreader: This method is ideal for larger lawns (40,000 sq. ft or more) and those with uneven terrain. The spreader is attached to a lawn tractor or ATV and distributes the fertilizer as you drive around your lawn.
Agri-fab has a great one that covers 1 acre per bucket load: https://amzn.to/3N72SJ0
Section 6: How to Apply Lawn Fertilizer
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
To apply the fertilizer evenly, use a spreader and make two passes over your lawn. The first pass should be made around the perimeter. Then, fill the spreader with fertilizer and make a second pass, walking in rows that overlap slightly (similar to a typical mowing pattern).
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific fertilizer you choose. Over-fertilizing can cause more harm than good, so use caution and always err on the side of applying less rather than more.
Section 7: Post-Fertilization Care
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
You’ve spread the food but the job doesn’t end there…
It’s time to activate the nutrients, through the nurturing act of watering.
For the best results , water your lawn immediately after fertilizing, using about ¼ to ½ inch of water to activate the nutrients. This will help prevent the fertilizer from burning your lawn and ensure that the nutrients reach the roots.
Avoid mowing your lawn for a few days after fertilizing to give the nutrients time to absorb into the soil.
Additionally, keep an eye on your lawn for signs of over-fertilization, such as yellowing or browning of the grass. If you notice these signs, water your lawn thoroughly to help flush out the excess fertilizer.
Section 8: Maintenance and Follow-up
The Lawn Fertilizer Guide: Greener, Thicker, Healthier Grass
So, now you know how to feed your lawn. But remember, lawn care is never a one and done regiment. Regular watering, vigilant mowing, and the occasional aeration will sustain the fertilization process.
Observe your lawn’s condition – if you listen, it will tell you what it needs.
Should the need arise, be ready for a follow-up fertilization.
And with that, you, my friend, are now the steward of your green domain.
