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The Importance of Fertilization: How to Keep Your Lawn Healthy

Posted on March 29th, 2023

Fertilizers are essential for keeping your lawn healthy since they provide nutrients, including potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. These elements promote healthy green growth, improve resistance to diseases and pests, and maintain a balanced pH level in the soil.

Specialists from Turf Unlimited provide effective lawn care services using optimal fertilization techniques. We specialize in designing elegant landscapes that boost your home’s curb appeal. In addition, our experts offer invaluable insights regarding lawn fertilization and how it can keep your lawn healthy.

The Importance of Fertilization

Pests, fungus, weather conditions, and diseases can prevent your lawn from looking fresh and healthy. Fertilization is one of the effective solutions homeowners can use to prepare their lawns against these problems. Here are some of the reasons why you should use fertilizers:

  1. Lawns Need Fertilizer Just Like Water and the Sun

Most homeowners know that plants and lawn grass need sunlight and enough water for proper lawn upkeep. However, it is essential to realize that lawn fertilization is just as necessary as the other two. The grass in your yard also needs nutrients to survive and remain vibrant.

Fertilizers provide several essential elements to keep the soil rich:

  • Potassium

This is a crucial nutrient that benefits plants and lawn grass contained in commercial fertilizers. Potassium improves the ability of vegetation to resist disease. When the soil is rich in this nutrient, plants increase their yield and improve their quality. It also helps protect grass and plants from extreme weather conditions by protecting their root systems from heat and cold. In addition, potassium prevents leaf wilting, making your lawn grass look greener.

  • Phosphorus

Phosphorus is another crucial element needed by grass and plants. It helps improve the leaves’ ability to store energy from the sun gathered through photosynthesis. Plants also need this element to develop and grow normally.

  • Nitrogen

Of these three elements, nitrogen is considered by many as the most essential nutrient for better grass growth. Plants tend to absorb more nitrogen from the soil than other available nutrients. It is necessary for better plant health and efficient development. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient in the plant’s process of producing protein. Remember that protein is a crucial element in developing plant tissues.

  1. Fertilizers are Easy to Use

You don’t need any technical know-how to use fertilizers in your yard. However, you must follow package instructions carefully and spread the fertilizer evenly on your garden soil.

  1. It is a Cost-Effective Solution

Some homeowners may worry that lawn fertilization is expensive. However, a quick trip to a supplier or a gardening store immediately dispels this myth. Many fertilizer brands offer budget-friendly products that can be just as effective as premiere products. After applying the fertilizer, you only need to perform regular maintenance or hire reliable lawn care services if you don’t have time to tend to your yard.

  1. They Make Lawn Grass and Plants Grow Faster

The grass in your lawn will benefit from the nutrients contained in the fertilizer. When the vegetation in your yard is well-nourished, they tend to grow faster and greener. You will also get better results from your gardening efforts with efficient lawn fertilization.

  1. Fertilizers are a Green Solution

Some homeowners worry that commercial fertilizers contain harmful chemicals that can harm the environment. However, you can ask any lawn care services provider, and they will gladly inform you that this is not the case. The fertilizers in stores today contain chemicals naturally found in the soil. They also contain vitamins and other essential nutrients that benefit plants and lawn grass.

  1. They Provide Essential Nutrients

As mentioned earlier, lawn fertilization provides essential nutrients to garden soil. When used correctly, they improve the quality of your yard’s soil, allowing grass and other plants to grow quickly. However, as your plants grow, the ground naturally loses essential nutrients, necessitating fertilizers, which replenish the nutrients lost.

  1. Weed and Pest Control

Are your plants and grass infested with pests and weeds? Apart from using pesticides and herbicides, studies show that you can also apply a regulated amount of fertilizers to help control the growth of these pests. Hiring reliable lawn care services is best if you’re unsure how to use fertilizers with pest control products properly. In addition, it is crucial to consult the guidelines provided by The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding fertilizer use and pest control.

Types of Fertilizers

You can find many different types of fertilizers in stores today, each with its uses. Each class will also have pros and cons. For instance, liquid fertilizers tend to get absorbed by lawn grass and plants quickly. However, they can be pretty pricey compared to other forms of fertilizers. On the other hand, organic fertilizers are all-natural and beneficial to the environment, but yard grass will take time to absorb their nutrients.

Here are the different types of fertilizers you should be aware of, so you can decide which one is best to use in your lawn:

Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are all-natural and are made from organic sources such as peat moss, compost, and manure. These fertilizers have a reduced environmental impact but can be slow acting, which means you won’t see results immediately.

Another reason why some homeowners prefer organic fertilizers is that they can help condition the soil. This is especially helpful in revitalizing an old, neglected lawn. Adding organic fertilizers to lawns with brown dried grass improves the soil quality and structure, making conditions ideal for plant and grass growth.

If you’re looking for better moisture retention, using compost as organic fertilizer is best. Further, they provide essential habitats for earthworms and beneficial insects that can help aerate the soil, improving drainage that can help deep roots get established underground.

Some homeowners believe that organic fertilizers are better for the environment. However, that isn’t always the case. Even organic fertilizers can contaminate the ground and pollute the groundwater when misused. Keep in mind that lawn fertilization requires sufficient care if you want to help preserve the environment while keeping your lawn pristine.

Inorganic Fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers are also known as mineral fertilizers, which we already mentioned earlier. These fertilizers include the ones containing potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Inorganic fertilizers can be very effective, especially when reviving neglected lawn grass. They are also particularly effective when planting new grass seeds since they can promote faster growth.

Here are the most common inorganic fertilizers you can find in stores today:

  • Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers: Also known as nitrate-based fertilizers, these are the most common type of fertilizers you can find on shelves today. Be careful not to use too many nitrogen fertilizers since they can cause nitrogen burn, causing leaf discoloration. Applying too many nitrates can also kill plants and grass.
  • Nitrogen Fertilizers with Inhibitors: This fertilizer is best for places with volatilization, leeching, denitrification, and nitrogen immobilization. The added inhibitors reduce these effects.
  • Phosphorus Fertilizers: These fertilizers have different nutrient release profiles, which allow you to provide a steady source of nutrients to garden soil. Please follow package instructions carefully for each type of phosphorus fertilizer to get the best results.
  • Potassium Fertilizers: There are several types of potassium-based fertilizers, including Potassium sulfate (K2SO4), Potassium chloride (KCl), and Sulfate of Potash (SOP), among others. Each type will have a different impact on how your plant resists disease and pests.
  • Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur Fertilizers: These secondary nutrient fertilizers can help resolve various nutrient deficiencies in plants and lawn grass.
  • Micronutrient Fertilizers: These fertilizers deliver micronutrients your plants may need, such as zinc, copper, manganese, and iron.

When deciding on the fertilizer to use in your yard, you should consider the type of grass and plants on your property. Use the type of fertilizer that delivers the most nutrients to your greens. Some homeowners use different fertilizers for their plants and grass. If you’re unsure which ones you should use, you can consult with lawn care specialists from Turf Unlimited. Contact us today for tips, advice, and a free quote.

Fertilizer Forms

Commercial fertilizers come in various forms. They are sold in powder, liquid, and granular forms. When using a liquid fertilizer, diluting it in water according to package instructions is best. You can then spray them on your garden soil, like watering your plants.

Fertilizers in powder form need to be mixed in water to be effective. Like liquid fertilizers, you can spread the mixture by hand or water. On the other hand, granular fertilizers can be applied across your garden. These granules get soaked in water during sprinkling sessions and dissolve into the soil, delivering essential nutrients to the ground.

Timing and Frequency of Fertilization

Researchers from the University of California recommend fertilization of lawns four times a year. Further, use one pound of nitrogen per application. According to a North Dakota State University study, the best time to fertilize your lawn is during the Fall Season. However, each property is different depending on weather and soil conditions. It is best to consult with lawn care specialists to determine the best timing and frequency for your yard.

Work with Lawn Care Specialists from Turf Unlimited

Turf Unlimited has helped thousands of homeowners care for their law using customized fertilization solutions. We have proudly served clients since 1996. Our lawn care specialists can help you determine the right fertilizer, perform soil tests, and eliminate pests to revitalize your lawn, boosting your home’s curb appeal. Contact us today to get the best lawn for your home.

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