To get a beautiful, green lawn you have to go back to the basics. A green lawn is a healthy lawn. But how do you get a healthy lawn? Nitrogen and other nutrients (along with water, of course) are the building blocks of a vigorous lawn. Therefore, fertilizing can do wonders for your lawn’s health.
The Benefits of Lawn Fertilizer
Fertilizer does the following to keep your lawn in tip-top shape:
- Promotes new leaf and root growth
- Helps grass recover from foot traffic & pest damage
- Reduces and controls weeds
- Replaces lost nutrients
When to Begin Fertilizing Your Lawn
But how do you know when to fertilize your lawn, and when to leave it alone? A great rule of thumb is to fertilize when your lawn is in its peak growing seasons. That’s when grass will be more likely to soak up the nutrients from the fertilizer. But you first need to identify what type of grass you have in your yard. In our region of the country, cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, are prevalent. Yet our region is still somewhat transitional, so some yards may have warm-season grass.
Cool-season Grass Vs. Warm-season Grass
Cool-season grass:
- Grows most vigorously in the cooler months of spring and fall.
- Best to fertilize in the late fall and late spring.
Warm-season grass:
- Grows rapidly in warm weather
- Best to fertilize in late spring and early fall.
Summer Fertilization Tip
In the Midwest it’s also best to leave your lawn alone during the hot summer months. In the heat of the summer, grass growth naturally slows down, and applying fertilizer can actually weaken your lawn. If you fertilize during a grass’ dormant or slow growing seasons your fertilizer will be wasted. The grass won’t absorb the nutrient well when its growth is slower. Read more about how to keep your lawn looking good with this guide on mowing tips.
If you’re high maintenance with your lawn and want the greenest yard on the block, it’s good practice to fertilize your grass once every six to eight weeks during the active growing period. If you don’t want to spend quite so much time on your lawn, but still want to keep it healthy, try once in the fall and again in the spring. The timing of those applications should be based on the requirements of the type of grass in your yard (refer to the bullet points above).
If you need help with your Olathe lawn care, call the lawn experts at Custom Lawn and Landscape 913-782-8315.
