Fertilizing Your Yard
How should you fertilize your yard to maximize the healthiness of your grass and plants? What do you need to know about yard fertilizers?
You've heard a lot about the importance of fertilizing your yard, but you've been a bit skeptical. After all, it appears on first glance that your yard is in fine condition and that it is quite healthy. So, why would you need to fertilize? Here are some tips.
Living grass and plants need certain nutrients in order to survive and remain healthy. They're kind of like humans in this regard. We need certain vitamins and nutrients in order to remain healthy. The main nutrients your lawn needs are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. The amount of nutrients your grass needs varies depending on the region of the country you're in. You should consult a local plant expert to find out how much of each nutrient you should give your lawn. Standard levels of nitrogen is about four to seven pounds per 1,000 square feet each year to be applied throughout the course of the growing season.
A good rule of thumb for how much nutrients are needed in the spring months (the beginning of the growing season) are a fertilizer ratio of 4 to 1 to 2 parts of nitrogen to phosphorus to potassium. In the summer, you won't need as much nitrogen, and your ratio should shift to 3 to 1 to 2. Then in the fall, you'll need more potassium to help your roots grow strong to survive the winter healthily. Your ratio at that point should be 3 to 1 to 3 parts.
Putting too much of any one nutrient can prove to be detrimental to your yard. It can lead to a build up of unwanted grass in certain areas and can cause some parts of grass to grow more quickly than others. These ratios are ideal if you want a green, healthy and even-growing yard.