Helpful Fertilizing Tips from the Experts

The gardening aisles of your local home improvement store may be filled with different types of fertilizers, spreaders and arcane looking equipment that may or may not be useful in making your grass look lush and green. Lawn care experts know that keeping it simple is best when fertilizing and maintaining the green areas throughout your yard.

Begin by aerating, which makes it easier for the fertilizer and water to reach the grass roots. Now it’s time to narrow down which fertilizer to use. If you look at all of the available brands, you may notice three numbers on the bag. The first one is for Nitrogen. If the number is high, the fertilizer is chemically based. Lower numbers are organic options. Choose the bag based on soil consistency, type of grass, and environmental concerns. If using a chemical fertilizer, you’ll need less coverage.

Use a spreader with a trim guard to cover the perimeter and to edge pools, ponds and solid surfaces, encouraging healthy grass to the edge. Drop spreaders have narrower coverage zones, which means creating more rows for full coverage. In contrast, broadcast spreaders used in conjunction with a fast walk may be able to throw fertilizer up to five feet. Lawn care professionals these to ensure uniform coverage throughout the area. Pros may also apply a thinner layer than recommended, but make two perpendicular passes across the lawn assuring consistent fertilizing.

Wear personal protective equipment such as boots, long pants, long sleeves, eye protection and gloves when tending to the grass. If there is a measurable breeze, wear a hat. Fertilizer is corrosive and can burn the skin as quickly as it does the grass. Caring for and maintaining thick, well-groomed grass can be tedious and time-consuming. Hiring lawn care experts takes the guesswork out of the process and gives you more time to spend with friends and family.