Fertilization
Get Green.
To keep your lawn green, growing, and looking its best, a consistent fertilization program is essential. Regular Fertilization will lead to a thicker, weed free, disease resistant lawn. Fertilizer contains 3 primary (and many secondary) nutrients, also known as its analysis: Nitrogen (N) – Phosphorus (P) – Potassium (K). Nitrogen promotes strong color and top growth, Phosphorus stimulates root development and Potassium helps with disease resistance and water retention.
At Peters Lawn Service, we offer a well balanced granular fertilizer 29-0-14-6 which is high in Nitrogen and Potassium, contains 6% Sulfur (secondary nutrient) and 0% phosphorus (in accordance with the State of Minnesota). For lawns that have a soil test indicating low levels of phosphorus or for establishing new lawns, we offer a granular fertilizer 19-19-19. We also offer a premium organic based fertilizer that has even better slow release characteristics and will help to improve microbial action in your soil. Starting in 2011, will be offering a plan that transitions your lawn to an organic lawn care program.
When is the best time to fertilize? In the spring, nutrients are converted into food that will green up and promote growth which will help prevent weeds from invading your lawn. In the fall, these nutrients are focused on the root system, filling them with reserves to carry them through the winter season. The healthier your lawn is in the fall, the better growth you can expect in the spring.
You also may be asking yourself, “What is the difference in fertilizers?” This is a great question and is an area that sets us apart from its competitors. Generally, your lawn requires a balanced fertilizer. Don’t be fooled by lawn care companies who disguise their fertilizer applications or claim to fertilize with every application, you may be surprised what you are getting.
Conventional urea based synthetic fertilizer feeds the plant. They are most common because they are easy to customize, quick to act, are more readily available and are relatively less expensive. These fertilizers effectively feed the plant, but the salt content can be harmful to the beneficial microorganisms in the soil, especially when mistreated.
Organic Fertilizer feeds the soil. Most are sold as soil conditioners. Organic Fertilizers can be very slow to release their nutrients because they need microorganisms to be active in the soil to break them down in order for the nutrients to be available to the plant. Organic means that the nutrients are derived from the remains or are by-products of a once living organism. Most often, organic fertilizers are high in one of the three major nutrients and very low in the other two. Many are low in all three. Corn Gluten Meal, for example, provides only Nitrogen and needs to be applied at a rate of 20 pounds per 1000 square feet, which is 3 to 4 times the amount of a synthetic fertilizer. Research has shown that Corn Gluten Meal, when properly applied, has pre-emergent weed control characteristics and is now being listed as a pesticide in some parts of the country where chemical lawn care is not permitted. Organic Fertilizers can be very expensive compared to their synthetic counterparts.
Click here to learn more about organic lawn care.
