Fertilizing your lawn can be one of the trickier aspects of lawn care. Too little fertilizer won’t give your lawn what it needs to be healthy. Too much fertilizer can burn it. Not only this, but different types of turf grass may need different amounts and even types of fertilizer. That’s why it’s a good idea to consult with a lawn care expert. Here are some lawn fertilization mistakes that can actually hurt your lawn.
Too Much Fertilizer
Of course, the first thing you might consider when it comes to fertilization mistakes is over-fertilizing. Adding too much fertilizer not only burns your grass but can also change the nature of your soil. It can make it too acidic or too basic. This will affect not only how your grass grows but also how other plants in the area perform. It’s easy to see if your grass is burnt by fertilizer, for it’s brown or the color of hay. This happens when you apply too much chemical fertilizer or too much natural fertilizer such as worm castings. The good news is that it’s somewhat easy to remedy. You’ll just need to add more water when you water your lawn. But you’ll need to find out the right amount of fertilizer to add the next time you feed the grass.
Too Little Fertilizer
Some people are so frightened of over-fertilizing their lawns that they under-fertilize it. You can tell that your lawn is under-fertilized because it shows bare patches, and the blades of grass look thin and weak. Again, consult with a lawn care professional to give your lawn just the right amount of fertilizer.
The Wrong Kind of Fertilizer
Turf grasses are largely split into two categories. There are cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses grow best during the spring and fall, while warm-season grasses are at their most lush during the summer. Some grasses have fine blades and grow in clumps, and others are sod-forming. Because of this, different grasses need different ratios of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are usually found in bags of lawn fertilizer. A lawn with different types of grass makes the problem even more complicated.
Not Knowing When to Fertilize Your Lawn
Another problem that can cause damage is fertilizing your lawn at the wrong time. The rule of thumb is to fertilize every type of lawn in spring. Warm-season grass can also be fertilized in summer, and cool-season grass can stand a bit of feeding in the fall.
Fertilizing your lawn in a way that supports its health and beauty can be surprisingly challenging. If you need lawn care, don’t hesitate to call our professionals at Willow Tree & Landscaping of Huntingdon Valley, PA.