Revitalize Your Lawn: The September Fertilizer Guide

Lush, green, and vibrant – a perfect lawn is within reach with the right preparations in early September. As Bruce Spangenberg illustrates, this is the ideal time for ensuring your lawn’s health and aesthetics through proper fertilization techniques. Knowing what your lawn needs and how to apply it can work wonders.

The Case for Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the cornerstone of lawn fertilization, gifting lawns their vibrant green hue and improved density. It stands as the main nutrient to focus on. However, not all nutrients or fertilization timings are made equal. As stated in Superior Telegram, understanding state regulations, like those in Wisconsin, which curtail phosphorus use unless necessary, ensures compliance and appropriate growth patterns.

Choosing Quality Fertilizers

Not all fertilizers are created equal. To achieve uniform lawn growth, turn to fertilizers with controlled-release nitrogen. Whether it’s sulfur-coated urea, IBDU, or organic sources like activated sewage sludge, these offer extended feeding that contributes to long-term lawn vibrancy, albeit at a premium cost.

Perfecting Your Fertilizer Application

A key aspect is calibrating your application: 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. A sound understanding of deciphering the guaranteed analysis on fertilizer bags empowers you to apply it accurately. This meticulous approach prevents nutrient runoff into unwanted areas, ensuring nutrient retention within the turf.

Taking Care: From Lawns to the Environment

Careful application is more than a lawn issue; it’s an environmental responsibility. Avoid fertilizers on impervious surfaces to protect waterways from nutrient pollution. Controlled distribution on the grass itself adheres to sustainable practices, affirming that fertilized lawns resist runoff.

The Broader Lawn Care Picture

Early autumn fertilization sets the foundation, but your lawn thrives when supported by ongoing care practices. A soil test as fall approaches can further assess your lawn’s requirements — a sensible strategy for sustaining your lawn’s allure and health.

Let Bruce Spangenberg’s advice and insights equip you with not just the knowledge but encourage a proactive garden approach that transforms ordinary lawns into verdant paradises.