Lawn Fertilization
Choosing the right fertilizer
First, it’s important to know what to look for. A good quality fertilizer should have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and, sometimes, iron to give it that green colour. If you’re buying your own fertilizer, you’ll notice numbers on the label – those are representative of the proportion of each nutrient (also known as N-P-K ratios).
There are plenty of fertilizers out there, so make sure you’re looking for one created specifically for your lawn. In terms of options, you can choose from organic fertilizers or synthetic fertilizers, and down to liquid or granular formulas. At Yard Smart, we’ll create the perfect plan for your lawn to get it back on track.
When to fertilize your lawn
Timing is really important when applying fertilizer to your lawn, and because it takes time and money, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing it at the optimal time to get the best results. The most important time to apply fertilizer is in the fall so it can absorb nutrients and feed your lawn until spring.
Spring is the second most important time to apply fertilizer after your lawn awakens from a cold winter. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to leave 6-8 weeks between applications to avoid over fertilizing which can lead to salt build up that causes discoloration in your grass.
Is your soil the root cause of the problem?
Most people overlook the health of their soil as the root cause of having an unhealthy or undesirable lawn. There are a lot of factors that can damage the health of your grass, but checking the quality of your soil is the strongest indicator of what the problem may be. Most soil will begin to lose its nutrients over time with rain water and irrigation over the years. Because it’s common to see a loss of nutrients, the best way to measure the health of your soil is to purchase a soil test kit to understand the composition.
Work with us for your lawn fertilization needs
At Yard Smart, we never cut corners so we can guarantee you’ll love the results, every time. When you hire one of our experts, you’re in the hands of professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in their craft. Whether you’re looking for a one-time fertilization consultation and application, or need multiple applications to help bring back a lifeless lawn, we can help. You take pride in the appearance of your property, and we take pride in making that our guarantee.
Service Area
We service Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond
FAQ
Everything about lawn fertilization
Can fertilizer burn my lawn?
The short answer is yes. If you over-apply fertilizer it can cause an excess amount of nitrogen and salt, causing your grass to die or become very damaged. You can tell that you’ve over-fertilized your lawn if you start to notice discoloration (i.e. brown or yellow grass), or if you begin to see stripes or patches on your lawn of where you applied the fertilizer.
Will lawn fertilizer kill weeds and insects?
Lawn fertilizers are made up of different components than weed or insect control products, which are primarily made from herbicides, which means that unless you buy lawn fertilizers that specifically call out having weed or insect control added in, your lawn fertilizer will have no effect on weeds or insects.
Which lawn fertilizer is right for my lawn?
There are a few factors that come into play. The first being where you live in relation to the more northern or southern part of the country. There are fertilizers that work best for specific seasons due to fluctuating temperatures. The second is if you have other considerations with your lawn care, for instance, if you have weed or pest problems that you want to take care of while you’re applying your fertilizer for the season.
How long should I wait after seeding my lawn before fertilizing?
If you’ve just applied seeding to your lawn, this is an opportune time to fertilize. After that initial application, we recommend waiting 6-8 weeks before applying a second application. The one thing you want to avoid is over-fertilizing your newly seeded lawn because it can have the reverse effect and actually damage your lawn –which is not the result you’re hoping for!