Can You Touch Fertilizer With Your Hands
Touching the fertilizer may cause skin irritation, and ingesting it may be poisonous. Nitrates are the ingredients that cause the poisoning. Nitrates are a form of nitrogen that plants can easily absorb. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but it can be very dangerous when present at high levels in humans.
How to prepare your lawn for lawn feed?
Prepare your lawn for feeding: scarify, rake and mow the lawn at least 3 days before the application of lawn feed or control products. Apply lawn feed: depending on the time of year apply your lawn feed .
What can I use to spread fertilizer on my lawn?
Using a store-bought or homemade hand fertilizer spreader is another way you can spread fertilizer rather than by using a bucket. To do this, you will follow many of the same steps above.
Whats the best way to apply weed and feed?
Wet your lawn before applying. Use a misting or a low-pressure setting to lightly wet your lawn immediately before applying. You want your grass to be damp to the touch, but with no quick-draining or standing water. It should be just wet enough to help the product stick to the blades of grass.
When to Mow Your Lawn before applying weed and feed?
Mow your lawn 2-4 days before you apply. If you can, mow your lawn to a medium height 2-4 days before you plan to apply weed and feed. This helps ensure that the product is evenly distributed throughout your lawn.
Option : Using A Broadcast Spreader
To apply granular lawn fertilizer, follow the instructions on the package. To make the job easier and more efficient, use a broadcast spreader. This particular type of spreader covers the most area evenly and quickly. Pour the recommended amount of fertilizer into the spreader hopper.
Helpful Tip
Measure your yard in square feet. Instructions on the lawn fertilizer package will inform you of how many pounds or ounces per square feet need to be applied. For reference, 10 lbs. per 1,000 sq. feet is a common application.
Dont fill the spreader hopper over your lawn. The fertilizer can spill, and in high concentrations, actually harm the grass instead of helping it
Apply the lawn fertilizer in the same way you would mow. Using a sidewalk, driveway or other non-grass surface as a guide and a starting point, begin pushing the spreader parallel to the surface and work your way across the lawn, turning at each end and directing the spreader alongside the row you just completed so that coverage almost overlaps. The fertilizer drops from the hopper and is dispersed as you move. Keep a slow, steady pace. Read your spreaders manufacturers instructions for exact directions on how to use it. Many models allow you to set the amount that is dispersed. Be careful that you dont over-fertilize by checking the fertilizer package to verify the recommended spreader setting.
Safety Alerts!
Wear gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask when handling fertilizers.
Recap: Lawn Fertilizer Dos And Don’ts
- Use test results to choose the right fertilizer.
- Spend time accurately measuring the size of your lawn.
- Try an organic during the hot summer months.
- Buy a quality spreader that best fits your needs.
- Accurately calibrate your spreader to make sure you apply the right amount.
- Keep your spreader well maintained.
- Keep records of what and how much you apply and when you apply it.
Dont:
- Test your soil after you have fertilized.
- Guess on how much fertilizer you need and what setting you use.
- Apply fertilizer in hot, humid weather.
- Apply fertilizer near water features, on hard surfaces or on frozen ground.
- Use phosphorus unless your soil test indicates a deficiency.
- Apply more than four times a year.
- Use liquid fertilizers on your lawn.
- Use a drop spreader in big lawns.
- Bag your clippings.
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Less Grass Fertilizer More Even Distribution
Dial back the rate of lawn fertilizer applications to 1/2, then make two passes with your spreader at right angles.
“I bet at least 3 out of every 5 homeowners use way more lawn fertilizer than they should.”
Many retailers promote a four-step lawn fertilizer schedule for homeowners. Fertilizing more than four times a year is overkill. In fact, most homeowners could get by with two every year. You can cut back on the amount of grass fertilizer you need by knowing when to fertilize lawn based on time of year. More on that later.
If you apply too much lawn fertilizer, especially in sandy soils, a good share of it will leach through the soil and make its way into our precious groundwater, lakes, streams and wetlands. Lawn grasses only need a certain amount of food. More isnt always better.
Unlike us humans, lawn grasses dont know how to stop eating when theyre full! This luxury consumption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium actually makes the lawn grasses weak and more susceptible to disease. Excessive grass fertilizer will create too much thatch, which will ultimately choke out your lawn. Too much lawn fertilizer also means youll be mowing far more often than necessary. Too much mowing means excessive soil compaction, exhaust and noise pollution and excessive wear and tear on your mower.
When it comes to a lawn fertilizer schedule, applying more than four times a year is a waste. Save time and money by being more judicious in your use of lawn fertilizer.
Fertilize The Perimeter First And Work Your Way Inward
First, walk the spreader around the outside edge of your lawn. Walk at a slow, steady pace to ensure even coverage.
When youre done with the perimeter, walk the spreader back and forth across the lawn in straight lines, similar to the pattern you follow when you mow. Overlap a few inches on each pass so you dont miss any spots. Continue until youve covered the whole lawn.
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What If It Rains After I Fertilize My Lawn
The answer not very cut and dry, but here is the bottom line: The vast majority of the time, rain after a fertilizer application is not a problem at all. … Water helps “activate” your fertilizer. It helps move the granules deep into the thatch where it starts to break down so that it can be soaked into the root system.
Fertilizing At The Wrong Time
“Many homeowners don’t follow a lawn fertilizer schedule. They fertilize when they think their lawn needs it, when they have time or when the stuff is on sale.
Here’s when to fertilize lawn: If your lawn fertilizer schedule is once per year, apply it around Labor Day. Thats when your lawn is the hungriest and when it will respond best to the nutrients it receives. Fertilizing at this time will help replenish food reserves after a long, stressful year of growing and before the harshness of winter sets in.
If your lawn fertilizer schedule is twice per year, apply the second application about the middle of October. This acts like a second helping of much-needed food going into winter. A third application can be added in mid to late spring and can be combined with your crabgrass preventer. A fourth application, if you feel the need, can be added mid-summer. Watch the weather when applying midsummer fertilizers. Fertilizing during hot, humid weather can harm your lawn. An exception would be using an organic fertilizer. They are much more lawn friendly during the dog days of summer.
In the spring, apply just enough fertilizer to help green up your lawn. About half the normal amount will do. Even without fertilizer, your lawn naturally grows quickly as soon as temperatures become consistently higher. Have you ever noticed that grass grows fastest in the late spring and early summer? Why promote even more growth at this time by fertilizing?
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When To Fertilize Your Lawn
Fertilize your lawn at the very least once a year. Ideally though, you should fertilize at least twiceonce in the fall, at the end of the growing season and once in the spring before growing season. Some lawns may require an application in the middle of the growing season. Always check the lawn fertilizer package to ensure that you have the appropriate fertilizer for the time of year, as many blends are formulated for specific seasonal use.
Maintaining A Consistent Speed
The next thing to think about is walking speed, which most people tend to stay around three to three and a half miles per hour. Which, if Im to equate that to a visual, I would say that it looks like a double-fast walk.
Another key being that whatever speed you begin at, should be the speed that you finish at. Otherwise, the width of your swath can vary along with your speed. In a nutshell, push it all the way through.
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How To Aerate Your Lawn
Lawn aeration encourages deep roots, resulting in a healthy lawn. Learn how to give your grass a breath of fresh air with these aerating tips.
If you plan to aerate your lawn, follow up that task with fertilizing. Lawns benefit from soil aeration, which creates literal holes in soil and exposes the root zone of grass plants. These holes allow water, fertilizer and air direct access to grass roots. For the best aeration, use a core aerator that pulls actual plugs of soil from the lawn . If you rent this machine, know that it’s heavy and requires a strong pair of arms to handle it. Many riding mowers also have core aerator attachments. In small grassy areas, plunging a digging fork into soil accomplishes the task quickly and inexpensively. Aerate whenever the thatch layer is more than one-half-inch thick.
When To Put Fertilizer On Lawns
All lawns need fertilizer in early spring when the grass begins to green up. Your fertilization schedule for the rest of the season depends on the type of grass in your lawn, the type of fertilizer you use, and your climate. Most lawn seed is a mixture of several different types of grasses, and both spring and fall fertilization are appropriate.
The label on a bag of lawn fertilizer will recommend a schedule based on the type of fertilizer it contains. The label is your best guide to how often to apply the product and how much to use. As long as you dont overdo it and avoid fertilizing in the hottest part of summer, your lawn should thrive.
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My Tips For Even Coverage
To make sure that you apply your fertilizer evenly, figure out the amount you need based on the square footage of your lawn, then split that fertilizer quantity in half.
Spread half of it in one direction and spread the other half in the opposite pattern . To picture this, imagine the pattern on a checkerboard.
If your lawn is on the larger side, you can use a broadcast spreader that has a side-shield feature. This kind of spreaders side-shield feature means that you will have an easier time applying along the perimeter of the lawn. It will help to make sure that none of the fertilizer gets on sidewalk or driveway .
If you have a small lawn, you might be okay with a drop spreader, though personally I still prefer using a broadcast spreader.
Plan Your Path
When fertilizing your lawn, I always start out by creating a header strip around the lawns perimeter with the side-shield of my broadcast spreader engaged.
Next, work back and forth east to west, then north to south, spreading half of the fertilizer in each direction so you get even distribution across your entire yard.
Applying Liquid Lawn Fertilizer
To apply liquid lawn fertilizer, follow manufacturers instructions on how to prepare the fertilizer and how to connect the fertilizer bottle to your garden hose. Turn on the water to your hose and then open the valve on the fertilizer bottle. Walk at a slow, steady pace to cover the entire lawn evenly, spraying from side to side.
After applying the lawn fertilizer, water the lawn immediately with a garden hose, unless directed otherwise by the package instructions. Clean out fertilizer residue from your spreader with a garden hose, taking care to prevent the runoff from flowing into nearby soil or drains.
Good work! Now you know how to fertilize your lawn and keep it growing and green.
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Should You Fertilize Before Or After Rain
This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on a number of factors, such as the type of grass, the time of year, and the amount of rain. In general, however, it is best to fertilize after rain.
The reason for this is that the rain will help the fertilizers to seep into the ground, where they will be taken up by the roots of the grass. Additionally, the rain will wash away any excess fertilizer that is on the surface of the grass.
Fill And Prepare A Lawn Spreader
- Next, check the instructions on your fertilizer bag for the recommended setting to use on your lawn spreader. This determines the amount of fertilizer that will be distributed. The higher the setting, the larger the hole size in the hopper, and thus, the more fertilizer spread on the lawn. Adjust the setting on the spreader accordingly.
- Before you fill the spreader with fertilizer, make sure the hopper hole is closed. Fill the hopper on a hard surface, such as a driveway or sidewalk. This will prevent a potential spill from damaging or saturating a spot on your lawn.
- Be careful not to overfill the spreader’s hopper or the lawn spreader may become hard to maneuver. Your lawn spreader may come with an edging feature to help you avoid dispensing fertilizer onto your driveway, sidewalk or walkway. If so, turn it on before you begin fertilizing that area. Follow all other instructions provided by your manufacturer for operating your lawn spreader.
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Cool Season Vs Warm Season Grass
Warm season grasses thrive in warm-weather regions, such as the southern United States. It’s best to feed warm season grasses in warm weather as they grow most actively during the heat of summer.
Popular warm season grasses include:
- St. Augustine: Broad dark green blades with a rounded tip
- Zoysia: Prickly, stiff and narrow blades form a carpet-like lawn
- Centipede: Pointed blades with a notch that grows to be dense and soft
Cool season grasses do best where there are extreme temperature fluctuations, such as those in the North, Northeast and Pacific Northwest.
In the North, where cool-season grass types are popular, lawns need to be fed four times a year with each feeding six to eight weeks apart. If your lawn is still green and actively growing in the summer, you can continue to feed it throughout the summer months at the same rate. However, if your grass turns brown during summer heat and drought, temporarily stop feeding until it starts to grow and turn green again in the early fall.
Popular cool seaon grasses include:
- Kentucky Bluegrass: V-shaped with pointed blades, dark green and soft
- Perennial Ryegrass: Pointed blades with visible veins
- Tall Fescue: Dark green, coarse, wide pointed blades with visible veins
Make your lawn fertilizer project easier, with the right products and tools. Find what you need. Use The Home Depot Mobile App to locate products and check inventory. We’ll take you to the exact aisle and bay.
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Is It Too Hot To Fertilize
When air temperatures rise above 85 degrees, its generally too hot to drop fertilizer loads on your lawn. Warm-season grass that has plenty of water can handle a mid-summer, slow-release fertilizer to prepare for fall growth and impending winter dormancy. Sun intensity and wind conditions can also increase damage when using fertilizer in hot summer weather.
When soil temperatures rise, cool-season grasses go dormant and focus on deep-root growth. This type of grass should not be fertilized after late spring as it will not absorb all the nitrogen. Excess nitrogen can spread to waterways and have a negative impact on the surrounding wildlife.
Even summer grasses in drought-stressed turf will not be able to handle an application of fertilizer. Heat stress will prevent warm-season grasses from benefiting from a boost of fertilizer as unstressed turf would. A liquid fertilizer that helps water penetrate the soil and get to the roots faster can be used to revitalize stressed-out lawns assuming supplemental water can be added to achieve full green lushness.
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Time Of Year To Apply Fertilizer
The correct time for you to be applying lawn fertilizer can depend, in part, on the type of grass you grow. People in the northern United States generally grow cool-season grasses, while those living in the South generally grow warm-season grasses. For both types, growers often apply lawn fertilizers in late spring and in late summer. But for cool-season grasses, a third application is often made in late fall.
Your most important feeding for a cool-season grass may well be the one in late fall. This “winterizing” feeding does more than just prepare your lawn for winter: The nutrients supplied will get the lawn off to a good start the next year, in early spring.
Late Summer To Late Fall
Between August and November, grass slows down and prepares for the winter months. At the same time, broadleaf weeds start active growth again. With Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14, you can feed your northern or southern lawn nutrients essential to its winter prep and spring green-up and kill broadleaf weeds. As a general rule, allow six to eight weeks between fertilizing and your first expected frost.
As with all fertilizer products, check the label and follow instructions for your specific grass type. If you’re overseeding, wait until next year for weed & feed. Instead, turn to Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 for the year’s final feeding.
Always sweep excess fertilizer off sidewalks and patios to avoid runoff.
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