Why grass fertilizer are so crucial? Because most soils don’t contain enough nutrients for the grass to survive, and the nutrients in the soil will be absorbed by grass over time, so we need to fertilize regularly to maintain a balance of nutrients.
1. Elements Fertilizer
Grass needs enough amount of nutrients, water and sunshine to sustain life and thrives and green. The importance of fertilizer is the same as water, air, and temperature in the soil.
Most Grass fertilizers all contain three different nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen plays a critical role in the process of photosynthesis. It promotes healthy leaf growth by encouraging the production of chlorophyll, which is a chemical vital to photosynthesis.
Not only does it help with that though, but it also can help plants fight off damaging pests. Plants that are deficient in nitrogen grow poorly and develop yellowing leaves.
Phosphate
Phosphorus is an essential macro-element required for plant nutrition. And it’s involved in the metabolic processes responsible, such as photosynthesis, energy transfer and synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates.
The presence of phosphorus in the soil help turf grows lush and thick because it promotes healthy root growth. Plants with a phosphorous deficiency will experience stunted growth.
Potassium
Potassium helps regulate plant metabolism and affects water pressure inside and outside of plant cells to keep the lawn healthy and balanced.
For these reasons, potassium is critical to plant stress tolerance. It affects all aspects of lawn and garden well-being, from cold and drought tolerance to disease and pest resistance.
2. Bio-Fertilizer
Biological fertilizer is the new substance that contains living microorganisms applying on seeds, leaf, or soil.
They are of paramount importance in cycling nutrients in the lawn soil. They act as a long-term fertilizer and health system for your lawn.
There are two different main types of soil microbes. Each of these microbe types has a different job to boost lawn health.
Bacteria
Bacteria are the final stage of breaking down nutrients and releasing them to the root zone for the plant. Proper bacteria can create a pleasant soil environment and control root diseases for the lawn.
Such as Bacillus Subtilis, it’s a species of bacteria with strong soil adaptability. It has a good effect on colonizing grassroots and inhibiting harmful pathogens.
Biodiversity in the soil is also essential for daily grass management; Beneficial fungus has a good effect on building healthy root systems, maximizing the use of fertilizer, and improving soil conditions.
Fungi
The most popular fungal agent is Mycorrhizae and Trichoderma harzianum, which are already commercially used.
Mycorrhizae form a mutually beneficial relationship with grassroots, stimulating lawns to grow thick and lush.
Trichoderma harzianum helps improves soil structure and inhibits fungal soil-borne pathogens, including Fusarium (wilts), Rhizoctonia (root rot), Sclerotinia (blight), Drechslera tritici-repentis (Leaf Spot).
3. Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizers contain organic material(mainly manure, compost, amino acids or humic acid), which has the below benefits for plants：
- Provide essential slow-release & safe nutrients for turf growth
- Help improve soil condition, retain moisture and nutrients
- Stimulate soil microorganisms’ growth, help release the nutrients to ensure soil’s fertility.
How often use grass fertilizer
“Fertilize lawn how often and when?” This problem is troubled by many people.
First, you have to know that the lawn can be divided into two different types: Cool-Season Grasses and Warm-Season Grasses.
Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses include Kentucky blue grass, perennial rye grass, bent grass, tall fescue and fine fescue.
These types of grass grow most vigorously in winter, so they should be fertilized in fall.
Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-Season Grasses include Bermuda grass, St. Augustine, zoysia, and buffalo grass.
Generally, this lawn goes dormant in winter and grows during the summer.
So this grass should be fertilized in late spring to make sure they have plenty of nutrients for the active period, to maintain original thickness and color.
For most lawns, applying lawn fertilizer once or twice a year is enough to keep your grass green and healthy. Over-fertilizing will burn your grass.
Conclusion of Grass Fertilizer
All in all. Lawn fertilization should determine the type, quantity, and time of fertilization according to the variety of turfgrass species, growth, and soil nutrient status.
And remember, in order to meet the needs of various nutrients in turf growth, the principle of balanced fertilization should be adhered to.
Follow the above guide can get the beautiful lawn you want. More info of Lawn Care