Calculate
the amount of purchased product you need for a single application
In
general, lawns should be fertilized about 4 times a year with
1 lb. of nitrogen at each application
Both cool-season and warm-season grasses require 4 - 6 lbs. of actual
nitrogen per year. This amount is usually divided into 4 applications
of 0.5 to 1 lb. of actual nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. per application.
Application rates will vary depending upon the formulation and type
of fertilizer used and on the turf species.
It is best for the grass and the environment if you divide the amount
of fertilizer required and apply smaller quantities more frequently
during the active growing season, rather than applying larger amounts
less often. To avoid burning your lawn, no more than 1 pound of actual
nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. should be applied each time.
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Factors
to take into consideration when choosing fertilizer rate and frequency
Shade
and drought
Too much nitrogen can be detrimental for shady lawns because it
encourages shoot growth over root growth as well as making turf susceptible
to disease or traffic injury. Shaded turf only requires half the
amount of nitrogen that lawns in the sun require. Fertilize during
the spring and fall. For cool-season grasses, only minimum amounts
of nitrogen should be applied in the summer. Potassium is more important
than nitrogen for shaded lawns and it should be maximized as it makes
turf more tolerant to shade. Under drought conditions, apply nitrogen
lightly and infrequently to avoid lush growth and reduce the use
of water.
Soil
type
A turf species growing on sandy soil will have the same nitrogen
requirement as the same species growing on clay soil, but the nitrogen
should be applied at lower rates and more frequently on the sandy
soil than on the clay soil.
Type
of fertilizer
Quick release fertilizers usually last about 4 - 6 weeks and can
be applied at 4 - 6 week intervals during the period of active growth.
Slow release fertilizers may last up to 8 weeks. Apply at 6 - 8 week
intervals during the period of active growth. |
