A common question we get asked in our industry is "How often do I fertilize my lawn?" In general, the simple answer is 5 to 6 times per year. But the answer can be a little more complicated than that. Depending on your soil type, soil drainage, and mowing habits it could be more or less frequent than that.
Every Utah home owner desires a green and lush lawn from spring until fall. Fertilization is the key to making that happen. Fertilizers are used to provide to the lawn all of the key nutrients it needs to stay green and beautiful.
Not only must you consider the frequency in which to apply fertilizer, but you also should know when to apply the fertilizer to achieve positive results.
Fertilizers are very expensive and if used incorrectly they can harm or even kill your grass. And with drought conditions as a concern in the State of Utah, knowing the right fertilizers and soil conditioners to use is more important than ever.
In this article, I will share information on how frequently you should fertilize your lawn as well as some tips to help you save money and keep your lawn looking beautiful!
How Often Do I Fertilize My Lawn?
As I shared earlier, you should generally fertilize 5 to 6 times per year. However, the most important consideration is not how often you should fertilize, but when you should apply the fertilizer. Here's the 6 step process we use to make your lawn beautiful.
But the secret to a perfect lawn is not only in the frequency and amount of fertilizer that is used, it is about the care of your lawn. Take the following points into consideration:
- The type of fertilizer you use
- How frequently you water your lawn
- Lawn mowing patterns
I will talk about each of those points in more detail.
The best type of lawn fertilizer to use
There are mainly two types of fertilizers you can apply to your lawn - Granule and Liquid fertilizers. The secret to the best fertilizer isn't really about whether it is liquid or granule. It is about the composition of the fertilizer.
At Utah lawn Police, we use liquid fertilizers primarily because we can control the contents of what goes into your lawn more closely. For example, our customers who choose our Wicked lawn fertilization program will not only have fertilizer in the mix, but a special blend of soil conditioners, and liquid aeration to help the nutrients and roots penetrate deep into the soil. This will make your lawn more drought tolerant, providing for a green lawn even with extreme water restrictions in place.
Another important consideration of the type of fertilizer to use is the timing of the release of the fertilizer. Some fertilizers are a quick release fertilizer, meaning they release all of the nutrients all at once, and some are a slow release fertilizer where the nutrients are released slowly over time. It is better and healthier to use a slow release fertilizer that will continuously feed your lawn than a fast release fertilizer. That is why we recommend and use slow release fertilizers in all of our lawn fertilization programs.
Frequency of Watering Matters
Every time you water your lawn, it reduces the amount of available fertilizer because the water will push the nutrient deeper and deeper into the soil. That is why the frequency and amount of water will affect the health of your lawn. A lawn that is over watered can look just as brown and dead as a lawn that is under watered. If you have specific questions about the right amount of watering for your lawn, I invite you to talk with one of our lawn care experts!
Lawn Mowing Patterns
How you mow your lawn is also important to the health of your lawn and how often you will need to fertilize. I am not talking about the stripe patterns of mowing your lawn here. I mean how tall you cut your grass and whether you bag or mulch your lawn.
The length at which you cut your grass has many affects on the health of your lawn. The longer you grow your grass the less water it will consume. This is because the blades of the grass will shield the soil surface below, preventing the soil from drying out too quickly. Setting your mowing deck between 3.5 and 5 inches will help keep your lawn green and lush in extreme drought conditions.
Another consideration of mowing is do I bag or mulch my lawn. If you bag your grass clippings, a lot of the nitrogen to keep your lawn green are thrown away as well. When you mulch your lawn, the grass clippings decompose, returning nitrogen to the soil and keeping your lawn greener longer.
Conclusion
How often do I fertilize my lawn? The long answer is it can depend on mowing and watering habits as well as the type of fertilizers used. However, with our lawn care packages that are designed for Utah soils, you can rest easy knowing the your lawn can stay healthy and strong, even in extreme drought conditions.