Landscaping companies get a lot of questions about the best lawn fertilizer for achieving green, lush yards. It’s a simple question with a complicated answer. Pinpointing the best fertilizer and other treatments depends on many factors. The best way to find out what will work best for your lawn is to ask a professional. But in the meantime, we know you would like to have at least a little direction. Keep reading for a basic guide to the best lawn fertilizer for your yard.
#1 Nutrient for Your Grass: Nitrogen
When it comes to nutrients for your grass, nitrogen is the most important one. It needs to be fed to your grass on a regular basis to help it maintain its nice green color. Nitrogen is also vital to your grass’s continued growth and vigor. One easy way to make sure your grass has a constant supply of nitrogen is to leave the grass clippings on the lawn. This allows the nitrogen within the grass blades to be absorbed back into the soil. So in a sense, the best lawn fertilizer…is your lawn itself!
Nitrogen is also available in prepared fertilizers, or in mulches. Either of these can be applied to your lawn in the appropriate amounts, at certain times of the year that are important for promoting growth. It’s crucial that the correct amounts and methods be used when applying even the best lawn fertilizer, because overuse or errant applications can damage your lawn.
Lime, Phosphorus and Potash—Healthy Lawn Nutrients
Lime is another important nutrient for maintaining a healthy lawn. Instead of feeding the grass plants, lime is responsible for re-balancing the pH of the soil underneath the grass. A soil pH that’s out of whack will cause brown patches and will promote weed growth or yellowing grass. Applying lime will raise the pH of the soil, which is important for many types of grasses that are common in the Atlanta area.
Phosphorus is another vital nutrient for healthy grass. In fact, every plant requires phosphorus in order to grow. It’s required for healthy roots and stems, as well as that deep green color we all desire in our lawns. Because Atlanta has a very long growing season, phosphorus is typically applied to Atlanta lawns at certain times throughout the year.
Potash is a combination of salts and minerals (including phosphorus) that help grass perform photosynthesis, regulate water flow through the plant, and prevent diseases from taking over. Potash is also used here in Georgia to winterize our warm season grasses so that they will survive despite cooler temperatures and less water.
In the end, the best lawn fertilizer is a regular schedule of several important nutrient applications. Adding nitrogen in the spring is equally important as adding potash in the fall. But performing only one of those steps will not give you the thick, green lawn you truly desire—it’s the combined approach that delivers the beautiful lawn that will stand out in the neighborhood. Call Kemko Lawn & Shrub at 770-466-6113 to schedule the best lawn fertilizer service Atlanta has to offer.