In this first of a series on lawn care, learn how fertilizing properly can make the difference in achieving a great lawn.
Fertilizing
Grass consumes high levels of nitrogen. While weeds like clover can draw nitrogen from the air, grass cannot. So the presence of those weeds could mean your soil needs more nitrogen. One very good fertilizer we recommend is Dr. Earth Organic Lawn Fertilizer. This will feed your grass and supply organic material to the soil for up to three months. Dr. Earth contains beneficial soil microbes which are living organisms that develop a symbiotic relationship with your lawn, helping it to better absorb nutrients from the soil. They also aid in relieving drought stress by absorbing water from a much greater volume of soil.
The microbes not only help to digest the organic fertilizer, but also aid in the consumption of thatch. (Thatch buildup acts like a screen on the lawn, a mixture of organic and inorganic matter that prevents water and nutrients from being absorbed by the grass). Some of the microbes even produce antibiotic compounds that suppress disease-bearing fungal pathogens, preventing them from becoming established in your lawn. The end result is a healthy, productive weed, drought and disease-resistant lawn that will give you years of enjoyment.
Timing
Do not do too much heavy yard work until your lawn has dried out somewhat from the melting snow and early spring rains. Doing so can damage your grass that has been dormant throughout the winter and doesn’t want a rude awakening. If you fertilize too early when the grass is dormant, you are throwing your money away. Fertilizing can take place at the end of April or beginning of May. Try to use a fertilizer that contains a pre-emergent weed control. These work best when the soil temperature is around 55 degrees.
Depending on which fertilizer you use and what type of grass you have, you may fertilize again in the summer and the fall, or just the fall. Ask Giordano’s knowledgeable staff for assistance with your lawn’s particular needs so they can be matched with products we carry. There
Whatever fertilizer you use, be sure to apply according to the directions. Too much fertilizer on Long Island lawns causes runoff to our harbors and rivers, which is the source of much of the pollution that exists in our waterways.