Why is Fertilization Important for my Lawn?
Your lawn needs food (nutrients), water, air, and light to flourish. In nature, decaying plant and animal matter complete the nourishment cycle, but in most of our gardens, this process doesn’t happen.
Dead leaves and other plant matter are considered unsightly and removed, so the nutrient cycle is interrupted. And over time your soil will become nutrient-deficient. This is when lawn fertilization services play an important role.
Most homeowners want a lush green lawn, that enhances their curb appeal, with no weeds. The best way to achieve this is to fertilize. A healthy lawn crowds out weeds, depriving their seeds of necessary sunlight, and making it harder for weeds to get established.
If you want a full, thick, healthy lawn, you need a number of factors – adequate light, water, air, and nutrient-rich soil. YardDoc can help with each of these essential lawn care elements, including all the major nutrients for basic plant nutrition.
Options to improve the quality of your soil include composting, top dressing, aerating, and de-thatching, among others. But the most cost-effective approach is a regular lawn fertilizer service.
Knowing Your Fertilization Ingredients
Fertilizers are typically comprised of the three elements of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and you will find three numbers on the bag of fertilizer which indicate the percentage of each of these. For example, Lesco 28-3-10 indicates it comprises 28% Nitrogen, 3% Phosphorous and 10% Potassium.
What Do Each of these Elements Do?
- Nitrogen - Nitrogen supports plants' growth and encourages the development of lush healthy foliage and fruit.
- Phosphorus - Phosphorus is found in plant and animal cells, and plays a vital role in enabling the plant to absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into growth.
- Potassium - Potassium is the most abundant inorganic element, and is key to plant growth. Potassium is also an activator of many important enzymes, such as protein synthesis, sugar transport and photosynthesis, it is also associated with the movement of water, nutrients and carbohydrates.
Your lawn will require each of these elements but in different ratios at different times of the year.
Does Grass Mulching or Grasscycling Help with Soil Quality?
Generally, yes, it does! Grasscycling or grass clipping mulching is the name for letting the grass clippings remain on your lawn after cutting, instead of bagging them. This adds organic matter to your lawn that is a natural fertilizer. This saves mowing time, saves on lawn fertilization expense, and is environmentally friendly.
The only caveat is, to do this, you need to maintain the grass regularly, and you need to use a mower with a mulch kit as the clippings shouldn’t be too long.
Also, you don’t want too big a load of clippings going back into your grass at one time, or you end up with excessive thatching, which can cause water and air movement problems. This can lead to fungal problems, like Brown Patch or Take-All Patch that can kill your lawn.
How Often Should I Fertilize my Lawn?
This depends on many factors, such as:
- The existing condition
- The type of grass
- Climate
- How often you do composting or top soil additions
- Any fungal issues
- Watering regimen
- How often you maintain your lawn
Typically, the healthier a lawn is, the faster it grows and needs cutting. YardDoc recommends fertilizing at least twice annually, but ideally four times per year.
All Lawn Care Services
- Aeration
- Mulching
- Fertilization
- Irrigation System Management
- Mowing
- Sprinkler System Repair
- Weed Control
Let our certified technicians provide a custom lawn fertilizer service plan to keep your lawn in optimal condition year-round, or better still, inquire about our seasonal Lawn Care Program that incorporates fertilizations with weed and lawn insect treatments.
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