As the weather gets warmer, more homeowners will begin tending to their lawn and garden regularly. Fertilizer is a major component to any healthy yard. However, there are many different options available on the market, and finding the right one can be overwhelming. Here are a few ways to help you choose the most effective options for your lawn and garden.
How to Narrow Down the Right Fertilizer for Your Yard
Choose the Right Ingredients
Most fertilizers contain some combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When you see numbers on fertilizer packages, these are the ingredients they refer to. A package of 18-6-12 fertilizer contains 18% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, and 12% potassium, while a 10-10-10 fertilizer contains equal parts of each ingredient. All these ingredients are essential for healthy lawns, but some types of grass, like Kentucky bluegrass, require more nitrogen than others. In those cases, consider a fertilizer with a higher percentage of that material.
Consider How Quickly You Need It to Work
There are some fast-acting fertilizers available, while others offer more of a controlled release. If you have new grass or a lawn that’s struggling to stay healthy, opt for a fast-acting variety that’s more likely to penetrate the soil and show results right away. However, if your lawn is already healthy and you want to keep it looking good, a controlled release fertilizer will maintain your grass and make it less likely to overgrow in some areas of the lawn and garden.
Think About the Time of Year
There are some types of fertilizer for the beginning of spring and throughout summer, and others for fall to keep your lawn protected through the winter. These fertilizers will be marked as such. However, you can also keep an eye out for specific ingredients. For example, fertilizers that are high in potassium are more effective in the fall, since grass tends to lose that material over the colder months.
If you’re looking for fertilizer or other yard and farm supplies near Warren and St. Charles Counties, MO, visit Vehige Enterprises Inc. The family-owned company has been providing farmers and homeowners in the area with all the lawn and garden supplies they need for more than 20 years. Call (636) 673-2202 or view a selection of products available on the company’s website.
