Fertilization is a critical part of your home and garden maintenance plan. Adding fertilizer to your lawn ensures it grows lush and green every season. Below are the do’s and don’ts to consider before applying it to your property.

Do:

Use slow-release fertilizer.

Even though the results are not immediate, slow-release fertilizer is better for your lawn. This type breaks down nutrients over time as opposed to the fast-release that can send out too much too soon and make your grass vulnerable to short roots, pests, and other trouble.

Also, note the ingredient list. High nitrogen options are best for summer and spring applications, while phosphorous and potassium are better in fall for root growth.

Apply more to busy areas.

If you have sections of your lawn with high traffic, boost the amount of fertilizer in those spots. This ensures that those areas are strong against people, pets, toys, vehicles, and more no matter how much wear and tear they suffer.

Aerate the soil.

Use an aerator tool, a mower with an aerator attachment, or a digging fork to remove soil plugs from the lawn. Aerating reduces compaction and opens up the ground so the roots can better accept the fertilizer as well as air and water.  

Don’t:

Mix with weed and insect killer.

Avoid fertilizers that contain repellents and poisons. Since you may not have every pest listed, you are exposing your grass to unnecessary products.

As for weed killers, if the area isn’t suffering from them, you are adding chemicals to the ground when you don’t have to. Only use pest and weed killers as needed to lower the risk of contaminated runoff.

Forget your pets.

If you have furry friends, make sure the products you pick are safe for them. Do not purchase fertilizers with bone, blood, or fish meal since they will attract dogs and make them ill if ingested. Instead, select products made from grass clippings or seaweed.

Scatter on hardscaping.

If your landscape has sidewalks, driveways, retaining walls, and other hardscaping elements, do not scatter the fertilizer on them. Sweep away any spills so that when it rains or you irrigate your lawn, the runoff from these areas doesn’t contaminate the water supply.

 

For home and garden supplies in Nekoosa, WI, head over to Pritzl’s Trading Post. The family-owned store has been a trusted resource in the area since 1976, offering their patrons groceries, deli and bakery products, local honey, sporting goods, and delicious pizzas made to order. They even have postal and DMV services as well as hunting and fishing licenses. Call (715) 325-2281 to learn more about their home and garden inventory or visit them online for their daily specials.