Lawn care is all about the right balance of elements. All you have to do is balance the amount of sunlight, the amount of water, and the type and amount of fertilizer you should use. In this two part series, we will explore these elements. Let’s start with fertilizer.
How Much Fertilizer to Apply to Your Lawn
A lot of times we’re asked: “how much fertilizer should I use on my lawn?” Well, the answer to that question depends on a lot of factors, as this article excerpt from Lawn Care for Dummies shows:
“Fertilizer recommendations are based on the amount of actual nitrogen a lawn needs in a year. The amount of grass fertilizer you decide to apply should take into account several factors, including the type of grass you have planted and the size of your lawn.
Different types of grasses need different amounts of nitrogen to keep them vigorous and healthy. The following table lists the yearly nitrogen requirements for 1,000 square feet of the most common lawn grasses.
That recommended nitrogen range shown in the table has to do with the length of the growing season. If you live in a cold-winter climate where the seasons are short, you use the lower end of the range. If, on the other hand, you live in an area where the summers are long and the winters are mild, you use the upper range. Basically, the longer the growing season, the more nitrogen the grass needs.
| Grass Type | Pounds of Nitrogen per 1,000 Square Feet |
|---|---|
| Bahia grass | 2 to 4 |
| Bentgrass | 4 to 6 |
| Bermuda grass, Common | 2 to 6 |
| Bermuda grass, Hybrid | 4 to 6 |
| Blue grama | 1 to 2 |
| Buffalo grass | 0 to 2 |
| Centipede grass | 1 to 2 |
| Fine fescue | 2 to 3 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 4 to 6 |
| Ryegrass | 2 to 4 |
| St. Augustine grass | 4 to 5 |
| Tall fescue | 2 to 6 |
| Zoysia grass | 3 to 4 |
How Much Should I Water My Lawn and When?
How much you should water your lawn depends on factors like your climate, the type of grass that you have, and the time of year. In winter months in Arizona, as a rule, if you water your grass once a week, you’re good. In the summer, you want to water every two or three days. You always want to water your lawn in the evening in Arizona, or very early morning as it will keep the water from evaporating.
As to how to water your lawn, using a sprinkler as a opposed to a hose is best as it thoroughly soaks your grass. So again, remember that you want to balance the amount of water you get and the amount of fertilizer. Then you’re on the way to knowing the basics of lawn care.
This concludes part one of our series. For more information on lawn care, be sure to read part two as well.
Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com