What Fertilizer Is Best for Lawns? An Introduction to Scientific Fertilization Methods

Lawns are a kind of greenery we often see, and most lawn grasses are herbaceous plants of the grass family. So, what fertilizer should be used for lawns?

1. What fertilizer should be used for lawns?

The chemical fertilizers commonly used for lawns are nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, compound fertilizer, trace element fertilizers, etc.; organic fertilizers are manure and urine fertilizers, compost fertilizers, green manure fertilizers, and cake fertilizers.

2. How should lawns be fertilized?

1. Fertilization methods

The methods commonly used for lawn fertilization are spraying or broadcasting fertilizer.

(1) Spraying means diluting the fertilizer with water into a solution and spraying it onto the turf surface using sprinkler irrigation or other equipment and tools.

(2) Broadcasting fertilizer means spreading all the fertilizer directly onto the turf surface. When broadcasting fertilizer, it should be spread as evenly as possible. Even lawn fertilization is key; uneven fertilization will destroy the uniformity of the lawn. To avoid excessive stimulation of plant growth in a certain area due to too much fertilizer, the fertilizer can be divided into several portions and spread in different directions.

2. Amount used

Generally, for lawns under high maintenance levels, the annual nitrogen application rate is 30 to 50 kg per mu, while for lawns under low maintenance levels, the annual nitrogen application rate is about 4 kg per mu. The general phosphorus application rate is 3 to 9 kg per mu for lawns under general maintenance levels, and 6 to 12 kg per mu for lawns under high maintenance levels. For newly built lawns, 3 to 15 kg per mu can be applied. For grass-family lawn grasses, the general ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be 4:3:2.

The amount of nitrogen fertilizer used on lawns should not be too large; otherwise, it will cause excessive growth of the lawn, increase the number of mowings, and reduce the lawn's ability to resist environmental stress.

3. Fertilization frequency

Fertilize twice a year, once in early spring and once in early autumn.

Early spring fertilization of lawns can not only advance the green period, but also help cool-season lawns recover as soon as possible from various injuries, and at the same time can form a dense turf before annual weeds reach a suitable germination temperature. Fertilizing at the end of August or the beginning of September can not only extend the green period to late autumn or early winter, but also stimulate the second-year tillering of lawn grasses and the production of underground rhizomes. This fertilization measure can create the best living conditions for a fine lawn, while being unfavorable to early-growing summer weeds.

Lawn maintenance may seem simple, but it must also be adapted to local conditions and timing. Specific situations should be analyzed specifically, and suitable establishment methods should be selected according to the relevant conditions of the planting site, planting time, required time to form turf, and the growth habits of the lawn grass varieties.