Applying fertilizer to your lawn is an essential activity in landscaping. Fertilizers provide the grass with substances that enable them to grow better or make them more resistant to weeds and pests. However, there's more to applying fertilizer than this.

For the fertilizer to be effective, it has to be applied at the right time, in the correct way and quantities. Additionally, the fertilizer you use must be of the right type. If you don't consider these factors, your application may be ineffective or could end up killing your lawn.

When to Apply Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize your lawn is dependent on the type of grass you have. The grass is supposed to be fertilized just before it enters the peak growing phase. If your lawn consists of warm-season grasses, this means that you should apply the fertilizer in early summer or late spring. This is the period just before the grass enters an accelerated growth phase.

You could also reapply fertilizer later in the summer but not after September if the grass goes dormant during winter.

Cool-season grasses are fertilized in October or November. Do this before the grass starts to discolor.

How to Apply Fertilizer

The method used to apply the fertilizer if heavily influenced by the size of the lawn to be fertilized. For large lawns, it's advisable to use a rotary spreader. This can enable you to cover large areas effectively. If you need controlled distribution, a drop spreader will work better. For very small lawns, handheld broadcast spreaders will work well enough. There are also handheld, battery-powered spreaders that can work just as well for small lawns.

Amount of Fertilizer

Fertilizer should be applied evenly over the lawn to ensure all the area is covered. You can overlap in some areas but avoid using too much fertilizer in one area as this can instead kill the grass.

Other Factor to Consider When Applying Fertilizers

There are other factors that can affect the effectiveness of your application. These include:

• Watering: The lawn should be watered a few days before and a few days after the application of the fertilizer. The second watering washes the fertilizer off the grass blades and into the soil.

• Grasscycling: You can reduce the amount of fertilizer needed by leaving grass clippings on the lawn.

• Aeration: Have a landscaping services aerate your lawn before the fertilizer is applied. This gives the fertilizer easier access to the roots.