Having a nice lawn on your property provides you with a place where you can sit in the sun, play with your children and entertain friends. However, sometimes a lawn will require some additional care and attention. The best way to support the growth of your lawn is to use fertiliser. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about using garden fertiliser.

Choosing a fertiliser

There are different types of lawn fertiliser on the market which each have their own qualities. You can choose from:

Slow release

As the name suggests, slow release fertiliser is designed to slowly release nutrients into the soil over an extended time period. This means that you can apply the fertiliser once and then forget it.

Fast release

Fast release fertilisers quickly provide a boost to a lawn which means they are great if the grass is struggling. However, due to the speed at which the nutrients are released, you may need to apply this type of fertiliser more than once.

Creating a schedule

When using fertiliser, it is important that you apply it at the right time in the growth cycle of your lawn. If you apply fertiliser at the wrong time, it may not be of much benefit to the grass. You should add fertiliser to your lawn during the spring as this is when the grass will be entering a period of new growth. You should avoid fertilising your lawn during the summer months as this can harm the grass. Ideally, you should wait until late fall before you apply more fertiliser to the lawn to help to see the grass through the colder months. Remember, if you are using fast release fertiliser, you may need to apply it more than once during the spring and fall.

Applying the fertiliser

While it is possible to spread the fertiliser by hand, this should be avoided. Spreading by hand can result in uneven coverage of the lawn which may lead to some areas of grass developing while others struggle, resulting in a patchy and uneven appearance. If you can, you should use a rotary spreader which will allow you to spread the fertiliser quickly and evenly across your lawn. Once you have applied the fertiliser, you should water your lawn with a hosepipe or sprinkler system. Watering the lawn will wash any excess fertiliser from the blades of grass. If excess fertiliser is left on the blades of grass, it can burn and damage them. Once you have watered the lawn, you should keep off the grass for a day or two to allow the fertiliser to be absorbed.

If you would like to find out more, contact a supplier today.