Lawn Fertilisation

Your lawn not only needs regular watering and maintenance carried out on it but also regular fertilisation. Fertilising your lawn is a good way of ensuring that the soil beneath it has all the nutrients it needs to help maintain your lawn and to ensure that it continues to grow and nurture new growth all year round.

Grass plants absorb their nutrients through their root system and so the soil should be rich a source of these nutrients as possible. The main nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) but there are other nutrients that the soil can deliver to certain grass plants.

Applying fertiliser several times a year is the best way to ensure that these levels are sustained but, as mentioned, this should be done several times a year and not simply once or twice in large quantities.

Spring

The growth cycle of your lawn begins in earnest following the winter hiatus and most insects and broadleaf weeds lie dormant. The application of fertiliser in spring is designed to kick start the growing cycle and strengthen both the grass and its roots to withstand the summer months. Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium applied at this stage will help the grass remain healthy and sustained until the next application and also will help to achieve that deep green we have come to expect from our lawns. You should also consider applying a chemical that will assist with the controlling of moss.

Late Spring

At this time the combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium helps the grass to sustain strong leaf growth and overall general well being. Broadleaf weeds should be controlled at this time using the relevant weed killer – making sure to use one that will not have any lasting effects on your lawn – and as some weeds are persistent and hard wearing some manual digging and removal may be necessary.

Early Summer

As with spring, the combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium will continue to help the grass sustain strong leaf growth and along with mowing and watering this will go a long way to giving a lush green lawn throughout the summer months. In addition, you should continue with your regime of controlling weeds in and around the lawn to prevent their sapping of the soil’s nutrients upon which your lawn relies heavily. By this stage in the growing process garden pests will also rear their heads so pest control and the removal of such things as worm casts is a must. Regular scarification and aeration are also required to minimise Thatch, which can lead to fungal diseases.

Late Summer

By this time your lawn will be growing well and will require regular attention when it comes to mowing and keeping the grass down. Again fertilise your lawn around this time after you have aerated and scarified it to reduce Thatch build up. Applying fertiliser to grasses and turfs will help them continue to grow and can go some way to reviving patches of grass that have suffered from general wear and tear through the summer months.

Early Autumn

As daylight hours shorten and the temperatures begin to drop, leaf growth in your lawn will begin to slow down. The application of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium will provide essential nourishment at this time and will help your lawn fight against weeds. You too can help with this by applying weed killer as weeds tend to thrive in these early autumn conditions where the weather turns colder and wetter.

Late Autumn

This is the time of year when your lawn needs fertilising the most. As the temperatures continue to fall so the grass plant ceases to allow food through to the leaf systems, thus slowing and eventually stopping growth. Photosynthesis continues and any food generated is directly fed through to the root system thus keeping it alive. Applying the fertiliser at this time is imperative to maintain a healthy root system and allow it to grow. Aerate your lawn in autumn as it is one of the best times of year to carry out the procedure.

If you fertilise your lawn in the manner suggested it is likely you will have a lawn to be proud of during the gardening calendar year.

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