The information provided here is from The Scotts Company web site.
Every neighborhood has that one lawn that all the neighbors envy. You know
the type: the grass is thick, green and not a weed is in sight.
That neighbor most likely knows that the easiest way to a thick, beautiful
weed-free lawn is with regular feedings using a controlled-release fertilizer.
Lawns are like any other plant—it needs food to reach its full potential. The
right nutrients will not only help the lawn become thick and green, but they
will help the grass to become better adapted to drought situations and
recovering from turf diseases.
Confusion about What to Do
Often, homeowners say fertilizing the lawn is confusing. Actually, it is easier
than feeding flowers or vegetables. All plants need nutrients, and when
those nutrients can’t be found in the soil they have to come from somewhere
else. This is where plant foods become important.
The soils around the new houses of today do not have adequate nutrients to
maintain a nice lawn. Consider when a new house is built: the contractors
simply use the backfill to cover the lawn and then plant seed or sod. It is
likely that the soil will be lacking in the proper nutrients.
For the most part, you can ignore the “expert” advice that says to then add
nutrients based on the soil test. Granted, it isn’t bad advice, but it isn’t a
necessary first step and soil tests can just add to the confusion. Soil testing
is primarily for professional turf needs.
So how do you get started? First, know your grass type.
Visit with your local nursery or gardening professional to find out what type of
grass is in your lawn. If you are located in a state north of Tennessee and east
of Denver, most likely your lawn is a combination of bluegrass, ryegrass and
fine fescues. In the South, there are many different grass types, but the most
common are St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass.
After you know what kind of grasses you have in your lawn,, visit your local
garden store or Lawn Pro dealer and purchase the lawn program that is right
for your lawn. Each bag of fertilizer will indicate how many square feet it
covers (for example, it might say “5,000 square feet”), and it will tell you the
recommended time to apply it to the lawn.
The first lawn feeding of the year should occur about the same time that the
lawn comes out of dormancy after the winter. For practicality purposes, this is
approximately the same time as the first mowing of the year.
After the spring feeding, simply follow-up every six to eight weeks with the
appropriate application for that time of year. For example, if you apply a
feeding in early April, then the next feeding should be done around the end
of May or early June.
At the minimum, a lawn should be fed in the spring and fall. But for best
results, should be followed that contains 4 to 6 feedings.
As stated previously, a lawn that is fed regularly will develop a thick, green
turf that is weed-free, better suited to drought-like conditions and less likely
to suffer from turf diseases.
With regular feedings, the root system will fill in bare spots naturally, and
weed seeds won’t have a place to germinate because the thick turf will cover
all of those bare areas.
There are also fertilizers that are made specially for summer and late fall.
Others combine the fertilizer and an ingredient to fight insects or prevent
crabgrass from germinating—such things that can ruin a nice lawn.
Start an annual lawn care program at any time of the year, just remember to
follow up with regular feedings for that thick, green, healthy lawn that your
neighbors will envy.
And they’ll think you spent hours to get it that way.
Every neighborhood has that one lawn that all the neighbors envy. You know
the type: the grass is thick, green and not a weed is in sight.
That neighbor most likely knows that the easiest way to a thick, beautiful
weed-free lawn is with regular feedings using a controlled-release fertilizer.
Lawns are like any other plant—it needs food to reach its full potential. The
right nutrients will not only help the lawn become thick and green, but they
will help the grass to become better adapted to drought situations and
recovering from turf diseases.
Confusion about What to Do
Often, homeowners say fertilizing the lawn is confusing. Actually, it is easier
than feeding flowers or vegetables. All plants need nutrients, and when
those nutrients can’t be found in the soil they have to come from somewhere
else. This is where plant foods become important.
The soils around the new houses of today do not have adequate nutrients to
maintain a nice lawn. Consider when a new house is built: the contractors
simply use the backfill to cover the lawn and then plant seed or sod. It is
likely that the soil will be lacking in the proper nutrients.
For the most part, you can ignore the “expert” advice that says to then add
nutrients based on the soil test. Granted, it isn’t bad advice, but it isn’t a
necessary first step and soil tests can just add to the confusion. Soil testing
is primarily for professional turf needs.
So how do you get started? First, know your grass type.
Visit with your local nursery or gardening professional to find out what type of
grass is in your lawn. If you are located in a state north of Tennessee and east
of Denver, most likely your lawn is a combination of bluegrass, ryegrass and
fine fescues. In the South, there are many different grass types, but the most
common are St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass.
After you know what kind of grasses you have in your lawn,, visit your local
garden store or Lawn Pro dealer and purchase the lawn program that is right
for your lawn. Each bag of fertilizer will indicate how many square feet it
covers (for example, it might say “5,000 square feet”), and it will tell you the
recommended time to apply it to the lawn.
The first lawn feeding of the year should occur about the same time that the
lawn comes out of dormancy after the winter. For practicality purposes, this is
approximately the same time as the first mowing of the year.
After the spring feeding, simply follow-up every six to eight weeks with the
appropriate application for that time of year. For example, if you apply a
feeding in early April, then the next feeding should be done around the end
of May or early June.
At the minimum, a lawn should be fed in the spring and fall. But for best
results, should be followed that contains 4 to 6 feedings.
As stated previously, a lawn that is fed regularly will develop a thick, green
turf that is weed-free, better suited to drought-like conditions and less likely
to suffer from turf diseases.
With regular feedings, the root system will fill in bare spots naturally, and
weed seeds won’t have a place to germinate because the thick turf will cover
all of those bare areas.
There are also fertilizers that are made specially for summer and late fall.
Others combine the fertilizer and an ingredient to fight insects or prevent
crabgrass from germinating—such things that can ruin a nice lawn.
Start an annual lawn care program at any time of the year, just remember to
follow up with regular feedings for that thick, green, healthy lawn that your
neighbors will envy.
And they’ll think you spent hours to get it that way.
| Landscaping Unlimited Established 1969 An All American Company (631) 732-1368 |
| Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, Landscape Designers and Contractors Long Island Landscaping specialists |
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Landscaping Unlimited is located in mid central Suffolk County Long Island and is based in
Farmingville 11738 in the town of Brookhaven.
Our Suffolk county Long Island landscape service area's are but not limited to. Farmingville
11738 Selden 11784 Blue Point 11715 Bohemia11717 Brookhaven11719 Centereach 11720
Coram 11727 Dix Hills 11746 East Patchogue 11942 East Setauket 11733 Hauppauge 11788
Holbrook 11741 Holtsville 11742 Lake Grove 11755 Lake Ronkonkoma 11779 Medford 11763
Middle Island 11953
Miller Place 11764 Mount Sinai 11766 Mt Sinai 11766 Nesconset 11767 Patchogue 11772 Port
Jefferson 11777 Port Jefferson Station 11776
Rigde 11961 Rocky Point 11778 Ronkonkoma 11779 Saint James 11760 Setauket 11733 Shirley
11967 Smithtown 11787
Sound Beach 11789 South Setauket 11720 stony Brook 11790 Wading river 11792 Riverhead
11901 Yaphank 11980
We limit our Landscaping service areas to Suffolk County Long Island New York Other
geographical limitations apply within Suffolk County Long Island.
Farmingville 11738 in the town of Brookhaven.
Our Suffolk county Long Island landscape service area's are but not limited to. Farmingville
11738 Selden 11784 Blue Point 11715 Bohemia11717 Brookhaven11719 Centereach 11720
Coram 11727 Dix Hills 11746 East Patchogue 11942 East Setauket 11733 Hauppauge 11788
Holbrook 11741 Holtsville 11742 Lake Grove 11755 Lake Ronkonkoma 11779 Medford 11763
Middle Island 11953
Miller Place 11764 Mount Sinai 11766 Mt Sinai 11766 Nesconset 11767 Patchogue 11772 Port
Jefferson 11777 Port Jefferson Station 11776
Rigde 11961 Rocky Point 11778 Ronkonkoma 11779 Saint James 11760 Setauket 11733 Shirley
11967 Smithtown 11787
Sound Beach 11789 South Setauket 11720 stony Brook 11790 Wading river 11792 Riverhead
11901 Yaphank 11980
We limit our Landscaping service areas to Suffolk County Long Island New York Other
geographical limitations apply within Suffolk County Long Island.
