Lawns: Feeding

The idea of feeding a lawn which is in full growth in early summer may seem quite a bizarre idea at first glance, but when you look at it, it is not such a crazy idea as you may have thought. Feeding lawns is not just the process of making the grass green; they enable the grass plants to create a tight matt of plants which will give weeds and moss far more of a problem getting a foothold. The grass also of course grows a far greener colour too but also builds up a resistance to disease and drought. Cutting the lawn in effect starves the plants of essential nutrients so the fertilizer is needed to replace what has been lost.

When do I need to feed my lawn?

It really depends on the type of fertilizer you are using. Different ones are used at different times of year but broadly speaking:

What fertilizer should I use to feed my lawn?

There are a massive array of fertilizer brands and different mixes to use to use on lawns which can be bewildering. They are all based however on the same foundations.

Nitrogen is the first nutrient to be used on the lawn once it has started to grow again from winter. Generally, the first dressing should contain phosphates and potash as well as nitrogen. Watch out for some brands which will have quick or slow release nutrients or fertilizers which contain added weed killer.

If in June/July, the lawn is not growing well, and it’s colour is a paler shade of green rather than the lush bright green we are used to, then a summer feed will be necessary. There are various ways that this could be applied, and experts have their own particular recipe and method, but generally 15g of Sulphate of Ammonia per square metre, but be careful that if it is applied in hot, dry conditions, as the grass maybe scorched. Another option is to apply a second feed of nitrogen based fertilizer.

What are the ideal weather conditions to feed my lawn?

How do I use fertilizers on my lawn?

The simple answer is carefully! This means that the fertilizer can be applied by hand, hand-held distributor, liquid dilutor or wheel distributor, but whichever way, the fertilizer must be applied evenly in order to prevent patchy, overlapping or missed areas.

If you are using a machine to spread the fertilizer, ensure that you clean out any residue afterwards as fertilizers can be corrosive.

Lawn Care:
 Jobs to do
 Equipment
 Mowing
 When do I cut my grass?
 Top dressing
 Feeding
 Watering
 Trimming
 Raking and brushing
 Aerating 
 Liming and Rolling

Lawn Problems:
 Pests
 Diseases
 Weeds
 Brown patches
 Repairs