Maintaining a Beautiful Landscape Design with Fertilizer

Whether you are a new homeowner who has decided to take on the task of a lawn and garden or you have lived at your home for several years with the same common lawn problems, one of the most important steps you need to start the season right is to pay attention to using fertilizer as a way of promoting growth and stability in your grass as well as in your garden flowers and garden plants. Fertilizing truly is one of the most important steps you can take to create a weed-free, healthy landscape that will last for years to come. If you have gone without fertilizer in years past and are considering doing without it again this year, think again, because fertilizer does more than just promote grass or plant growth, it also maintains root growth and health, helps with pest control, weed control, and replaces nutrients lost through cutting grass or trimming of garden plants.

Before you run to the home landscaping garden store and grab the first fertilizer you see, it is important to evaluate your lawn and garden to determine which type or types of fertilizer will work well for you. Remember that there are different types of turf grass as well as different fertilizers meant to have a different effect on these types of grass or on different garden plants. Fertilizers range from liquid, granular, slow-release to quick release and depending on what type of grass seeds and sod are planted in your yard, you will need to carefully select one of these types of fertilizer to help your lawn continue to prosper.

Liquid fertilizers are quickly absorbed into the soil and a water hose will need to be used in order to reduce the high concentration levels of these types of fertilizers. One of the benefits of liquid fertilizer is that it can be used on both the lawn and in the garden and that many liquid fertilizers include extra nutrients that act as pest and weed control fighters, although it will need to be reapplied every few weeks to once a month.

Most often quick-release and liquid fertilizers go hand in hand, although not always. Quick release fertilizers are best used for those who need to get their lawn or garden in shape right away. If you were hit by a hard winter or just didn’t have the time to invest in your landscaping plans last year, but would like to take the time to get your yard in good shape for this year, quick-release fertilizers may take a few more applications than a slow release fertilizer, but they will definitely help bring your yard to a beautiful state.

One of the most common and usually the cheapest fertilizer to purchase is a granular fertilizer. This is an excellent fertilizer for those who have done a decent job of maintaining their lawn in the previous year or for those who have a large lawn, which may not be reached by the hose attached to the liquid fertilizers. You have probably seen landscapers walking around spreading granules onto a lawn. Granular fertilizers come in both slow and quick release, depending on your needs to produce a bountiful landscape but most gardeners who use a granular fertilizer like to keep track of exactly where the fertilizer is and how much has been applied to their garden design. Remember that even though you put the granular fertilizer on dry, it will still need to be watered into the grass regularly.

Most slow release fertilizers will come in the form of granules and are best suited for turf grass that is low maintenance with rich soil. It is also well suited for lawns that are in good condition and just need a little extra support and protection to stay healthy throughout the growing season. Most slow release fertilizers only need to be applied every 8-12 weeks, with variations for excessive rainfall and the time of year.

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