Choosing the Right Fertilizer: Soil nutrients must have their essential nutrients displayed on the container. The order of the numbers is- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. If there is a fourth number it represents Sulfur and would not be good on turf. Choosing the right fertilizer at the right time of year is important to your lawn’s health. The biggest thing to watch is your Nitrogen content. If you use a fertilizer with High Nitrogen content during the middle of Summer you will burn the grass. Always check the bag for application rates. Nitrogen promotes overall growth and makes grass that green color that everyone wants. The following schedule gives a good idea, depending on when your seasons start and end.

January: This is the best time to apply lime. Lime will bring your soil to a pH level that is good for grass and bad for weeds. Lime is also a soil softener so it will help prevent soil compaction.

February: Depending on when your season starts, you will want to put out a pre-emergent fertilizer BEFORE the grass begins to grow, but be careful because it will also prevent grass seed from germinating (so you will want to seed in the Fall).

March: This is the time for the second fertilizer application. You will want to wait about 6 weeks between applications (if you have not had much rain you may want to wait a couple extra weeks). This application should be a high nitrogen (the first number in the formula) fertilizer. Use a fertilizer with nitrogen content between 20 and 32. An ideal fertilizer for this application would be (28-10-20).

April: As the grass begins its growth, you will need to mow frequently. Remember we only want to cut the top 1/3 of the grass. If you start to see brown patches you may have developed a fungus. Put a fungicide down as soon as you notice the fungus. You may need to apply a fungicide two times about 20 days apart.

May: Start thinking about Summer. Put out a fertilizer with low Nitrogen and high Phosphorus and Potassium. This will give the root system a boost before the dry season comes on. Remember to use a very low nitrogen on this application, a good fertilizer would be (5-20-20).

June: Rest.

July: If you want to boost the green on your lawn at this time of year use pelletized iron. This will give you the green without burning the lawn like nitrogen will.

August: The hottest month of the year. Remember if you are watering to only do it early in the morning. Late in the month put a light application of a fertilizer with a 0 nitrogen content. A rating of (0-15-15) will be good to prepare the soil for Aeration and seeding. If you have broadleaf weeds apply a spray weed killer. Be sure that the spray is a broadleaf weed killer only (this will be listed on the bottle). If you have crabgrass, spot spray an herbicide on the center of clumps (keep the spray low to the ground so you only kill the crabgrass).

September: Rest

October: Aerate and over seed. Aerating controls soil compaction and helps the root system of your lawn. After you aerate, over seed your lawn and fertilize with a medium fertilizer (12-10-10).

November: At the middle of the month put out a high nitrogen fertilizer to keep your lawn green through winter.

December: Rest