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Choosing Fertilizers for Home Lawns
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Fertilizing is an important lawn care practice, as it influences grass color, ability to recover from stress, and helps prevent weed invasions and disease. There are important features to consider when choosing lawn fertilizers.
Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the three major nutrients needed by lawns. Nitrogen is the nutrient required most, although too much nitrogen can cause excessive top growth, leading to assorted problems. Percent nitrogen (by weight) is always the first of three numbers on the fertilizer bag, followed by phosphorus and potassium.
For example, a 18-6-12 fertilizer contains 18 percent nitrogen. This number is important because it determines how much fertilizer is needed. In most cases, a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is suggested for each fertilizer application to the lawn.
If high percentage nitrogen fertilizers are used, then less actual fertilizer product is needed to supply that one pound compared to fertilizers with low percent nitrogen. Recommended ratios of N-P-K for lawn fertilizers include 3:1:2 or 4:1:2.
Another important factor in choosing nitrogen fertilizers is what kind of nitrogen is actually in the product. Nitrogen fertilizer may consist of fast-release or controlled-release nitrogen.
Advantages and disadvantages are outlined in the table below. For lawns, fertilizers containing controlled-release nitrogen sources are suggested for most applications. Check the guaranteed analysis information on the fertilizer label for information on what forms of nitrogen are in the product.
| FERTILIZER PRICES 25KG BAGS - 55 lbs. |
1ST # NITROGEN - FAST GREEN, THICK LAWN, STRONG STEM GROWTH
2ND # PHOSPHORUS- BUILD UP ROOT SYSTEM
3RD # POTASH- STABILIZES SOIL FOR DARKNESS OF COLOUR |
| 10-6-4 |
$ 14.00 Weed and Feed - Not aggressive, slower growth. Best for mid summer application. |
| 16-8-8 |
$ 17.00 for lawn mid summer application and tree feeding. |
| 8-2-14 |
$ 26.00 A one time application in early spring. Has all the micro nutrients. Slow release, moderate growth.
(with micro nutrients, Boron, MG, Iron plus 25 S.C.U. slow release) |
| 21-7-7 |
$ 18.00 Just your average fertilizer. Recommended for second fertilizing, 6 weeks after first application. Also used in late fall. Great bang for the buck |
| 30-5-5 |
$ 21.00 Cam’s pick.
Used in sod fields all the time. Very aggressive growth. Use as first spring and late fall application. Best choice. |
| 5-20-20 |
$ 16.00 for soil pre-seeding, and vegetable gardens. |
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Quantity discounts
on purchases of 5 or more bags.
Call 905-640-9090 for more information |
| FERTILIZER APPLICATION RATES COVERAGE PER BAG |
| 10-6-4 |
11 LBS PER 1000 SQ FEET - 5,000 SQ - FEET PER BAG. |
| 16-8-8 |
7 LBS PER 1000 SQ FEET 7,800 SQ - FEET PER BAG. |
| 18-2-14 |
5 LBS PER 1000 SQ FEET 11,000 SQ - FEET PER BAG. |
| 21-7-7 |
5 LBS PER 1000 SQ FEET 11,000 SQ - FEET PER BAG. |
| 30-5-5 |
5 LBS PER 1000 SQ FEET 11,000 SQ - FEET PER BAG. |
| 5-20-20 |
7 LBS PER 1000 SQ FEET 7,800 SQ - FEET PER BAG. |
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| Characteristics of Nitrogen Fertilizers for Home Lawns |
| Nitrogen Type |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Fast-Release
(i.e. urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate) |
1. Quick response (greening)
2. Provide nitrogen when soils are cold
3. Relatively inexpensive |
1. May cause undesirable large flush of growth
2. Likely to burn grass
3. Losses through soil or air more likely |
Controlled-Release
(slow-release)
(i.e. ureaform, sulfur-coated urea, IBDU, water-insoluble nitrogen or WIN) |
1. More uniform grass growth
2. Not likely to burn grass
3. Losses through soil or air less likely |
1. May not work on cold soil
2. Most are expensive
3. May not see quick color change in grass |
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