UNDERSTANDING FERTILIZER

The ideal fertilizer should be designed to completely fulfill the nutritional requirements of the plant it serves.
The three major components of a typical fertilizer are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium; often referred to by their chemical symbols "N", "P" and "K". Thus a fertilizer with a guaranteed analysis of 25-3-5 would consist of 25% Nitrogen (N), 3% Phosphorus (P205), and 5% Potassium (K2O).

Mineral nutrients are classified as major, secondary and minor elements. No one essential nutrient is of greater importance than any other. All of the essential elements are necessary for proper development of turfgrass, but the major and secondary elements are needed in larger quantities than the minor elements.

Major Elements: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
Nitrogen is an essential part of all living matter. It is the basis for amino acids that combine to form proteins. Nitrogen is associated with above ground vegetative growth and density of turf, as well as its deep green color. Deficiency is noticed in turf that has turned light green or yellow. The blades start dying at the tip and progress along the midrib until the entire leaf is dead.

Phosphorus is the key nutrient in seedling development since it contributes so much to initial root development and seed formation. It is directly related to the vital growth process. Deficiency is most likely to be observed in seedling growth when new seedlings are slow to develop. On established grasses the leaves tend to turn purple.
Potassium otherwise known as potash is found in large quantities in the plant. Potassium is associated with winter hardiness and disease resistance in turf. Deficiency will appear in the blades becoming streaked with yellow, turn brown at the tips and eventually die. Susceptibility to disease and winter injury is also increased.

Secondary Elements: Sulfur, Calcium and Magnesium
A soil may be alkaline, acidic or essentially neutral. The alkalinity or acidity of a soil is measured by its pH.
All pH values occur somewhere in a scale running from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral with numbers less that 7 indicating acidity and numbers over 7 being alkaline It is commonly accepted that a pH range of 6.5 to 7 is good for raising turfgrass. This is because overall nutrient availability is at its maximum in this range. Any time the pH strays too far from this range, nutrients become less available and more difficult for the plant to utilize.

It is possible to improve soil pH by adding high-calcium lime to acidic soils or sulfur, in various forms, to alkaline soils. It is wise to have a soil test run to determine if the pH needs to be raised, lowered or left as is.

Sulfur is an essential part of certain amino acids and proteins. Together with nitrogen, this element makes new protoplasm for plant cell growth. Deficiency is similar to that of nitrogen in that the leaves will turn light green or yellow, then turn brown, and eventually die.

Minor Elements: Iron, Manganese, Copper, Boron, Chlorine, Molybdenum and Zinc
Iron plays an integral part in chlorophyll production and is also a part of many enzymes. It is responsible for giving turf its deep green color. Deficiency symptoms include chlorotic or even white young leaves due to a reduction or loss of chlorophyll.

Other Minors are essential but not discussed here since most soils have the minor elements in necessary amounts. A complete soil test will determine if any of these minor elements are needed.


FERTILIZING RECOMMENDATIONS

Lawn Starter
Apply 10-10-10, 13-16-20 or a similar balanced fertilizer at a rate of 25# per 2500 sq. ft.

Lawn & Turf Maintenance
General rule of thumb is to provide 1# of actual nitrogen per application per 1000 sq. ft. repeated 4 times per year. Apply 25-3-10, 20-5-10 (or similar blend) at a rate of 20-25# per 5000 sq. ft. of lawn area. Additions of iron and sulfur are also desirable.

Lawn Winterizer
Apply 10-10-10, 13-16-20 or a similar balanced fertilizer at a rate of 25# per 5000 sq. ft.

Herbicides can be included with fertilizer applications. Follow directions and applications on the bag that generally corresponds with above rates.

Repeat fertilizer applications every 6-8 weeks throughout the growing season for a healthy lawn.

Garden, Flower Beds and Planters
10-10-10 20# per 800 sq. ft.
19-19-19 10# per 800 sq. ft.

2-3 applications per year.

Trees and Shrubs
Small size – small hand full of 10-10-10
Medium – (3’ shrub, 10’ tree) – large hand full of 10-10-10
Large – 2-3 hand full of 10-10-10

Scatter around the base of tree or shrub out to the root line.

3-4 applications per year.