LawnCare.net

Making sure your lawn receives the proper nutrients is an important part of lawn care.

A key component of lawn care is providing the lawn with the nutrients it needs to grow.  Each nutrient is involved in different plant processes.  Nutrients are loosely grouped into two categories:  Macronutrients and micronutrients.  The nutrients listed under Macronutrients are almost always in lawn fertilizers.  Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur are sometimes categorized as macronutrients, and other times as micro-nutrients.  Each has its specific function in plant growth and development.

Macronutrients

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• Potassium

Micronutrients

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sulfur
• Iron
• Manganese
• Copper
• Zinc
• Boron

Lawn Fertilizer Analysis

Most lawn fertilizers contain the macronutrients, or what you could call “the big three:” Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K).  The fertilizer bags have their N-P-K analysis, or numbers that tell consumers how much of each nutrients is in the fertilizer, by percentage.  This can also tell you how many pounds of active ingredient are in each type of fertilizer.  For example, a 10-10-10 fertilizer has the same percentage of each ingredient.  100 lbs of the fertilizer would have 10 lbs of each active ingredient.  Here’s what each of the “big three” do for plants:

Nitrogen:  The basis of all protein and DNA.  Used mostly for growth.  Nitrogen application is said to “green up the grass” because it is incorporated into the leaf tissue.

Phosphorous:  This nutrient plays an integral part in photosynthesis, energy transfer and flower/fruit growth.  Plants without enough phosphorous do not produce many fruits, and their seeds can be deformed or not fully formed.

Potassium:  Many processes within the plant use potassium.  Sugar movement, cell division, root development and water retention all require potassium.

Micronutrients are just as Important

Even though most fertilizers contain only Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium, the micronutrients are just as important for healthy plant growth, and lawn grass will show the affects of an imbalance, or too little of any of these nutrients.

Calcium:  Plants without enough calcium have thick, woody stems and poor root development.  Lack of calcium can give the grass a yellowish hue.  The ratio of calcium to magnesium must be 7:1 for proper plant growth.

Magnesium:  Chlorophyll is partially made of magnesium, and needs this nutrient to function.  Too much Potassium in the soil can prevent magnesium from being present in the soil in a form that is available to plants.

Sulfur:  proteins have sulfur components in them.  Peppers, onions, cherries and plums need plenty of sulfur to bloom and produce good fruit set.  Many lawn grass fertilizers have a sulfur component.

Iron:  Iron uptake is affected by the amount and form of manganese.  Iron can bond tightly with soil particles.  Addition of a light layer of compost raked into the grass can re-introduce iron into lawns where it is deficient.

Manganese:  Plants require manganese to oxidize enzymes.  Acid soils (lower pH) tend to make more manganese available than alkaline (high pH) soils.

Copper:  Copper is a catalyst for specific enzymes within plants.  Many plant growth processes rely on sufficient copper.

Zinc:  Protein and starch building processes require zinc.  Too much Phosphorous in a lawn can bind up Zinc and make it unavailable to plants.

Boron:  Flowering, fruit and seed formation are affected by boron.

Identifying Specific Lawn Nutrient Needs

Before applying fertilizer to the lawn, it is always a good idea to have a soil test done.  You can pick up soil test boxes at your local cooperative extension office, along with instructions about how to collect a representative sample and prepare it for testing.  Fertilizer is expensive, and over-use of nutrients can cause pollution.  Getting a soil test will ensure that you are supplying your lawn with the right nutrients in the right amounts for healthy growth.

Chemical fertilizers add nutrients to your lawn.

While organic fertilizers protect the environment, chemical fertilizers may not be as bad as they may seem.

These days, organic seems to be the buzzword. Organic produce, organic meat, organic skin care, organic cleaning products-it makes you wonder if companies are placing the word ‘organic’ before their product names as a marketing ploy rather than a health concern. The same is true for lawn fertilizer. There’s nothing wrong with using organic fertilizer, but don’t be fooled into thinking chemical fertilizer is an absolute lawn care no-no.

What Are Chemical Fertilizers?

The purpose of a chemical fertilizer is to mimic nutrients found in plants by synthetically manufacturing them from inorganic substances. Chemical fertilizers can positively affect the wellbeing, efficiency and appearance of plants by supplying vital nourishment to promote growth.

The Upsides of Chemical Fertilizers

Unlike organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizer includes balanced levels of the three key nutrients: potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. The main reason fertilizer-organic or chemical-is necessary is to treat nutrient-deficient soil; therefore, chemical fertilizers provide all that’s missing in just one easy application.

When a plant or lawn requires immediate nourishment, chemical fertilizer is fast-acting; organic fertilizer, on the other hand, gradually releases nutrients into the soil. Here’s the ‘kicker’ that many homeowners fail to acknowledge: If you conduct a little research, as well as consult a professional about which chemical fertilizer is best suited for your soil type, then the chemical fertilizer you select will be effective.

Last, but certainly not least, you must use the appropriate amount of chemical fertilizer on your lawn. Otherwise, you will run the risk of chemical saturation or a lack of nourishment, both of which are detrimental to your lawn.

The Downsides of Chemical Fertilizers

Organic has become a buzzword for a reason-it protects the environment and, more importantly, your loved ones (and yourself). Now that chemical fertilizers have been on the market for awhile, people from all walks of life are beginning to acknowledge their negative effects.

Aside from damaging the ecosystem, chemical fertilizers can cause leaching, or groundwater pollution. Oftentimes, they are highly acidic, thus resulting in high acidic levels in the soil that stunt plant growth and kill microorganisms that help supply nitrogen to plants. Chemical fertilizers are typically more expensive than their organic counterparts, and they can eventually lead to a chemical imbalance in plants, particularly an excess of nitrogen.

While we’re not promoting chemical fertilizer over organic, it’s important to understand the differences among the two before making your final decision. If used in moderation and appropriately, chemical fertilizer can be an efficient and quick way to obtain a beautiful (and healthy) lawn.