If you are planning for a luxurious Homer Glen, IL, spring yard, a landscaper near me will most likely suggest lawn fertilization. Fertilizer has many benefits to boost your grass growth and create a gorgeous landscape.
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What is fertilizer?
Fertilizer is a granule application that your landscaper will spread in the fall and spring to feed your grass. Grass needs all the nutrients to thrive and that is what fertilizer offers.
The top three nutrients are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Nitrogen is used the most by the grass for boosting nutrition and essential to protein formation. Potassium strengthens grass’ ability to withstand disease and protects the roots from the extreme hot and cold weather temperatures. Phosphorus aids in storing and using energy for growth and good health which the grass needs as it goes dormant in the winter.
When to fertilize?
Fertilizer is beneficial when it is applied at the correct times of year and in the right amounts. It can easily burn the grass and so entrusting a landscaper to choose the correct ratio and application rate is wise.
Fall fertilizer: One of the primary growing times for grass is in the fall when the ground is still warm but the temperatures are cooler. When your landscaper suggests spreading fertilizer on the grass, fall is ideal for letting the grass absorb the nutrients to store for the winter weather.
Fall fertilizer is the one time in the year when applying fertilizer is essential to new spring growth and a fall boost. Combined with aeration, this is the time your lawn has to prepare for the rest of the year.
Aerating: Along with fertilizer, aerating is another key component of a healthy stand of grass. The landscaper will go around your lawn with a machine that pulls small plugs of grass out of the soil. They will spread new grass seed and fertilizer for it to grow roots before the cold winter weather arrives. Along with the oxygen and water, this process boosts your grass to a thick, lush carpet ready to burst into growth in the springtime.
Spring fertilizer: A second application of fertilizer for the spring can be what your grass needs after a dormant winter season. Your landscaper will apply a thin cover of fertilizer to get the growth of the grass going once more.
What to know about fertilizer?
While fertilizer is amazing and necessary for the lush lawn you desire, too much can burn the grass. Fertilizer applications must be done at strategic times of the year and in a ratio that feeds your grass but does not burn the roots.
In addition, there must be ample water to dissolve it into the ground and sunshine to encourage the roots and plants to grow. Many homeowners throw away money because they don’t understand the fertilizer process so they end up not putting enough on the grass and it does nothing. Too little means wasted time and money while too much can burn the grass that you are trying to nurture.
This is why entrusting the fertilizer along with the lawncare tasks can yield the type of lawn that dazzles all year long. When searching for a landscaper to help you with fertilization, be sure to choose the one who has proven results.
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