Spring is the time for your grass to recover from Winter dormancy and the second fastest time for growth. As the turf grows it is repairing damage from the previous season, spreading and expanding, and preparing for the Summer ahead. The grass is also battling for resources against weeds and fighting against common stressors. It is important to make sure that you are providing your grass the right inputs and the right care to keep it as healthy as possible. However, with every big box store in the St. Charles area having dozens of lawn fertilization products on their shelves, it is difficult to know what to choose. Here’s what to consider during the process.
What You Need to Know About Lawn Fertilization
There are many nutrients and micronutrients that your turf needs for strong health, vibrant color, and a hearty root system. Most of the nutrients and micronutrients are available in sufficient quantities in the surrounding soil or produced through any number of biological processes. However, our grass often requires some additional nutrients as we progress through the Spring to help maintain its health and appearance. That’s where lawn fertilization comes in. Most grass plants need three major nutrients to support growth. These include:
- Nitrogen (N) to stimulate growth and dark, green color.
- Phosphorous (P) to help develop a healthy root system, which is particularly important if your lawn is newly established. Most lawns have a sufficient amount of (P) and by law in IL commercial Operators are not allowed to apply additional phosphorous unless there is a soil test showing that the lawn is deficient in phosphorous.
- Potassium (K) to improve the overall health of your grass and enhance disease resistance, as well as drought and cold tolerance.
When you’re looking for fertilizer, don’t just choose by brand. Use the label as your guide. The label will list the nutrients and the percentage of each. For instance, 10-10-10 means the bag contains an NPK ratio of 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorous, and 10% potassium.
In addition to different levels of nutrients, you can also choose from a range of formulas. For example, fast-release, liquid fertilizers will provide an immediate boost to a deficient lawn. In most cases, though, a controlled- or slow-release, granular product is better. This will release nutrients slowly, over several weeks, keeping your lawn on a steady diet.
Or Turn to the Lawn Fertilization Experts in St. Charles
If you’d like to avoid the guesswork and get professional-level results, Lawn Doctor of Batavia-Aurora is here for you. We offer expert lawn fertilization, as well as a host of other services, to homeowners across the St. Charles area that are important at this time of year. Our locally owned and operated lawn care service will make sure your lawn will grow lush and green, so you can enjoy it more in the months ahead.
Our services are available in:
- St. Charles
- Geneva
- Batavia
- West Chicago
- Naperville
- Wheaton
- Downers Grove
- Glen Ellyn
- Aurora
- Lisle
- Lombard
- Winfield
- And across other nearby communities
Contact us today for a free quote and to get started with professional lawn fertilization in St. Charles!
