Fertilizers - What you Need to Feed Your Lawn
Just like humans need food, water and shelter to survive, lawns depend on certain elements to live, sixteen to be exact. Most of these elements are already found naturally in the environment, but several others need to be added to your lawn. Adding fertilizer with these three elements, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, does the job.
Before you run out to the store to purchase a complete fertilizer, or, one that contains all three, it is important to understand why your lawn's livelihood depends on it.
Nitrogen- This is possibly the most important element your lawn needs. It makes the grass grow and gives it its green color. It will also allow for more density, thick shoots, and sturdy growth, thus creating an environment that will naturally fight off pests and bugs.
Potassium- Since you can't toss bananas in your yard, your best bet for this mineral is to use fertilizer! Potassium enhances your lawn's ability to resist disease, drought, wear and cold weather.
Phosphorus- This is used to encourage strong grass root growth.
Most fertilizers you will find in your local home and garden stores will contain all three of these elements. However, there are different amounts of each. This is reflected in a three-digit number, such as 30-10-10, which tells the percentage of each in this order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These blends will serve different purposes. For instance, more potassium in blends are good for winterization. The factors you need to consider are grass type, climate, time of season and soil type. Once you know what your needs are, you will be able to determine the right combination of these elements. An additional way to scan your needs is determine the current levels of these nutrients in your soil. This can be done through a simple pH test.
In addition to variation in percentages of the key elements, there are also different types of fertilizers to consider. There are four major options that will greet you in the fertilizer aisle: Granular (slow and fast-release), Liquid, Synthetic and Organic.
Granular fertilizers are perhaps the most popular, probably due to their ease in use and duration. Since these are dry, they are much easier to spread. Granular fertilizers can come in a slow time-release formula, which provides fertilization over two to six months.
This is an efficient choice for homeowners, as it will not need another application for months to come. Granular is also available in fast-release, and although applied in the same manner, the nutrients are released quicker and work better in cold weather. This method also costs less. However, grass burn can occur and there will be a greater need for watering.
Liquid fertilizers are just as the name says- in liquid form. These are applied by attaching a hose and nozzle to a spray bottle. The contents of the bottle are usually in concentrated form, thus the need to mix with the water. If you can use a hose, this is an easy method, more so than spreading granular around the yard. Also, since this a liquid, nutrients are available immediately to the roots of your vegetation. Herbicides can also be added or applied during this treatment. But, since the results are immediate, applications will have to be repeated more often than granular, and since liquid is more expensive to begin with, it can be more costly.
Synthetic fertilizers are usually manufactured chemically, hence being called synthetic. These engineered fertilizers offer immediate release of nutrients, and make lawns green.They simply penetrate the soil quicker. However, they are not natural, and many argue that lawns should be treated naturally. Applications of synthetic fertilizer needs to be redone more often, as results don't last as long. They can also burn your lawn if not applied in a proper manner.
Finally, organic fertilizers are made from once living organisms and their bi-products. These are applied to the lawn by spreaders, rakes and even by hand. Since this a totally natural fertilizer, the organics tend to break down slow when releasing nitrogen. They will improve the texture and density of your lawn, especially when added to soil or lakebed sand. There are some drawbacks however, including a foul smell in the case of manures. Also, these soils tend to have more nitrogen than other elements.
In summary, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to consider many things: The current nutrition of your lawn, how much money you want to spend, how much labor you want to invest in application- initial and repeats, as well as personal preference. But with the spurt in technology, choices keep growing as more combinations are being introduced.
For hundreds of other tips for creating your own perfect lawn, be sure to visit: http://www.YourPerfectLawn.com
 Google News Updated : Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:13:38 GMT Hillary Clinton's Staff Looking to Avoid Embarrassing Anti-Obama ... - FOXNews
FOXNews - Hillary Clinton's staff is trying to avoid an embarrassing anti-Obama demonstration by her supporters during the floor vote at next week's Democratic convention in Denver. Clinton Will Attend Fund-Raiser for Towns Clinton for VP? She Says Ask the Obama Campaign Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:15:16 GMT Marlins let one slip away in San Francisco - Sports Network
Sports Network - San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg's wild pitch in bottom of the ninth inning scored Emmanuel Burriss to send San Francisco past Florida, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game series. Giants walk off on Gregg's wild pitch Giants beat Marlins on wild pitch in 9th inning Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:33:45 GMT UPDATE 1-Microsoft enlists Seinfeld for ad campaign--source - Reuters Reuters - By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will star in a $300 million marketing campaign for Microsoft Corp aimed at burnishing the image of its computer operating system, a person familiar with the effort said on Thursday ... Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates to star in anti-Apple ads Seinfeld to be pitchman for Microsoft Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:27:28 GMT My Super Sweet 16: The Miley Cyrus Edition - E! Online
E! Online - Miley Cyrus is about to show up all those spoiled brats on My Super Sweet 16 who think they're cool being flown to their party by helicopter or when they're carried in like a princess by a group of hot dudes. Miley Cyrus to Celebrate Turning 16 at Disneyland Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:21:48 GMT IAC Officially Breaks Up - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By DAVID BENOIT and KATHY SHWIFF IAC is left as a collection of more than 35 Internet companies -- including search engine Ask.com, dating site Match. IAC: And Then There Were Five Diller's IAC Split May Fail to Boost Investor Returns (Update2) Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:17:40 GMT Microsoft's Photosynth wilts under pressure - Computerworld
Computerworld - By Gregg Keizer August 21, 2008 (Computerworld) Within hours of its launch, Microsoft Corp.'s new photo-stitching service went dark, overwhelmed by demand, the company said Thursday afternoon. New Microsoft photo site spends first day offline New Microsoft Tech Converts Photo Soup Into 3-D Image Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:28:59 GMT GM to Invest $500 Million To Build Chevy Cruze - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By KATHY SHWIFF General Motors Corp. will spend more than $500 million in the US to build the Chevrolet Cruze, a next-generation compact car. GM announces $500M investment for small car GM to invest $500 million in small car plant Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:10:12 GMT Easy Work At Home Opportunity |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter?... Read More HOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEHas summer come in with a bang!Heat waves everywhere.And where... Read More Gathering tomatoes or other fruits of the garden might not... Read More Principles refer to standards or prescriptions for working with or... Read More Tomatoes have always been my favorite garden vegetable to grow... Read More Every Garden can benefit from the addition of container gardens.... Read More Planting a Rock Garden is a great alternative to the... Read More Excessive organic matter in the pond provides nutrients for algae,... Read More Gardeners, it's time to put your gardening skills to the... Read More Women adore getting flowers, most especially roses, as it is... Read More The size of your yard will determine your final vegetable... Read More Swallowtail butterflies are some of the most beautiful butterflies found... Read More If you enjoy making your yard as beautiful as it... Read More The wonderful thing about choosing teak outdoor furniture is that... Read More A water garden is the area of your landscape that... Read More Miniature roses are exactly what they sound like. They have... Read More Teak furniture is tropical hardwood that has a rich, golden... Read More You have spent hours of time and quite a lot... Read More Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the... Read More Many of us garden just for the sheer joy of... Read More Fruit gardening and vegetable gardening is a very exciting venture.... Read More Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a... Read More There are many reasons why you might want to dry... Read More The Mentha species or mints as they are commonly called... Read More You might be tempted to let Mother Nature, tend to... Read More
Adsense
websites
Funky Garden Plants 2
Bird Baths in Your Yard
You Say Tomato I Say Mosquito
Landscaping Design - The Primary Principles
Secrets of Growing Killer Tomatoes
Gardening in Containers
Rock Gardens - A Different Kind of Garden
Avoiding Unsightly Algae
Spring Garden Tips
Make Your Fresh Cut Roses Last Longer!
Vegetable Garden Layout
The Swallowtail -- A Beautiful Butterfly
The Benefits of Using Landscape Software
Teak Outdoor Furniture - Where Function Meets Beauty
Planning a Water Garden...
What You Should Know About Miniature Roses
Teak Furniture - The Proper Way to Care For & Clean It
Teak Patio Furniture Is The Perfect Choice For Your Terrace
Cozy Nooks: Creating a Secret Outdoor Place
Gardening is Good Therapy
How to Grow Avocado
Tips For Successful Backyard Grape Growing
Drying Roses
Mint: The Herb of Hospitality
Keeping the Balance of Nature: Pond Water Maintenance
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Choosing the Right Roses for Your Garden
The selection of roses you can grow in your home... Read More
Granite Flexible Preformed Rock Ponds
More than just a Preformed PondTraditionally, preformed ponds are large... Read More
Tillandsia Airplants - Dont Plant These Plants!
Watch out, it's a tillandsia! Have no fear, I said... Read More
Sleeping Beauties: Porches For Dreaming
There's something magical about sleeping outside, drinking in the night... Read More
Organic Hydroponics - Simplified
These days, it's easy to get lost in the wealth... Read More
Why Patio Benches are a Great Place to Relax and Enjoy
Having an outdoor patio offers the opportunity and place to... Read More
Orchid Myths -The Truth
Here are some of the popular orchid myths#1 Orchids are... Read More
How to Grow Cooking Herbs
Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and... Read More
The Protea Family (Proteaceae)
The protea family (Proteaceae) includes a wide range of ground... Read More
Gift Ideas for Bird Lovers
Some of the best gifts you can give to a... Read More
Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators
Notice any fish disappearing lately? While herons are present year-round,... Read More
Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space
The task of selecting outdoor furniture for your natural spaces... Read More
Three Stumbling Blocks to Growing Grapes in the Backyard
Are you one of those home gardeners that don't know... Read More
Dont Roll that Lawn
Every spring some mysterious hormone hits the male of the... Read More
How To Brighten Up Your Home With These Flower Arrangement Ideas
A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point... Read More
How to Grow Blueberries
Along with lip-smacking sweetness, flower and foliage are also worthy... Read More
How to Make Your Own Rooting Hormone
When starting a new plant from a leaf or stem... Read More
10 Free Gardening Products
One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding... Read More
Popular Adirondack Chairs - Everything You Need To Know
Adirondack chairs were invented during the early 1900's by a... Read More
Building Liner Ponds
Surprisingly enough, it is usually in mid-summer that many gardeners... Read More
Pruning Roses Secrets
Pruning your roses is one of the most needed and... Read More
Home for a Gnome?
Kitsch is defined by several dictionaries as relating to poor... Read More
A Quick Overview of Outdoor Hot Tubs
There is nothing quite as relaxing as a leisurely evening... Read More
Secrets of Growing Killer Tomatoes
Tomatoes have always been my favorite garden vegetable to grow... Read More
The Advantages of Silk Flowers
The silk flower is growing in popularity among young couples... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |