Fertilizer and Lawns

• Like any other plants, grasses need the right mixture of nutrients to grow healthily. Using a fertilizer ensures healthy growth and can also build grasses that are more naturally tolerant to drought stress, disease and insect interference. Of the three essential nutrients that fertilizers provide (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium), lawns need nitrogen more than any other. As a general rule of thumb, most lawns respond well to 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of grass. Keep in mind that this is highly dependent on the species of grass growing in your lawn.
  
  

Effects of Improper Fertilization

• If you fertilize your lawn too frequently, higher-than-needed levels of nutrients like nitrogen can lead to an infestation of problematic weeds that will leach moisture away from your grasses. Nitrogen buildup can also strongly increase the likelihood of molds or fungus that can threaten the life of your grass. Overabundance of one or another nutrient can also leave your grass more susceptible to damage from extreme weather conditions like drought stress and frost damage. If ground soil is too laden with nitrogen, there is also a slight possibility of nitrogen leaking into water systems.
  
  

Proper Fertilization Techniques

• Always follow the recommended fertilization requirements for you specific species of grass and those that are printed on the packaging of the fertilizer you purchase. Fertilizer selection also has a bearing on fertilization technique; if you buy a particular nitrogen-rich fertilizer, like say a 30-10-20 (30 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorous 10 percent potassium, by weight) or 40-10-20, you will not need to use as much total fertilizer as you would if you had purchased a less nitrogen-rich mixture.
  
  

Other Considerations

• Lawncare choices such as fertilization technique depend heavily on the person growing the grass since lawns are grown much more for aesthetic rather than functional value. If a lawn looks good, for example, it may not be as hardy or healthy as a lawn that was grown more for longevity than for cosmetic appeal. When purchasing grasses for your lawn, choose a low-maintenance grass if you are the type of homeowner that wants a good-looking lawn without needing to invest too much time into maintaining it. Conversely, high-maintenance grasses may not look as appealing but will last much longer if proper care techniques are observed.