The key to properly fertilizing St. Augustine lawn is getting the right amount of nutrients. Too much fertilizer isn’t going to make that lush, dark green yard or quick growth that St. Augustine is well known for. The problem with many homeowners trying to figure out how to fertilize St. Augustine lawns is they are doing it without knowing exactly how much is enough. When you get to know how your lawn should be Fertilized you can easily determine how much fertilizer to apply.
When it comes to applying fertilizer on your St. Augustine lawn, you should know that there are three options: liquid, granular, and dry forms. Liquid fertilizers are usually sold in bottles and come in powdered form. These types of fertilizers work by releasing liquid nutrients into the grass in the form of a liquid, easily diluted with water. The grass roots absorb these nutrients as the liquid passes through and helps the grass grow.
In order for a fertilizer to release nutrients effectively it should be soluble iron. Soluble iron is found in many different soil pH levels and can be found in most plants. This type of iron doesn’t need to be broken down before it is released into the soil. Instead, it releases nutrients when the plant consumes it. Most lawn experts recommend applying fertilizers in the spring just before seeding, but in some cases this may not be necessary.
The soil test kits available for purchase will indicate both nitrogen and potassium levels in your soil. You will need to combine these two nutrients to determine the proper fertilizer to apply. Nitrogen should be in the low-medium range in order to provide your St. Augustine lawn with the energy it needs to thrive. Potassium should be in the medium-high range because it keeps the soil in a moist condition. If you test the soil and find that there is too much nitrogen or too much potassium, you can adjust the quantities to fit your turf.
Your turf is only going to thrive if you make sure that it gets enough nutrition. Fertilizing your lawn three inches deep is recommended but if you are dealing with a thick St. Augustine lawn it may be more beneficial to apply the fertilizer in two-inch layers. Be sure to apply a light application of fertilizer after the first year to help the grass to recover. Apply the fertilizer evenly, taking care to apply in the direction of the grass’s normal growth path.
In addition to applying high-quality fertilizers, you need to give your St. Augustine grass a regular feeding with a natural fertilizer. A natural fertilizer like limestone or rock phosphate will provide the additional nutrients that it needs to keep growing strong and healthy. Limestone and rock phosphate are readily available at most hardware and home improvement stores, are inexpensive and usually include phosphorus and nitrogen. You should combine a pound of each to four pounds of grass in the spring. Make sure to follow the package directions carefully so that you don’t over-fertilize.
To maintain your lawn, you should apply a maintenance fertilizer product every six to twelve months. A good brand of maintenance fertilizer product should contain urea, potash, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate, and it should be made specifically for plants. A commercial brand might be cheaper than a home brand, but you will get a better end product. If you do decide to use a maintenance product, you should make sure that you water the lawn thoroughly after application. You don’t want to water it too deeply because that will wash away the fertilizer.
Fertilization is one of the most critical components of good grass growth and quality turf, and the tips in this article should help you choose the best fertilization product for your St Augustine lawn. The more fertilization you provide, the healthier your lawn will be during the growing season. And the more healthy lawn you have, the more money you will spend because you won’t have to continually replace dead grass on your property!
Leave a Reply