Fertilizers for Lawn Care
Composition of Fertilizers
The chemicals nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium make up a lawn fertilizer. Nitrogen is chiefly important as it enables the grass to get its green color and to grow. Further, it paves way for grass to thicken, to become brawny and let off density in order to aid in fighting off weeds and driving away pests.
Phosphorus, on the other hand, is mainly used to enhance grass root growth and founding. In times of new planting and renewing old lawns, an increased level of this chemical is evident.
The third element, potassium, is used to boost the lawn’s ability to withstand diseases, drought, wear, and cold weather. During fall and winter, and even in times of new planting and renewing old lawns, one may observe an increased level of this substance.
Different Chemicals for Different Seasons
The lawn should be carefully maintained and given the essential nutrients in order to keep it at its best shape. For optimum development, the lawn needs to be treated differently on different seasons. In spring for example, it needs a fertilizer with nitrogen as this brings about the green color of the grass, which is pleasing to the eye. When used excessively, however, such would result to outrageous growth and will be detrimental to the lawn. Thus, the action of phosphorus is needed to keep the roots strong.
Nitrogen is also found to more likely burn your lawn during summer than during other seasons. This action of the said chemical is aggravated with a drought-damaged lawn. Because of this, it is advised that we utilize “slow-release and a combination” of fertilizers as these have better effects and are less costly compared to “fast-release fertilizers.”
A fertilizer that is washed off is considered a waste and is harmful. Also, it is not advisable to fertilize the lawn during the rainy season. This is so since rain pushes fertilizers into the drainage system causing them to be applied again. We should also refrain from using water-soluble and quick-release nitrogen solutions such as ammonium nitrate, urea ammonium phosphate and potassium chloride.
Chlorine in Lawn Fertilizers
Chlorine is a popular element for pool sterilizers as it effectively kills most microorganisms in the pool. Since pools and lawns have different compositions and have dissimilar functions, one should exert proper care in applying chlorine to the latter.
When introduced to the lawn, chlorine level in the pool does not result to real damage. In fact, combination with nitrogen to create chlorine compounds interferes with the chlorine’s ability to sanitize. Diluted pool chlorine does not create much of a problem, as concentrated levels do. Such levels can destroy essential bacteria that help plants get nutrients from the soil and damage grass in the lawn in general.
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