Lawns Need Nutrients. Don't Forget to Fertilize!
As soon as it warms up a bit in spring, the lawn wakes up from its winter sleep and starts to grow. Before you do anything with the lawn, wait until daytime temperatures reach around 10°C, which usually happens from late March to mid-April. If you forgot to cut the lawn in autumn or it has uneven growth, you can mow it a little, but no more than one-third of the current length. Then comes the removal of all kinds of grass remnants from last year, moss and other debris. This step is important so that the lawn can breathe well and the plants don't suffocate under layers of material. A motorized lawn scarifier is best suited for this task. If you're only taking care of a small area and buying a special machine isn't worth it, you can also use a manual scarifier, which works similarly to a rake. Once you've removed all the raked debris, you can sow bare spots with grass seed. Floria Lawn Patch 3in1 will come in handy, which contains fast-growing grass seeds, fertilizer and water-retaining substrate. After scarifying, let the lawn rest for a few days and wait until it's cloudy - that's the right time for fertilizing!
How to Fertilize a Lawn?
A thick and beautifully green lawn cannot do without regular fertilizing. In spring, the lawn needs especially enough nitrogen (N). The easiest option is using granulated lawn fertilizers with long-term effect, which release nutrients gradually and fertilizing doesn't need to be repeated as often. You'll then only fertilize 2-3 times per season. With classic short-term fertilizer, be prepared to repeat fertilizing more than 10 times a year. There are also special fertilizers designed for specific periods, which are adapted in their composition to the current requirements of grasses. You can choose spring fertilizer for a quick season start and from late summer autumn fertilizer with higher potassium (K) content, which among other things increases resistance to freezing in winter.
More and more gardeners prefer slow-release fertilizers because they are highly effective while saving time. For example, EXPERT Forte plus lawn fertilizer only needs to be applied twice per season. With these fertilizers, it's also rare for nutrients to concentrate in one spot and burn the lawn, which sometimes happens with fast-acting fertilizers. However, if you need to supply nutrients to your lawn as quickly as possible, short-term fertilizers are the clear choice - for example, try BIOPON autumn fertilizer. Fertilizing should be followed by thorough watering.
If you're troubled by various weeds in your lawn, there's a way to eliminate them while fertilizing the lawn at the same time - all in one step. The granular product Travin King of Lawns contains important nutrients as well as selective herbicides that eliminate daisies, dandelions, cleavers, thistles and more. It works best when applied in spring during April and May.
Organic or Inorganic Fertilizer?
Supporters of ecological gardening practices have fully organic lawn fertilizer alternatives available. Their great advantage is that during decomposition and absorption, they produce additional substances that support not only plants but also rich soil life. Try, for example, the natural fertilizer EXPERT lawn fertilizer with guano.
How to Apply Lawn Fertilizer?
It definitely doesn't pay to just estimate the amount of fertilizer by eye. If you overdo it, you can burn your lawn; if you apply too little, the grass will suffer. Carefully read the instructions on the fertilizer package you're planning to use and measure the amount as precisely as possible. The application method also plays a major role. Hand spreading is often very imprecise and will show on the lawn. Moreover, over-fertilized or under-fertilized spots are more susceptible to fungal diseases. If you have no other option, at least divide both the area and the amount of fertilizer into smaller sections (for example, using strings laid on the lawn) and try to spread the fertilizer as evenly as possible. Spreaders used for lawn seeding are often not suitable for fertilizing because it's difficult to set the specific dosage. The most precise lawn fertilizer application is achieved using a handheld rotary spreader or a push spreader for larger areas.
Take Care of Your Lawn Year-Round
During the season, mow your lawn once or twice a week. During summer dry periods, don't cut the grass too short; rather let it grow a bit longer so it retains moisture better. If you want to keep the grass fresh and green, regular watering is essential. In autumn, give your lawn another scarification (ideally in September) and consider applying autumn lawn fertilizer. Don't leave fallen leaves on the lawn, and before winter, mow it one last time to a height of approximately 5 cm.