Treatments & Weed Control
A well-balanced nutrient plan will keep your grass healthy throughout the year. We could write hundreds of pages of information on the nutrients given to the lawn but we have chosen a few key ideas we feel are the most important. Listed below are some of the most important things to remember when applying nutrients to the lawn.
- Use slow release products applied at consistent intervals. Slow release products will generally last at least six to eight weeks. When these products are applied at consistent intervals it provides a slow steady release over a long period of time. Avoid sporadic treatments with fast release fertilizers. You will have quick surges of growth and then rapid slow downs. Quick surges and rapid slow downs create added stress to the grass plant.
- When selecting fertilizers, choose products that have an analysis with a ratio of 1:0:1 or 2:0:1. The first number is Nitrogen, which is the “energy” for the plant. It is the major nutrient for energy. The middle number is Phosphate, which helps promote seed germination. Phosphorus is vital when seeding to help with seed germination. This nutrient is not mobile in the soil, it stays in place and the grass is rarely deficient. The third number is Potash, which helps the grass with drought tolerance and heat stress. That is important for the summers in Iowa.
- Apply fertilizers with Micronutrients. Micronutrients are not less important than the macronutrients (N, P, and K). They are just as important; they are just needed in smaller amounts.
- During the entire season you should apply 3-5 pounds of Nitrogen for every 1000 square feet of grass. This will assure that the grass is not deficient but also that fertilizer in not wasted over feeding the lawn.
