When to use Nitrogen Fertilizer

Columbus Lawn Fertilization

If you are wanting the fullest, healthiest lawn then begin with the right company to provide your fertilization - Ohio Lawncare Company. We are true professionals who have advanced knowledge in lawn fertilization, watering and irrigation practices, weed control, disease diagnosis and handling insect infestation problems. Our services are often priced less than you could do it yourself, especially when combined with regular lawn maintenance. Contact Us for a quote today!

Applied Science

Every lawn is unique, even from neighbor to neighbor. That's why we customize each feeding specifically to fit your lawn's needs. A proper soil test is paramount to identifying what it is your lawn needs to be lush and healthy. Ask your current servicing company for the latest soil test results, we doubt they did one at all. With regular testing and annual reporting we ensure your grass will always get the right combination of special lawn fertilizers, liquid and/or granular, to promote vibrant health and a strong root system.

Look to Ohio Lawncare Company to provide everything your lawn needs, contact us for a quote today! For those interested in doing it yourself, use the information below to help you along the way.



Doing it Yourself?

Grass is notorious for needing a lot of nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen is a macronutrient that all plants need. It is the basis for proteins in plants and animals, and is present in the chloroplasts, which are the molecules within plants that perform photosynthesis, making food for the plants. If plants do not have enough nitrogen, they turn yellow, in part because the chloroplasts are not functioning properly. Some plants require more than others. Most species of grass are what are called “heavy feeders” and require a lot of nitrogen. You will often hear people say their lawn has “greened up” after an application of fertilizer. After fertilization, the nitrogen levels in the plants are higher, including inside the chloroplasts, hence the greener color.

Forms of Nitrogen Fertilizers

Organic nitrogen is found in decaying plant and animal material. This is why compost is a good addition to soil. Commercially synthesized nitrogen generally includes either nitrate or ammonium. In the form of nitrate, plants can quickly and easily absorb nitrogen, but it leaches, or is washed, from the soil quickly. The ammonium bonds tightly with soil particles, so it moves through the soil to plants more slowly. To provide your lawn with the nitrogen it needs, use fertilizers that have both forms of nitrogen, or alternate applications of each type.

Organic forms of nitrogen are beneficial to the lawn, but take longer to break down and become available for plants. Inorganic forms such as nitrate or ammonium are more quickly available to plants, but can be lost into the groundwater, causing pollution problems downstream, if not applied correctly.

“More is NOT better” when fertilizing a lawn. Too much of a good thing is not, in fact, a good thing, when it comes to fertilizer. Over-fertilized plants produce soft, weak growth. When more nitrogen (or any nutrient) is added to the soil than can bond with the soil, it will move through the soil, and can cause imbalances. Many factors affect the ability of plants to take in nutrients. Weather, soil pH, plant type, and stage of growth all influence the way plants take in and use nutrients.

Each species of grass has different fertilizing requirements. Usually, nitrogen fertilizer also includes phosphorous and potassium. These formulations are called “N-P-K” fertilizers. The ratio of each nutrient to the other is indicated by a number. This is called the “fertilizer analysis.” You could buy a 10-10-10 fertilizer, which has equal parts of each nutrient. A 20-10-10 would have twice as much nitrogen as phosphorous and potassium. The numbers also correspond to percentage by weight in the particular fertilizer. A 10-10-10 fertilizer is made of 10% of each nutrient. The additional 70% of ingredients are inert, or inactive. A higher number corresponds to a larger amount of active ingredient in the fertilizer.

Nitrogen is important in overall plant health. Phosphorous is integral in root formation. Potassium regulates water movement. If you are just establishing a lawn, you might want to use fertilizer that has more phosphorous by percentage than nitrogen or potassium, so the plants can establish a healthy root system. During the summer, when the grass is actively growing, you may want to use a fertilizer with more nitrogen. Always apply nitrogen fertilizers at the rate recommended for your growing conditions and the species of grass that you grow. A plant can only use so much fertilizer. Any excess will be waste-in terms of money spent, and in terms of a resource that is underutilized. Nitrogen, in particular, is harmful when over-applied, as extra nitrogen will seep through groundwater, into streams and continuing to rivers causing algal blooms and other environmental impacts.

Nitrogen fertilizer is an important part of a lawn maintenance plant. When applied in the proper form at the proper time, it will help maintain a lawn in peak condition.

Liquid or Dry Fertilizer?

If you pay a visit to your local home improvement store with the goal of finding an effective lawn fertilizer, chances are you’ll feel overwhelmed. Standing amidst the aisle, it may seem as if you’re in fertilizer paradise (or purgatory, depending on how you view lawn care). With so many kinds of fertilizers from which to choose, it’s difficult to make a decision. Liquid lawn fertilizer is a specific type of fertilizer that responds quickly post application. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of liquid lawn fertilizers, so the next time you find yourself in the fertilizer aisle, you’ll be equipped to make a speedy decision.

Liquid Lawn Fertilizer: The Pros

Even coverage, thus decreasing the chance of burning it.

The application process is simple.

Tthe effect is nearly immediate; your lawn will receive nutrients and ‘green up’ in no time.

The combination of fertilizer and herbicide helps to ward off weeds

No more breaking your back hauling those hefty bags of granular fertilizer. With liquid lawn fertilizer, the only thing you carry around is the spray bottle (attached to the garden hose).

Liquid Lawn Fertilizer: The Cons

If you do not have a hose it is essentially a waste of time.

Liquid lawn fertilizers are more costly than other fertilizer forms.

More frequent application is required and could mean you’re paying a lot more

Organic Liquid Lawn Fertilizers
Now that you’ve compared the fertilizer types as liquid or granule lawn fertilizer, you have another choice to make: organic versus synthetic. Organic liquid lawn fertilizer is derived from animal and plant sources, and it is highly beneficial to the soil (not to mention the environment). There are few disadvantages when it comes to organic liquid lawn fertilizer. Due to the fact that the ingredients come from nature, the results are not as fast as synthetic liquid lawn fertilizer, but this is actually an advantage in the long run. Additionally, organic liquid lawn fertilizer has a distinct odor, but it fades away quickly.

When you consider the positive effects that organic liquid lawn fertilizer has on the lawn and the environment, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. But the decision is yours to make-after all, it’s your lawn. Find out more about organic alternatives in our organic section.

We will develop a personalized plan and schedule for your lawn care maintenance and landscaping needs. For more information contact us or call 614-547-5700 today.

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