4 Common Ways To Fertilize Your Lawn

Fertilizer brings much-needed nutrients to soil. A good fertilizer will control weeds, promote plant growth, and ensure a high-quality soil, allowing you to grow healthy, dense grass for your lawn. Applying fertilizer is an important step in maintaining a healthy and beautiful yard. But timing is everything—otherwise you’re wasting money, or worse, causing environmental damage to your local ecosystem.

There’s one other variable that you’ll need to know in order to maximize your investment in fertilizing your lawn—the square footage of your yard. Fertilizer is often sold by the square foot or by the cubic foot. To determine how much you’ll need, multiply the length of your lawn by its width in feet and subtract any area that’s covered by your home, driveway, or other structures. Plan to purchase 5%–10% more than your estimate.

* Broadcast or rotary spreader

This method is most commonly used to fertilize large lawns. Place the spreader in your driveway or on a tarp or other surface to easily collect spills and slowly fill it with fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer evenly to your lawn, starting at the outer edges and then working your way inward. You can either use a criss-crossing pattern or apply in parallel strips, overlapping slightly to make sure all areas are covered.

* Drop spreader

This method is good for smaller lawns and allows optimal control over fertilizer distribution. Fill the hopper with fertilizer and distribute by walking back and forth in parallel lines.

* Spray

Only works with liquid fertilizers. To apply a liquid fertilizer, fill the canister with fertilizer and attach the canister to the end of a garden hose. Steadily and evenly walk back and forth on your lawn, spraying the fertilizer on either side of you.

* Compost

Compost is an environmentally friendly alternative to fertilizer, as it provides nutrients to both grass and soil. Drop and spread compost evenly across the surface of your lawn when you would apply fertilizer—you could use a drop spreader or rotary spreader to do this. You can also use a wheelbarrow, shovel, and rake. Shovel compost into your wheelbarrow, and turn it over on your lawn to make small piles. Use the rake to spread the fertilizer and distribute it evenly.