DIY Lawn Fertilization Tips

    When applying fertilizer you want to be very careful as it does contain some dangerous chemicals that can irritate and sometimes even burn your skin (I have heard of possible links to cancers and stuff too so yeah you want to be really careful). I always wear pants and closed toe shoes or boots (yes even in the good summer heat). If you can breath when you wear a mask I suggest wearing one of those as well (to cut down breathing in all the fumes and chemicals). Also when you are done I suggest taking a good shower to wash any chemicals you may have on you off. Always, always, always follow all the directions on the bags as to other safty precautions, rate to apply, and how long to stay off the lawn (most say 1 day I suggest 3 as an added precaution... better safe than sorry + give it a better chance to do its job and work into the soil).   

    Now for the good stuff lol. Granual fertilization is rather easy and provides excellent results when done properly and with quality products. Best of all you can even do it yourself if you like to take care of your own lawn. I prefer to use one of two brands. Scotts has great products that really work, I use their grass seeds, and fertilization products. For my weed & feed applications another brand I often use is Preen. Preen also makes products for killing weeds in your flower beds, however I have not had a ton of sucess with these, their lawn weed & feed is excellent.

    As far as spreaders go, I prefer using a broadcast spreader. You will want to use a good steady pace to ensure an even application. Also make sure your lawn is free of toys, and anything else that may cause you to stop (big sticks, fallen limbs, the neighbors dog lol) before you begin. Set your spreader to the application rate suggested by the manufacturer of the fertilizer, over fertilization can burn your lawn and under fertilization doesn't help it as much as if you apply the correct amount. Now you should be ready to apply your fertilizer.  

    Walking in your steady pace circle the perimiter of your lawn and your home twice (if you use a drop spreader you will want to keep your spreader right next to where you left off on your last pass and it may be better to do 3 passes, this is why I like the broad cast spreaders, you can go out a couple feet with every pass cutting your work often in half while still accomplishing the same thing). After finishing your 1st two circles around the house and outside edges of the lawn you will want to continue spreading the fertilizer in whichever distance is longer over your yard (if your lawn is wider than deep spread width wise, if it is longer than across spread it length wise is your lawn is a perfect square either way is fine). When you are turning around generally you will want to stop spreading the fertilizer so you don't over fertilize and possibly burn your lawn, especially with a drop spreader. Any time you stop make sure you also stop letting fertilizer out otherwise you will most likely burn you lawn in that area.

    After you are done fertilizing the lawn take some time and water the lawn to soak the fertilizer into the ground so it can start working (also leaving fertilizer on the ground with no water can cause the lawn to burn). The only time you don't really have to water the lawn after fertilization is when it is going to rain. Sometimes I will actually even take a plastic garbage bag and cover the top of my spreader and spread fertilizer in the rain.

    The spring months are the best time to do your weed & feed lawn treatments. Towards the end of spring early summer is when you will want to do a summer treatment to help the lawn deal with the stress of the heat and lack of rain. Scott's Summer treatment is great for this as it has drought protection (they have come out with a new water smart technology for year round treatment that I am going to try this year also with a weed & feed that requires less water and is still supposed to deliever a great healthy lawn) During the fall is actually the best time to do your crabgrass preventers and winterizers. Many people don't know this but crabgrass tends to actually grow and begin its "life" during the winter months that is why when the snow clears you will see more crabgrass than you had during the fall of the previous year, thats why it is actually better to treat it during the fall months than spring. However if you already have crabgrass you can still treat it during the spring, it is just best to do your preventers during the fall for crabgrass. I also like to do a weed & feed at the end of summer or early fall.

    Generally within a week or so you will really start to see the results of your work and it will be well worth it. Not only do you have a great looking lawn, but you now have the sense of accomplishment from doing it yourself :-D

   Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. is an insured, residential and commercial lawn care provider specializing in many lawn care services to assist you in the proper care, and maintenance of your lawn. You can have that beautiful, lush, green lawn you have always wanted with our lawn care services that include: aeration, detaching, lawn rolling, re-seeding, granular fertilization, lawn mowing, weed whipping, edging, hedge trimming, flower, shrub, and tree planting, spring clean ups,fall clean ups, landscaping, and snow removal. We currently provide lawn care services in the Genesee County Michigan area primarily in Burton, Davison, Flint, Flushing, Grand Blanc, and Swartz Creek.

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