A good fertilizer program is imperative for a lush, green and healthy lawn. Fertilizing promotes new growth, controls weeds, aids recovery from damage caused by foot traffic, and replaces nutrients lost due to leaching. Lawn fertilizers come in three basic types: synthetic quick-release; natural or organic slow-release; and a novel slow-release hybrid form that combines both synthetic and natural ingredients.

Quick Release Fertilizers

As the name suggests these fertilizers dissolve quickly in water and are released immediately into the soil. The results obtained are also fast and you see growth of green grass in a day or so. However, quick release fertilizers come with their drawbacks. First, due to their inorganic nature, they do not form a source of nutrition for organisms like earthworms which are beneficial for the soil. Over a time, they also alter the pH of the soil acidifying it, rendering it unfit for soil organisms to thrive in this habitat. Moreover, you need to replenish the soil quite often.

Slow Release Fertilizers

Slow-release fertilizers are made from natural products like plant and animal manure compost. Sterilized sewage sludge is also used as lawn fertilizer. They are less soluble in water than quick release fertilizers and so nutrients are released at a slower rate. This becomes advantageous to the plants as they are able to take up most of the nutrients without waste by leaching. However, you may have to wait a week or two to see the results. Since slow release fertilizers are completely organic in nature, they form a feeding base for soil organisms.

Hybrid Fertilizers

Hybrid fertilizers contain both synthetic and natural ingredients. The advantage is that your lawn gets both short-term and long-term effects of fertilization.

It is recommended that lawns are fertilized twice a year, once in spring and once in early fall. Though many elements are required for healthy growth of a turf, the major nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). They are added to the lawn in the required proportion, which is usually indicated by the manufacturer. Along with the NPK nutrients, minor nutrients such as calcium, sulfur and magnesium, and trace minerals such as zinc, copper and chlorine are also essential.

This is also another great article about fertilizing you lawn & garden.

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