A well-maintained and expertly cared for lawn can improve the curb appeal of your house and make your outdoor living area much more beautiful. Often, the entire image of a house can be destroyed by an ugly, sparse, or scorched lawn or yard. A house, on the other hand, with a bright green and lush yard will attract positive attention. A lawn can also be a place of sanctuary and retreat. When you have a lush, green lawn, the outside of your home will invite visitors and will encourage leisure activity. One important aspect of maintaining a lawn and achieving a bright green look for your lawn is regular fertilization.

The Purpose of Fertilizer

Your lawn is composed of grass, and grass is just like any other plant in that it needs water, sunlight and nutrients in order to grow most effectively. Some lawns are planted on soil that has been leeched of nutrients over time, and this lack of nutrients is apparent in the color and consistency of the lawn. By fertilizing your lawn, you can add valuable nutrients back into the soil and bring your lawn back to life once again. Many fertilizers also help the grass in your lawn to absorb moisture more effectively. This will help you to save water during the scorching summer months and will make your grass stay healthy without browning or dying. Some fertilizers is mixed with pesticides that can help to kill pests such as grubs or ants which can burrow into your lawn and cause serious damage.

When to Fertilize Your Lawn

There are two basic times when lawn fertilization is recommended. Some consumers choose to winterize their lawn by applying a special fertilizer that is designed to keep your lawn healthy during the winter months. This fertilizer will improve the soil under your lawn and prepare your grass for new, healthy growth during the spring. Other consumers choose to fertilize their lawn in the spring immediately before the growing season begins.

Aerating Your Lawn before Fertilizing

One important step to ideal lawn fertilization is to aerate your lawn before you fertilize. Lawn aeration involves removing small pellets of earth from your lawn so that water and nutrients can seep into the ground and serve their purposes. In many lawns, the ground becomes so compacted by precipitation and heavy traffic that nutrients and water simply run off the lawn instead of penetrating to the roots of your grass. Aeration will prevent this from occurring.

Fertilization Techniques

When you fertilize your lawn, you will need to carefully follow the manufacturer's suggestions for fertilization spreading. Many consumers choose to purchase a spreader which distributes the fertilizer evenly. This is important because too much fertilizer concentrated in one area can burn and kill the grass in your lawn. As you walk behind a spreader, fertilizer will be distributed in a wide arc over your lawn. After you fertilize your lawn, it is important to water your lawn immediately to prevent the fertilizer from damaging the top of your grass.

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