Spring is finally making an appearance.  There is so much you could do with the first warm weekend.  You could take the kids and the dog to the park, take a walk through the neighborhood or around the lake.  But no, you’ve decided to do your own lawn care this year and apply fertilizer yourself.  You made your pilgrimage to the local garden center or big box store and gotten what you hope is enough of the right product for your lawn because you’re not really sure how big your lawn is or what products you should be using.

Read and Follow All Label Directions

All those DIY products that you bought, whether they were a liquid to mix in water or a granular product to apply with a spreader, all have labels that should be read before applying to ensure proper fertilization.  They tell you important information like how much to put down per (typically) 1000 square feet and if it is a liquid, how much to mix in a given amount of water. Fertilizer labels can be confusing so Read Here if you want to learn more.

These labels also give information about whether it is harmful to bees or pets and how long the kids have to stay off the lawn.  Getting any of this information wrong can lead to problems along a scale of simply not getting enough fertilizer down to damaging your lawn to the point of needing to be replaced or even worse. 

Not only do you have to read all the label information, you have to have a secure, dry place to store the product and you may need to purchase a drop spreader or broadcast spreader to apply granular product and handheld sprayers for weed control and other liquid chemicals.  All of this equipment is costly and is just another opportunity to make a mistake if you misread those all-important labels.

As the seasons change so should the type of fertilizer application. Starting in early spring you want to apply fertilizer with a weed and crabgrass pre-emergent. To develop root growth, you need the right type of fertilizer for that time of year and need to be on a consistent lawn fertilizing schedule. You also need to water your lawn after fertilizing to help the nutrients from the fertilizer reach the roots to help the grass grow.

Lawn Care Companies Take The Worry Out Of Applications

Some weeds will escape the pre-emergent and some simply aren’t affected by it.  In cases like this, a post-emergent herbicide is needed to control them.  These products are typically selective as to whether they treat grassy weeds like crabgrass or broad-leaved weeds like clover, dandelion, and spurge.  If your local lawn care service applies a pre-emergent weed control, they should also be applying these products through the growing season as needed.  Check with your provider to ensure they are offering these lawn weed control services.

This is where the real value of a reputable lawn care company lies. Not only do they come to your property with the correct product at the correct time of year, they apply the appropriate amount of product so that expected and actual results line up and you get a greener, healthier lawn. Trained professional applicators are also able to answer your questions and give you advice about any concerns they may see while there to service your lawn. 

While the advent of YouTube and seminars at the big box stores may make it seem like any project can be a DIY project, some things are still best left to the professionals of lawn care companies.

Get More Info From The Pros!

Looking for more information on fertilization or just ready to let the professionals take over your lawn care needs from here? The Grassmaster Plus team is ready and willing to answer any questions you have and can provide you a free quote on your lawn care services for the season. Contact our local office today!