When it comes to fertilizing your lawn here in the North Shore, it’s hard to know what kind to choose. Professionals recommend to always read the label first before you buy your fertilizer, but this can be overwhelming. There are different types of fertilizer and knowing which one is the best for your lawn can be the difference between seeing results or not.

Before treating your lawn, you should know what kind of grass you have so that you can properly treat it. We have cool season grasses here in Massachusetts, so you probably have a mix of Kentucky Blue, Rye, and Fescue. You want to be sure to read the label on the fertilizer bag correctly so that you know whether it is a slow-release fertilizer or a quick-release fertilizer.

Slow VS Quick Release Fertilizer

There are many advantages to using a slow-release fertilizer for your lawn care. Slow-release fertilizers are made up of natural supplements such as, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This type of fertilizer comes in granules that release nutrients gradually, making it less likely to burn your lawn.

Using slow-release fertilizer doesn’t force any fast growth that isn’t natural, in result putting less stress on your lawn. This will help give you a stronger turf in the end, which will reduce the chance of lawn disease or burns in the grass.

Using a slow-release fertilizer allows you to fertilize your lawn less often because the nutrients are released over time, whereas with a quick release fertilizer the lawn receives a rush of nutrients all at once and then suddenly is left with none. This can affect the overall health of the lawn, and as soon as you begin to see results, they quickly disappear.

Some companies use liquid fertilizer which is basically straight nitrogen and acts as a quick release, which causes the lawn to grow and green up quickly, but doesn't do much for the roots and overall health of the lawn. 

Two Types Of Slow Release Fertilizer

Slow-release fertilizers can be categorized as either organic or synthetic fertilizer.

Organic fertilizer breaks down differently, so it may not release nutrients as soon as you need them. This can affect the results you see in your lawn. Synthetic fertilizer helps lawns receive nutrients over time at a gradual speed. It does not force any fast growth that isn’t natural. Synthetic fertilizer is a faster process when comparing it to using organic fertilizer and will get you the best results.

The main difference between the two slow-release fertilizers is that synthetic has a coating around the pellets, but they are both made up of the same nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. So although one may be called "synthetic" it's still applying the same organic nutrients in your lawn.

With organic fertilizer you also don't get any weed control. So although the nutrients may be there for the turf to grow, there's not much stopping and controlling weeds from taking over. Organic fertilizer on average is also more expensive than synthetic.

Have Questions?

If you're looking for more information on fertilizers or just ready to speak to someone about your lawn care needs in the North Shore area for the upcoming season, go to www.GrassmasterPlus.com or call 978-769-3595 today!