Fertilization of your Florida Lawn: Best Practices

While fertilization may not seem too complicated, there are a variety of best practices that you should employ to get the best results. We all know that mowing, edging, weeding, and aeration are all great ways to gain a greener lawn, but Floridians often overlook fertilization. Your soil and turf can only gather so much of the necessary nutrients naturally, thus fertilization can be that buffer, making up the difference. Fertilization carries many benefits, providing a natural barrier to unwanted weed growth, and creating a healthier, thicker grass. The better looking your lawn, the better looking your property. Heading into the landscaping season, fertilization could be the perfect edge over your competitive neighbors, looking to win that annual HOA “Best Lawn.” Jokes aside, fertilization is great for your yard, so let us go over how to do it, the right way.

When Should I Fertilize?

The short answer to this question is, right now. You should try to apply lawn fertilizer no later than April, and ideally as early as possible. Your turf is about to hit peak growing season, where it will grow the fastest, but also need the most nutrients. You should avoid fertilizing in the off season, as this can not only damage your lawn, but permanently damage your soil. Once you have fertilized in April, fertilize again in September, especially if you have Bahia, Bermuda, Zoysia or St. Augustine turf.

Get your Soil Tested

For our next section about choosing the right fertilizer, this is going to be an optional prerequisite, as it helps but is not necessary. While you may know your grass type, knowing your soil composition can give you a leg up when selecting a fertilizer, especially when consulting a professional. Your local lawn pest control company should be able to perform a soil test.

Choose the Correct Fertilizer

There are many types of fertilizers, claiming various benefits to your yard. We recommend consulting a professional, for the best results. However, for reference, when looking at fertilizers they will have a string of three numbers. For example: 5-5-5. The first number is Nitrogen (N), the second is phosphorus (P) and the third is potassium (K). A good combination for the spring is typically around 20-5-10, but again, this can vary depending on turf and soil type, so consult a professional.

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Fertilizer Application

While we are extremely wary of DIY fertilizer application, there is a good percentage of people who will. Make sure to use a spreader, and evenly spread throughout the lawn. Also, water your lawn after application to push the nutrients down to the soil. 

Leave it to the Professionals

Now that we have established why and how you need to fertilize your lawn, we are hoping you will leave the rather complex process to the professionals. There is so much variation in the ideal fertilization process, based on soil and turf type. For you to get maximum results, you are going to want to take the guesswork out, and allow a professional to take over. With a professional you will be getting the most out of your fertilization, with experienced technicians performing the task.

Commercial or Residential, Taylor Anthony is prepared to help you manage your landscape by providing the right solution for your situation, call us today at (904) 230-3386.

*Note: Taylor Anthony 365 does not provide fertilization services, this blog being purely informational.