Tips On Using Lawn Fertilizers

* Obtain a soil test to determine grade and amount of fertilizer to use.
* Apply no more than 1 pound fast-release nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in a single application.
* Cool-season lawns should receive most of their yearly fertilizer in the early fall.
* Fertilize warm-season lawns from early spring until late summer.
* Use slow-release nitrogen whenever possible, especially on sandy soils.
* Wait until warm-season grass becomes dormant before fertilizing areas overseeded for winter color.
* Use only the amount called for, based on your lawn's square footage.
* For quicker application and to avoid a striped fertilizer pattern in the grass, use a rotary spreader, which applies fertilizer more evenly.
* Spread the fertilizer in two directions for each application.
* Apply fertilizer to dry grass, and water well immediately afterward.
* Sweep up any fertilizer spilled on paved areas and save for later use.
* Don't use leftover lawn fertilizer on trees, shrubs, annuals, or perennials. Too much nitrogen on these plants stimulates stem and leaf growth and decreases flower and fruit production.