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.