Lawn Solutions Australia's video: Lawn Maintenance Series E3 Lawn Nutrition Fertilising

Welcome to episode 3 of our video series outlining the key areas of lawn maintenance. In this episode we cover lawn nutrition and ensuring your lawn has the key nutrients it needs for optimum health. In Episode 2 we covered weed removal and prevention, so now that you are on top of the weeds its time to feed your lawn. There is a common misconception that the fertiliser itself is the food for your plant. We in the industry also commonly refer to feeding the grass or to fertiliser as lawn food. But in actual fact, grasses make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. The issue for our lawns is there is usually a lack of the required nutrients it needs in the soil. This is due to the fact that our grasses are not originally from the exact same soil conditions we experience in our yards. As a result, we need to supplement the existing nutrient levels, so we can achieve a balance of all the nutrients your lawn needs to stay in top shape. Macronutrients The three numbers on the side of your fertiliser represent the value of the three macro-nutrients required for your lawn. These three macronutrients are N, P, & K. Nitrogen is largely responsible for the growth of leaves on the plant and is the most talked about nutrient when it comes to lawns and is usually the highest percentage of your NPK ratio. Lawns love Nitrogen, but it is important to strike a balance between strong leaf growth and strong roots capable of supporting it as well. Which is where Phosphorus comes in. Nitrogen usually comes in the following forms: Ammonium, Controlled release (synthetic) and Urea. Phosphorus is largely responsible for root growth and is actually quite a low percentage of the overall NPK ratio. Phosphorus moves slowly through the soil, and isn’t used in great amounts by your lawn, so some is needed but not a great amount. Phosphorus usually comes in the following forms: Water Soluble, Citrate Soluble and Citrate Insoluble. Potassium is a nutrient that helps the overall functions of the plant perform correctly. Potassium is an essential macro-nutrient used in the largest quantities by plants for vigour and growth. Potassium helps grass withstand drought and disease. It also helps the plant to more efficiently use Nitrogen. Potassium usually comes in the form of Sulphate as soluble potash. Micronutrients Many people have heard of these Macronutrients, but have you ever thought about Micronutrients? Micronutrients are chemical elements that are required in minute or trace amounts for the normal growth and development of your lawn. Some of these include Boron, Copper, Iron, Chloride and Zinc. If your soil has the correct pH, generally these micronutrients will be found to be in optimum range and no soil adjustment will be required. When your lawn is looking a little worse for wear, is lacking in colour and looks as though it could do with a feed, Lawn fertiliser will provide your lawn with the nutrients it is lacking, helping to feed the grass roots and promote growth. What fertiliser should I use? Slow release fertilisers are almost always better value for money, so if you are looking for a slow release feed for your lawn for the entire season, then granular fertilisers are the way to go. Lawn Solutions Fertiliser is a slow release granular fertiliser which was developed for use on Sir Walter DNA Certified Soft Leaf Buffalo lawns, but it will work equally well on other lawn varieties, such as Couch, Buffalo, Kikuyu, Zoysia, Tall Fescue, Bluegrass and Ryegrass, delivering all the nutrients your grass needs to recover and grow. All you need to do is use the right amount for the size of the lawn, spreading it out evenly and water it in really well. If you do not water it in enough, the granules can burn the leaf of your lawn, so make sure you apply enough water. By understanding how these nutrients effect the overall health of your lawn, you will be better equipped to identify deficiencies in your lawn and the tell-tale signs of stress, which will help you know when it’s a good time to fertilise or apply soil amendments. Next up in our lawn maintenance series we cover lawn hydration. Check out the Lawn Solutions Australia website for more helpful lawn advice and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel.