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How do I fertilize my lawn and can I use a combination product?

Combination products contain weed control or even an insecticide in with the fertilizer. I don't recommend those for this reason:  It's very seldom that you need to treat your ENIRE lawn with a weed killer or an insecticide.

In addition:  Weed prevention and lawn fertilizing are on different timetables.  Warm season weeds begin sprouting in late February or early March.  It's too late to try to control the ones you see now. In addition, herbicides are plant-specific, and may not affect your particular weeds at all. 

If you're not sure what kind of weed you have, take a sample to a good nursery or to your AgriLife Extension agent to identify it and explain how to manage it. 

Fertilize the lawn after April 15 or after you've mowed twice—that means you've mowsed the LAWN twice, not the weeds!

If you fertilize really early it ends up just getting washed away.  But if you wait until the second mowing, and you water in the fertilizer thoroughly, the grass roots can absorb it and use it.  You need about half pound of nitrogen—no more than a pound of nitrogen, somewhere in that range—per 1000 square feet.  You can buy fertilizers in different ratios.  The one we recommend is a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio of nutrients. 

Keep in mind that a gradual feeding through the year is much better than dumping a lot of fertilizer at one time. While you may think it's going to give you a great lawn, it ends up creating a lot of green top growth without much root growth.  When the summer heat arrives, you've got other problems on your hands, and next fall, you could be facing brown patch problems. 

So:

  • Fertilize moderately after the second true LAWN mow.
  • In the meantime, mow those weeds down every week to fend off their seed heads.
  • As summer weeds appear, get them out by hand; if absolutely necessary, spot treat.
  • Build a healthy lawn this summer to avoid weed problems in the future. 

Check out the Grow Green site for more information on weeds and the best way to fertilize and manage your lawn. You can also pick up free handouts at your local nurseries and garden centers.



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