The pros know that having a truly beautiful lawn is a year-round process. Fortunately, Hartville Hardware makes it easy with this 5-step program to feed a lawn a healthy diet year-round.
Step 1: March 25 - April 25
Get your lawn off to a healthy start and destroy crabgrass before it has time to take root. This is an essential step in the fertilizing program.
- Spread 18-0-4 Fertilizer with Dimension. Apply 4.0 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 12,500 sq ft.
- If seeding or overseeding, use 21-22-4 Fertilizer with Mesotrione. Apply 4.3 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 11,600 sq ft.
Step 2: April 25 - June 30
Apply a weed & feed product. Weed & feed products make the grass stronger and healthier, which helps it fight off weeds. Weed & feed products also contain an herbicide that kills broadleaf weeds. Choose ONE of the following.
- Spread 18-0-2 Fertilizer with Trimec Broadleaf Herbicide. Apply 4.0 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 12,500 sq ft. OR
- Spread 16-0-9 Fertilizer with Surge Broadleaf Herbicide. Apply 2.5 - 4.0 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 10,000 - 16,000 sq ft.
Step 3: May 15 - July 15
Grubs can decimate a perfect lawn by destroying grass at the root - and since they live underground, you usually don't know you have them until the damage is done. Put down grub preventative fertilizer in early to mid-summer when it will do the most good. Do not apply fertilizer if grass is dormant due to intense heat or drought.
- Spread 21-0-4 Fertilizer with Merit Insecticide. Apply at 3.5-4.5 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 11,000 - 14,300 sq ft. OR
- Spread TS Pro 16-2-4 Fertilizer. Apply at 6.25 lbs/1000 sq ft. 8,000 sq ft. per bag.
Step 4: September 1 - October 15
Your lawn spends the fall recovering from the dry, hot summer, which is why the fall turf feed is the most important feed of the year. Apply a fertilizer that thickens the grass and strengthens the roots. This is an essential step in the fertilizing program.
- Spread 29-0-5 25% slow release fertilizer. Apply 3.5 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 14,300 sq ft.
Step 5: October 5 - November 15
If you choose to fertilize in the late fall, a slow-release starter is ideal. Slow-release starters build deeper, healthier roots for 45-60 days so that the lawn will be stronger and more lush in the spring. Starters are a good idea for newer lawns, recently overseeded lawns, and lawns with grub damage.
- Hartville Hardware recommends 18-24-12 Slow Release Fertilizer with Nutrilife. Apply 4.0 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Each bag will cover 12,500 sq ft.
- To maintain optimal pH levels in the soil, use Pelletized Lawn Lime Granulate (40 lbs covers ~4000 sq ft).
While all steps in the 5-steps plan are important, the essential steps best ensure lush, green grass that's healthy from root to tip.
