Don't Starve your Lawn
Fertilization is the single most important lawn procedure required to improve lawn quality, density, and act as defender of the inevitable weed invasion in today's chemical-free environment,"offers former Glen Abbey Superintendent ScottBowman, now GM at Speare Seeds. "A fertilization program should focus on even amounts of nitrogen throughout the year with a strong late fall and dormant plan to properly prepare your lawn for the winter months and upcoming Spring. "Springtime fertilization is somethingevery home owner feels the need to do to get a head start for the upcoming season. However, a lawn that has been put to bed properly will not need any fertilization until May at the earliest. Soil temperatures remain quite low in the spring so an early application is not only a waste of time, but also money. Too much springtime fertilizer can lead to the plant using extra energy for top growth, taking away from root health, which then leads to overall turf failure later in the season. "Bowman emphasizes that your efforts this year will go a long way towards success next year. And for those of you wondering what to do with clippings: Leave them. They can provide up to one-third of the annual feeding requirement your lawn needs. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium... they're all in there.