1. Choose the right fertilizer
Choosing the right fertilizer is an important part of efficient fertilization. Make a comprehensive comparison and selection of the nutrient content and proportion of the fertilizer, water solubility, effective time after application, residual effect length, impact on the soil, fertilizer price, etc.
Fertilizer has good physical properties, is not suitable for clumping and has uniform particles, so it is easy to apply evenly.
The water solubility of fertilizer also has a great impact on the possibility of leaf burning and the speed of turfgrass reaction after application.
Slow-release fertilizer has a long validity period and a high cost per unit of nitrogen, but it requires less fertilization, saves labor and labor, has stable and long-lasting lawn quality, and has broad application prospects.
2. Fertilizer dosage
Generally speaking, the amount of fertilizer used in lawns needs to be based on many factors, including the desired lawn quality, meteorological conditions, length of the growing season, soil texture, light conditions (yin, sun), trampling intensity, irrigation intensity, and the amount of leaf pruning. Stay and go.
Nitrogen fertilizer application is a key issue in lawn fertilization. When applying more nitrogen fertilizer, you need to consider the following situations: lawns with poor soil, lawns that are frequently used, such as sports field lawns, and lawns that grow slowly and weakly.
3. Selection of fertilization time
Fertilize the lawn in time every year when it is growing vigorously to ensure nutrient supply. The optimal fertilizing times for cool and warm season lawns vary. Cool-season lawns are best suited for fertilizing in late fall, which will help the lawn survive the winter and turn green earlier in the spring. Similarly, in early spring, you can also supplement fertility in an appropriate amount to help return green faster. The best time to fertilize warm-season turfgrass is early spring and mid-summer. Even if fall fertilization is required, it should not be too late, otherwise the cold resistance of the turfgrass will be reduced.
4. Determination of frequency of fertilization
The frequency of fertilization should be determined according to growth needs. An ideal fertilization program would be to use small amounts of nutrients necessary for plant growth every one or two weeks throughout the growing season, and adjust the amount of fertilizer as the plants respond.
In practice, the number or frequency of lawn fertilization often depends on the level of lawn maintenance and management:
■ For low-maintenance management lawns that only apply fertilizer once a year, cool-season turfgrass is applied every fall; warm-season turfgrass is applied in early summer.
■ For lawns with moderate maintenance and management, cool-season turfgrass should be fertilized once in spring and autumn; warm-season turfgrass should be fertilized once in spring, midsummer, and early autumn.
■ For high-maintenance lawns, it is best to fertilize once a month during the season when turfgrass is growing rapidly, whether it is cool-season turfgrass or warm-season turfgrass.
5. Selection of fertilization methods
Lawn fertilization is generally based on broadcasting. When applying fertilizer, pay attention to evenly applying fertilizer. If fertilizer is applied unevenly, the uniformity of the lawn will be destroyed. Where there is a lot of fertilizer, the grass grows quickly, is dark in color, and the grass surface is high; where there is little fertilizer, the color is light and the grass is weak; where there is no fertilizer, the grass is thin and yellow; where a large amount of fertilizer is gathered, ” “Grass burning” phenomenon causes bald spots and reduces the quality and use value of the lawn. Therefore, uniform fertilization is particularly important for lawns.
6. Other matters needing attention
Understand the seasonal growth patterns of turfgrass
Cool-season turfgrass enters a rapid growth stage immediately after turning green in spring. During the high temperature stress period in summer, the growth slows down. In autumn, it begins to grow again as the temperature drops to store nutrients. However, the growth rate of turfgrass in autumn is not as fast as in spring. In addition to the great impact of temperature on the growth of turfgrass, the genetic characteristics of the turfgrass itself also play a major role.
Post time: Jun-11-2024