lawn fertilizer

Lawn fertilizers generally come in two varieties: Short-term fertilizer (also called instant fertilizer) and long-term fertilizer. Both types of fertilizer have different properties and are distinguished from each other primarily by their different duration of action. While short-term fertilizers act quickly and only in a short time interval, long-term fertilizers, on the other hand, release the stored nutrients successively over several weeks. You can find more information on this under "What should I look for when buying lawn fertilizer?
The three main product groups of lawn fertilizers are:
mineral lawn fertilizers
mineral-organic lawn fertilizers
organic lawn fertilizers
The most frequently used products are mineral-organic lawn fertilizers. These contain mineral elements as well as organic components and provide both a quick supply and a long-term effect. You can find lawn fertilizers in different grain sizes, but also as liquid products or mixtures to be dissolved in water.

You should maintain your lawn all year round and adjust the fertilizer according to the seasons. It is best to reseed in the spring between April and the end of May. During this period, your lawn needs a lot of nutrients. In spring, purely organic lawn fertilizers are particularly effective for a lush green lawn. To suppress moss growth during this time, lawn fertilizers with increased iron content are suitable.
If you want to strengthen the grasses' resistance to drought and warm weather in summer, you should also remember to fertilise in August and September. In case of a heavy weed infestation, you can use a lawn fertilizer with weed killer. A special and targeted supply of nutrients is also important in autumn to strengthen the grasses and prepare them for winter. Now your lawn needs less nitrogen than in the summer, but plenty of potassium. Most slow-release or autumn lawn fertilizers are suitable for this purpose.
In winter, your lawn will have to cope with closed snow cover, dry frost periods or long periods of waterlogging. From the first frost onwards, you should avoid walking on the lawn if possible, as otherwise the sensitive blades could break off. In this season, no maintenance steps are necessary until March or April.

Pay attention to the yield of the fertilizer. For many lawn fertilizers, an application rate of 25 grams per square meter (g/m²) is sufficient. With other fertilizers, it is better to use 50 grams of fertilizer per square meter. For more detailed information, consult the manufacturer's instructions for the product, as the amount depends on the ingredients.
Some lawn fertilizers come in seven, ten or fifteen kilogram bags. Of course, there are other quantities and sizes as well. Liquid fertilizer is sold by the gallon, unless you dissolve it in water first. You should be able to estimate approximately how much lawn fertilizer you will need to cover your areas. Your garden can be 400, 450 or even 800 square metres. What matters is how many kilos, litres or grams you need to maintain your lawn.
Do not use too much lawn fertilizer, because an overdose of nutrients can damage the soil and the fertilizer is not completely absorbed or remains longer above the soil and is therefore, depending on the product, possibly toxic to humans and animals.

Lawn fertilizers that contain the chemical compound dicamba and/or the herbicide 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D for short) are extremely effective against weeds that frequently occur in lawns, such as shepherd's purse, hornwort, common yarrow and bird's knotweed. Wild plants such as dandelion, white clover, plantain and daisies are also adequately controlled with these fertilizers. With these lawn fertilizers with weed killers you have already covered a broad spectrum for your garden care. For special weeds you will find various lawn fertilizers that work effectively against them.

That depends on whether you use a short-term or long-term fertilizer. With the latter, the long-term effect lasts from six to twelve weeks. The duration of the effect depends on the form of nitrogen it contains. Short-term fertilizers, as the name suggests, are applied more frequently, as they have an immediate effect, but only for a short period of time. Depending on the season, different types of fertilizer are useful, which you should apply in the doses recommended by the manufacturer.
There are several methods for applying fertilizer. Hand-applying will be a bit of a hassle, as it is difficult to estimate and distribute the amount per square metre. The best way to apply lawn fertilizer is with a so-called centrifugal spreader. This granular spreader usually has a large working width, distributes the fertiliser evenly and is more manoeuvrable than a box spreader. Centrifugal spreaders are available as small, portable or mobile units. Up to an area of about 500 square metres, however, I recommend using a hand-held device instead of a spreader wagon.

As a rule of thumb, both people and animals should stay off the lawn for 24 hours after fertilizing. Rain can have an accelerating effect, but ultimately it depends on which product you use. If you want to be sure, you can add a buffer day, because by then everything will have soaked in and you can be sure you're protecting your pets and children.
Too much fertilizer can poison your dog, cat and other animals as well, because the fertilizer sticks to their paws for a long period of time. In any case, read the safety instructions on your product.
Below is an overview of the toxicity of various fertilizers:
Mineral fertilizers (for example blue grain)
Contained ammonia compounds, phosphates and nitrates are toxic.
Organic fertilizers / organic products
Some organic fertilizers are safe for pets and children, so they can go right back to the grass.
Special fertilizers with active ingredients against weeds and moss
You should not walk on the lawn if toxic weed killers and herbicides have been spread.

Generally, fertilizers do not have a shelf life. If the storage location of the fertilizer is cool, dry and not exposed to sunlight, you can still use it after a few years.
If you want to give your fertilizer a long shelf life, you can store it in the garage, the tool shed or even in the garden shed. Do not store fertiliser in the cellar or in living rooms, as unpleasant odours can arise here.
If the fertilizer can no longer be spread, you can even dissolve it in water and spread it with a watering can. In this case, the effect of the fertilizer may be slightly less.