Fertiliser is a key ingredient in growing and maintaining a green, healthy lawn. With lawn fertilisation, it can be a bit of an information overload with all the available info out there (NPK ratio’s etc). The main points you need to ask yourself is:
1. which products to use
2. how to apply them
3. when to apply them
Complicating the issue is that if lawn fertiliser isn’t applied correctly, it can actually do more harm than good.
Below, we will try and break down the basics of lawn fertilisation. Of course if you need any assistance or advice, just get in contact with Angry Weeds and we’ll give you a hand!
What is NPK?
The three numbers you may see on a bag of fertiliser represents the % value of the three macro-nutrients used by plants. These macro-nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), or NPK for short.
Below is the very basic snapshot of what each fertiliser component does:
NITROGEN (N)
Basically, Nitrogen supercharges the green colour of your grass and gets it growing.
PHOSPHORUS (P)
Phosphorus is key in making the grass roots grow strong and deep.
POTASSIUM (K)
Potassium is key in the overall cell function of the plant performing such roles as
helping grass to cope with drought, resisting disease and assisting with the uptake of Nitrogen.
What products should I use for my lawn?
In general, there’s no one-size-fits-all-lawn formula. A lawn’s fertiliser needs will vary for for a variety of reasons, from different grass types to rainfall to erosion to nutrient deficiencies in the soil.
You also need to consider what growth stage your lawn is at i.e. is your lawn established or are you planting a new one? A new lawn will require a different ration of NPK compared to an established one.
In saying that, there is a ratio that is generally accepted as a pretty safe bet when applying to an established lawn. For most lawns this ratio sits at about is 4:1:2.
