Why Do Lawns Need To Be Fertilised

The Need For Fertilising Lawns

For everyone interested in a beautiful green lawn there can be no escaping the need for regular applications of fertilisers to our lawns. All plants and lawns require nutrients for their very survival, most of these nutrients are already present in the soils where we grow lawns, if they weren't then a lawn would neither establish nor survive.

The problem of lack of nutrients in the soil is common for lawns all over the world. This is because our lawns were once wild grasses which were brought in from many different countries, and the soil nutrient levels are never the same in these new environments than from where the grass originated from.

So we supplement these nutrients regularly with fertilisers to bring soil nutrients into line with what these grasses require, as well as promoting lawns to maintain the best health possible so that once wild grass can transform into the lush green lawn we all desire.

Low Soil Nutrient Levels

When nutrients are in low levels in soils, lawns can subsequently lose their dark green colour, become unhealthy and get sickly. They repair much slower from damage and are more prone to infestation from pests and disease.

While fertilising lawns is vital in all good lawn care practices to maintain excellent lawn health, it is important to remember it is only one part of the whole picture. Proper lawn care covers many different aspects, fertilising should not be solely relied on as the only means of maintaining a healthy lawn.

Good Fertilising Regimes

A good fertilising regime is a very important lawn care factor in the difference between that showpiece lawn we all admire, and that rather motley lawn we all try to avoid. Fertilising lawns should be done regularly and properly throughout the year. This is our own recommended lawn fertilising regime.

Dangers Of Irregular Fertilising

The most important factor in lawn fertilising is to fertilise regularly, and always preferably in smaller amounts, and to never exceed manufacturers recommendations.

A single application of fertiliser once or even twice a year will do very little for our lawns at all, this can even become damaging if we believe that doubling up on the fertiliser will account for the lack of regular fertilising. This is simply untrue, wastes money and damages our natural environment.

Lawns can only absorb so many nutrients, once the lawn gets to the stage that it can no longer absorb any more nutrients, the rest just wash away into our water systems to cause pollution.