Should i use starter fertilizer

For example in the table above, applying 20 pounds of a fertilizer would contain 1 pound of nitrogen, 2 pounds of phosphorus, and 1 pound of potassium.

What comes first fertilizer or grass seed? Initial Application. When you start your lawn, spread a starter fertilizer over the ground with your grass seed.

You can broadcast the seed and fertilizer separately, one immediately following the next, and it does not matter which order you spread it in. How do you keep new grass alive? For the first couple of days, the sod and the first few inches of soil need to be thoroughly saturated with water, then kept moist until the sod roots attach to the soil. This kind of watering really requires daily sprinkling for 30 minutes to an hour even twice daily in dry weather.

Why is my newly seeded lawn turning yellow? Soil with imbalanced nutrients might also lead to the development of yellow grass. The most commonly imbalanced nutrients include a deficiency of iron or an excess of phosphorous.

If this is the cause of your yellow grass, treat the problem by fertilizing the lawn with a product low in phosphorous. Does starter fertilizer go bad? The general answer is no, fertilizer does not go bad if it is properly stored. While starter fertilizer may not be strictly necessary for new grass, it will definitely help with growth, root establishment, and that gorgeous, green color! Brand new grass can be very fragile in its early growth phase.

It is nice to give it all the help you can! Established grass requires more potassium. A standard weed and feed or other fertilizer will be much better for your grass. Give your new grass the best start possible with a lawn starter fertilizer!

The precise blend of nutrients is just what grass seed or sod needs to grow strong and healthy. Author: Matt Hagens. I love to be outside working on my lawn, planning my next project. I created this website to help people like you find the best products for yard care and great advice.

Learn more about me and find me on Facebook. Nitrogen and phosphorus from indiscriminate use of fertilizers have caused such great environmental concerns that about half the states in the U. If your lawn is not rich in natural organic matter , nitrogen plays an important role. Some research shows little influence of phosphorus on turf establishment in soils containing adequate to high levels of soil-test phosphorus; whereas other studies show benefits even when phosphorus levels are adequate.

Generally, developing seedlings growing in compact soils during cold temperature periods are thought to benefit more from phosphorus in starter fertilizer. The three most important nutrients required for good growth and health of your turfgrass are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, which a starter fertilizer contains.

There are benefits to incorporating the starter fertilizer into the soil before planting. When phosphorous and potassium are applied only to the surface of the soil they cannot move down into the soil fast enough. In addition, nitrogen can easily be leached from the soil before the grass even has a chance to uptake its nutrients. However, if you desire, you can spread the starter fertilizer over the site immediately after spreading your grass seed.

Probably not. The starter fertilizer might not contain all the required nutrients for continued growth and good health. Then, using a rototiller or other device, loosen the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches while working in recommended amenities based on the soil sample results. By working these amenities into the soil before planting, you create an environment that encourages a deeper root system for your grass.

When planting use a quality warm-season grass seed such as Bermuda Cynodon dactylon , St. Augustine Stenotaphrum secundatum or Centipede grass Stenotaphrum secundatum.

Plant half the seeds in one direction and the remainder in the other direction. Bermuda and Centipede grass are hardy in U.