Granular & Liquid Lawn Fertilisers
Granular and Liquid Lawn Fertilisers can be found in the Lawnsmith Shop and are discussed below:
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As we have discussed, coated, soil soluble, quick and slow release fertilisers all have their place in the Greenkeeping and Lawnsmithing armouries. It is not a matter of which type of lawn fertiliser is best but which is the best for you and your lawn now and for the following few weeks or months.
Utilising the various qualities and aspects of these lawn fertiliser products will make life easier on you and produce a more consistent healthy response in your lawn. This is particularly true when deciding whether to use dry (coated or soil soluble) or liquid fertiliser.
Base Feeding the Lawn
In the professional arena fertiliser is routinely applied as a dry solid to base feed the turf:
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It is the only way to get the required quantity of nutrients into the soil cost effectively and in one go
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It is relatively quick and easy to apply
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If it is slow release fertiliser it can feed for months
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It is often applied at a less than maximum rate but sufficient for good general health
Demand Feeding the Lawn with Liquid Fertiliser
Once again in the professional arena fertiliser is also applied when required. This is NOT routine feeding and more often than not is applied as a liquid:
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Liquid fertiliser is applied to the leaves of the grass (foliar feeding) by spray and enters the plant by the leaf not the roots
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The response is very quick
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Slow release or quick release fertilisers can be used
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Weather patterns change so feed can be added or withheld
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Foliar feeding does not rely on soil moisture for effectiveness
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Allows feeding to be done when needed not when predicted
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The amount applied is smaller in comparison to dry fertiliser. Therefore the effect is limited and may need to be repeated at regular intervals
Demand feeding is not better than base feeding – they are a partnership where an underlying nutrient level is maintained by granular products with supplementary liquid feeding as required.
Warning
Do not assume chemicals can be mixed. For example iron and seaweed products do not mix with weed killers. Don’t mix two chemicals unless the products specifically allow this.
No fertiliser works on dry grass. Dry products will not be taken up but liquid products can damage dry leaves as they contain salts which may increase the drying effect.
Foliar feeding requires a sprayer or a watering can with a sprinkle bar; a rose is not very effective. Weedkillers and iron sulphate solution can also be applied this way.
You can quite easily supply your lawn with all its nutrient requirements with dry slow release fertilisers. You may not have the flexibility you would by using a combination of dry and liquid fertilisers but what you lose in flexibility you gain in speed and convenience. There is no ‘right way’ so I leave this down to your preference and enthusiasm.
