Fertilizing and Watering Your Lawn Properly

As a general rule of thumb, most lawns require approximately one inch of water per week. What region of the country you live in and the local weather conditions that prevail there will be a major factor in what kind of irrigation you provide, and how often you need to do that. You will also need to consider what kind of grass and what type of soil you have. There are literally hundreds of varieties of grass, and depending on the exposure to the sun, and your soil conditions, the water requirements could vary enormously.

Check the recommendations on the grass seed package or confer with your local nursery or a master gardener to see what their recommendations are. It is also a good idea to have your soil tested. Check with the County Extension Agent or your state agricultural college to find out how to take soil samples and submit them for analysis. The analysis result will recommend any necessary soil amendments, and possibly fertilizer recommendations as well, to benefit the type of grass you are growing.

It is generally thought that fall is the best time to fertilize your lawn. Generally, a high N number, a low P number with a slightly higher K number fertilizer will be what your lawn needs. Refer to your soil analysis. However, when you apply the recommended fertilizer at the recommended rate, be careful not to over fertilize. Too much is worse than not enough. Also be careful to apply only to the turf area. Avoid overflow onto sidewalks and streets, as this will end up in the nearest lake or stream during the next rainstorm.