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<br />Step 5: MinImal FertllIzatfon' ., /: ,.:A'; '"
<br />Give the lawn what it ~~:d,i;u~ dOJi;;6~~rt"~d.
<br />F;r a low input Inwn,r,ecycJeclippings;nd (in tilf,rjgfi!\
<br />season) apply commercial fertilizer at halfth~-recom~:'
<br />mended rate; ~voidweed and Jec'd fomtulatioris ,a'hd:
<br />don't' fertilize if rahd'(im~~n~riLFor a~ldwef)~pii't~:
<br />lawn, fertilize as above butuse encapsulated nitrogen.
<br />or an organic product instea'd~anJ fertilize onl'y-"ifsoii .
<br />tes ts . 's hO~{.':i t' s,.n~ede~, :"P9ff.tiJc; ';west _i'j:n put_~l~_~'ri.,.}~
<br />su bstitute:~'h6Ii1e~;geiie~ah~~:'~Q"m,P9<sCfqr (c'ominefcjal.,t
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<br />?~~~~rii'~.~~:~~2~,~~~t~::~~~,:_~~:~~~~~;'~:;/~~:/:;Z.~~'~'-s~.::~~;)~~it~~i':
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<br />How Much 10 Apply?
<br />
<br />The Lawn Care Field Guide lists regional resources
<br />that provide recommended fertiliz<ltion r3tcs for spe-
<br />cific grass species. The actual amoun[
<br />required by a particular lawn may, how-
<br />ever, be much less than the standard
<br />recommended rate. According to the
<br />Northern Virginia Soil and Water Con-
<br />servation District a good rule of thumb
<br />is to use half of what you think you need
<br />or half of the manufacturer's recom-
<br />mended application, and never more than 44 lbs.lacre
<br />in a single application, This advice recognizes thm
<br />grasscycling can easily provide about half the required
<br />nutrients to the lawn. It also recognizes that it is better
<br />
<br />~::ill"U'ill:;'.llI..~WiJ'\,I\l'J!I'''I.<9.>-~~"'l'iii:JID.
<br />
<br />Organic fertilizers that break
<br />down slowly are an excellent
<br />option for fertilization.
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<br />i'ld."~,.h.l:'H"'\"''1'n;;;::i.;jflP];j.,,.N'\'''vm;~\ll\l;.!.'~~
<br />
<br />Table 3: General mowing heights {In inches}
<br /> Cool weather Hot last
<br />Species and/or shade weather mow
<br />Kentucky 2_5 3.0 2.0
<br />bluegrass
<br />Perennial 1.5 2.5 1.0
<br />ryegrass
<br />Rne 1,5 2.5 1.0
<br />fescue
<br />Buffalo- 1.5 2.5 1.0
<br />grass
<br />Tall 2.5 4.0 2.0
<br />fescue
<br />Zoysia- 0,5 1.0 0.5
<br />grass
<br />Bermuda 0.5 1.0 0.5
<br />grass
<br />Centrpede 1.0 2.0 1.0
<br />grass
<br />St. Augustine 2.0 3,0 1.5
<br />grass
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<br />10 unJcrarrly (since ;llklitior)al fcr1i1i/.cr c:m alw;iyS be
<br />applied in the future) than to oVl:rJprly and risk d:Jl1\-
<br />age to the gr~s:-; <.Ind runoff or lc:Jching llf l:XCCSS
<br />nutrients. The surest way to apply {he right amounl is
<br />to get a soil lest, anu Ih~n fcrtiliz~ only wh~n ihe 10.:..;[
<br />indicates nitrogen is nccul:u.
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<br />
<br />When to Apply?
<br />
<br />Table 4- indicates the arprorriatc season fllr t"erull-
<br />zalion by region anu grass type. Cool scason gr;1sscs
<br />arc best fertilized in the fall, when their roots an::
<br />actively growing and topgrowth has ceased. \Varm
<br />season grasses are best fertilized in severJI small doses
<br />Juring the summer. (Summer grasses maintain root
<br />growth during warnl weather,) Fertilizing in the wrong
<br />season wastes money as much of that fcnilizer goes
<br />unused (Jnd increases the risk of stream pollution),
<br />Moreover, fertilization in the wrong season can either
<br />stimulate the growth of weeds or grass growth at the
<br />wrong time, For e:-:nmple, spring fertilization of cool
<br />season grasses usually gives broadleaf weeds aheadstart
<br />in competing with grass, while summer fertilization
<br />may weaken the grass and increases water needs.
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<br />What 10 apply'
<br />It is best to use an encapsulated formulation or:1O
<br />organIC fertilizer rather than inorgo.nic fonus ro mini-
<br />mize nutrient leaching. Encapsubted fertilizers :lie
<br />coated to release nutrients more gr3du<llly.ln leaching
<br />column tests, Alvn (1992) found thnt losses of all three
<br />major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium)
<br />were strongly reduced with controlled-release fertil-
<br />izer blends. Lawn fonnulations with encapsubted ni-
<br />trogen are often labeled "'VIN" for wo.ter insoluble
<br />nitrogen.
<br />Organic fertilizers are also a good choice, as they
<br />brenk down more slowly than tr::tditional chemical
<br />fertilizers. In addition, composted organ.ic fertilizers
<br />contain active microorganisms nnd humus. Humus not
<br />only helps build soil texture, but its complex org~mic
<br />compounds can buffer soil. The ConnecticU[ Agricul-
<br />tural Experiment Station in New Haven bo.s been
<br />comparing vegetable plots rreated with compost ag:lin.st
<br />plO[SlreateJ with inorg~lnic fertilizer. Results frum the:
<br />Erst 12 years show Ih:ll composl-only tre:Hmenl had
<br />similar yields and incre::lscJ organiL' m:lIlcr :IIlJ \v.lta
<br />retention (Long 1994). Italy's Soil f.,:licrohiology Cen-
<br />ter found th~lt composting could sharply inGe:lse uesir-
<br />able soil microorganisms (Long 1l)l)5 a)_
<br />Discase symploms may :lIso he lessened with llr-
<br />ganic fcrtilizt:rs, For l:xampl~. rest..':\rchc-rs at r..lichigan
<br />Slutl:': University found tlut hltll:gras:; tl\\lllS trc;HcJ
<br />with org:lnic krtilizen, sufkrL'd les:-: disl'as..:: t!l;ln Llwn:;
<br />treated with chc-mic:11 rl'rtiliLers lLlmg IlN:'i b).
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