In the conditions we set up in our lawns, Mother Nature simply cannot fertilize properly. The natural humus that is available in nature provides much of the nutrients that plants and grasses require. To make up for the lack of these natural fertilizers, we've got to apply fertilizers ourselves.

It's important when fertilizing your lawn to plan and prepare. The appropriate time to fertilize is not when your lawn starts looking ragged and tired, but before. Fertilization should be planned by the season and not by when you think the lawn looks like it needs fertilizing. Know when your lawn's growing season is and have fertilizer ready at the start of the growing season.

If you have a cool-season grass like bluegrass or rye grass, you'll want to fertilize in the spring and fall, which is the growing season for these grasses. If you have warm-season grasses, like buffalo grass and Bermuda grass, their growing season is from March to October, so that's when you'll want to fertilize.

Organic Fertilizing

Organic fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular because they are less harmful to the environment and are more beneficial to your lawn. Fish fertilizers are high in nitrogen and other vitamins and minerals important to plant production. Seaweed fertilizers contain growth hormones that can increase your lawn's tolerance to disease and environmental hardships.