As defined, fertilizer is a substance intended to improve the quality or quantity of a plant’s growth. Some might guess there are only a few decisions to make when using fertilizer. Actually, selecting and applying fertilizer is not quite as easy as this definition makes it sound.
Many factors should be considered in choosing the right fertilizer for a specific use, including the type of turf, the climate, the location and the time of year, just to name a few. Not to mention the fact that contractors have a choice between liquid and dry fertilizers.
When all of the variables have been considered and the correct choice is made, fertilizer can do great things for turf, such as improve its color, make the leaves grow larger and lessen the chance of insect and disease infestations. If fertilizers are incorrectly applied, however, they can burn or damage the turf. This is exactly why it is critical for contractors to have the knowledge needed to choose the perfect fertilizer.
PURCHASE POWER. An extensive list can be created of factors that are important in making the right fertilizer purchase. However, many contractors and manufacturers agree on a few of the basics.
“The first thing is to determine what you want the fertilizer to do,” said Tim Lacy, director of sales and marketing for Pursell Technologies Inc., Sylacauga, Ala. “Do you need a slow release? Do you want a fast release?”
He added that several products are available to meet feeding requirements once these requirements are established. For example, sulfur-coated ureas can last six to eight weeks. For 10- to 12-week applications, methylene ureas work well. For contractors who want an application to last beyond 12 weeks, they should consider a polymer product.
Ray Buckwalter, product manager for Lebanon Turf Products, Lebanon, Pa., expanded on this idea by explaining that contractors should know what is required for a specific turf through soil testing. “Know the turf you’re applying the fertilizer to,” he explained. “Another important consideration is the environmental conditions such as the time of year and the climate.”
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Nitrogen has been studied and used more than any other nutrient, according to the Greensmiths, Frisco, Texas. Because nitrogen is important in the manufacturing of chlorophyll, new plant growth is virtually impossible without it. Several nitrogen sources are available to choose from, and a few key advantages and disadvantages of each follow: 82-0-0 Anhydrous Ammonia 20-0-0 Ammonia Solution 21-0-0 Ammonium Sulfate 33-0-0 Ammonium Nitrate 16-20-0 Ammonia Phosphate-Sulfate 15-0-0 Calcium Nitrate 46-0-0 Urea 16-0-0 Sodium Nitrate –Angela Dyer |
Buckwalter also added that it is necessary to consider the value of the fertilizer as well. A good slow-release nitrogen is a critical part of making a choice. “A lot of contractors are now realizing they can get more bang for their buck with a slow release.”
These sentiments were echoed by Trey Curry, technical service representative for Terra Industries, Sioux City, Iowa. “You have to know what percent is slow release. This way you won’t have to worry about later applications.”
Another point regularly mentioned was the uniformity of a fertilizer.
“Uniformity is very important,” declared Wayne Horman, marketing manager for seed and turf, Scotts, Marysville, Ohio. “A blended fertilizer would have four components. When you spread the fertilizer it has to have an equal amount of particles over a square foot so it’s all the same. If not, different areas of the turf will get different nutrients. It’s possible to mask this if the turf has all the same color, but the nutrient levels in different areas will not be equal.”
For this reason, Charlie King, president of King Green, Flowery Branch, Ga., explained that it’s crucial for contractors to look for uniformity of granular size with dry fertilizers before making an application to ensure a consistent application.
CHANGING COURSE. With the different temperatures throughout the year, the consensus with contractors and manufacturers is that it is critical to change fertilizers depending on the time of year. Occasionally, another reason to change fertilizers can be the property a contractor is servicing.
“As a general rule, liquid fertilizer is used in the spring and fall when incorporating broadleaf weed control,” King noted. “Dry fertilizer is used for summer and fall. With this we can get a higher analysis with control-release nitrogen for less money.”
Higher analysis formulas, according to Lacy, mean that the ratios of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) – listed in that order on fertilizer packages – are higher and therefore are packaged with less non-productive carrier material. For example, a fertilizer with an ratio of 30-3-10 would have a high analysis of nitrogen (30).
Northern Lawns, Omaha, Neb., uses a high-percentage, slow-release formula early in the season, according to Dale Amstutz, president. “For the fall, we use a winter fer-tilizer application. Once the grass has quit growing, we need a quick-release formula. This is also called a dormant fertilizer.”
A major consideration for many contractors is the amount of nitrogen needed at different times of the year. For Daryle Johnson, president of All American Turf Beauty, Van Meter, Iowa, crabgrass prevention is important in the spring and broadleaf weed control is necessary in the fall. “We use a granular fertilizer for a late fall application and we use something with more insect control in the summer months,” he explained.
Curry also recommended considering the amount of nitrogen applied at various times of year. A blend with a high nitrogen percentage is useful in the spring for leaf growth, while in the late summer and early fall it may be more beneficial to use something with more potassium. This helps harden the grass and prepare for winter. Then in the spring, this helps fend off diseases.
According to the Greensmiths, Frisco, Texas, a multi-service company specializing in finding solutions to problems with soil and water, potassium is essential to the manufacturing of sugar, starches and proteins in plants. When potassium isn’t available to turf, leaf margins and tips can begin to turn brown and curl.
“In almost any application, you need to look at the 1-1 ratio of nitrogen to potassium. Now, researchers are finding that potassium leaches out quickly, so they are pushing for higher levels of potassium so that once it leaches enough remains to be effective in the ratio,” Lacy said.
Lacy added that phosphorus is generally applied in the springtime because winter weeds germinate around August or September and a fall phosphorus application would enhance this germination.
Expanding on Lacy’s comments, Curry explained that phosphorus also aids in root system development, if a contractor is planting from seed.
In addition, phosphorus, according to the Greensmiths, assists in the aging of tissues and stimulates root growth. A phosphate deficiency will primarily affect the root areas of turf grass.
Other than the time of year, there are occasionally other variables influencing fertilizer choice, such as the property and its specific needs.
“We use nearly the same blends on all of the properties,” Johnson explained. “Some large commercial properties that are several acres, like a football field, may need something different because of different traffic. They also don’t need to look as good as a home lawn, and we have to follow budget restraints with different properties.”
King echoed Johnson, “We use the same blend as a general rule. We’ve got a standard product for each turf, but special circumstances dictate when we need something else.”
Some commercial properties need a high-percentage of slow-release fertilizer, according to Amstutz. Sometimes this enables contractors to get by with less labor and fertilize only once a year.
“You could fertilize a home lawn once a season, but that would be an expensive application and most homeowners don’t want to do it this way,” Amstutz added.
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Even though liquid fertilizers may not be a contractor’s number one choice, they do have some notable strong points. According to Trey Curry, technical service representative for Terra Industries, Sioux City, Iowa, liquid fertilizers can be tailored to specific applications. “Some are high in nitrogen and some are slow release. They’ve got as much flexibility as with dry fertilizers if contractors look for it.” “Many available liquid fertilizers are soluble with four- to six- week feeding periods,” explained Tim Lacy, director of sales and marketing for Pursell Technologies Inc., Sylacauga, Ala. “For contractors who want to go back to the property several times, that works well for them.” “In the summer, in the southern U.S., you lose a lot of liquids due to burning,” Lacy added. “Contractors should usually go with a granular in the summer in the Sun Belt. The burn potential is definitely higher with liquids although it is less expensive.” –Angela Dyer |
POPULARITY CONTEST. With all of the available options today, there are a few fertilizer blends that manufacturers have found to be especially popular.
Fertilizers coated with preemergent herbicides are popular now nearly all across the country, according to Lacy. Canada and Michigan are the only exceptions because their season is short so there are not a lot of grassy weed problems to contend with.
“Most small contractors use preemergent fertilizer combinations for the labor savings,” Buckwalter said. “It used to be that there were two steps needed in order to apply the fertilizer and the preemergent. Now, with the combinations, it’s one step that saves time and money.”
Other trends gaining popularity include a higher interest in potassium fertilizers.
“This is more popular now in the landscape market,” Buckwalter added. “Potassium makes the turf more resilient. It makes it stand up a little better. For years, 4-1-2 ratios have been used. Now, we are seeing ratios where nitrogen and potassium are more equal.”
A nitrogen to potassium ratio of 2-1 is popular right now, according to Horman. He added that a 31-3-10 application is still popular for spring and fall applications.
“Someone who wants good color but doesn’t care as much about growth may choose a 22-0-6 or 22-3-11,” Horman said.
“A good starter blend in the spring is somewhere around a 14-22-14,” explained Lacy. “This is higher in phosphorus, which is helpful in seeding. It’s also important to have magnesium in a starter fertilizer to enhance germination.”
Lacy added that during the fall, a 15-0-30 blend is very popular.
With so many options available, it is no wonder that fertilizer prices have dropped over the past several years.
“Pricing over the last 10 years has come way down because of all the competition out there,” Lacy declared. “If I had to look in a crystal ball, I would say that prices may go up again with all of the consolidation going on in the fertilizer industry. But right now, it is as inexpensive as I’ve ever seen.”
Other factors can affect price, including the amount of filler a manufacturer adds to their formula. “Some companies put fillers in the fertilizers and others use only pure nutrients,” Lacy explained. “They will charge more money for fertilizers with pure nutrients instead of filler.”
A fertilizer price may also be higher if it is a slow-release formula, according to Lacy. A slow-release will last longer between applications, making it more expensive.
The author is Assistant Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine.
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