Healthy lawns, healthy homes

A thick, healthy lawn is a lot more than nice-looking green space. Well-maintained turf contributes to a deeper root structure that helps your lawn withstand the extreme heat and cold of our Canadian climate, cools our atmosphere and reduces erosion.

All living things need food for optimal health, including plants and grass. A healthier lawn will provide benefits for your home, including the trapping of airborne dust and other pollutants for cleaner air. In fact, a 50 by 50 foot lawn produces enough oxygen every day for a family of four.

It’s important to use the right fertilizer for your type of lawn, so always read the bag for information that includes the amount of nutrients, such as the NPK, which stands for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The bag will also tell you how much area it will cover and how to apply it properly.

Newly established lawns require phosphorous for root growth. Older lawns that have had the clippings left on after cutting gain nutrients back as the clippings decompose. Established lawns can usually use a phosphorous-free formula.

Fall is one of the most important times to feed your lawn to provide nutrition that will help see your lawn through the long winter. If you have leftover fertilizer from last season, you can still use it. Break up any clumps before placing it in the spreader, and store any remaining fertilizer in the original package, sealed and in a cool dry place. (NC)