Weed and feed
A fertilizer high in nitrogen will give your lawn the ‘kick in the pants’ it needs to get going
Q: I haven’t fertilized my lawn yet this year and am amazed by the many products available. What should I be looking for to use this first fertilization? — T.M.C., Albuquerque
A: Being the first feeding of the lawn and the weather is still fairly mild, I’d suggest a fertilizer that is quite high in its nitrogen content. It’s the nitrogen that’ll give the turf the encouragement to get green and growing. Remember that the nitrogen content is shown as the first number of the three-number calculations on fertilizer products. So look for one that is 28 or higher to give your lawn all it wants.
If your grass is invaded by weeds as the season goes on you could consider applying a fertilizer that contains a pre-emergent in the mix. But applying a pre-emergent/ fertilizer concoction is rather a twoedged sword. First, a pre-emergent won’t do diddly to a weed that is already up and growing. They work to prevent seed from germinating. Applied now, you’d battle fewer weeds that historically pop up later in the growing season. Here’s the other edge of the sword: If you find the need to over seed your lawn to get it puffed up and you’ve used a pre-emergent fertilizer combo, you’re stuck. You’ll have to wait weeks and weeks before you could apply grass seed and not waste your time and money. But pre-emergent/ fertilizer combos are good products as long as you comprehend all the attached parameters.
If you have some weeds that are already growing and as long as there are no trees or shrubs planted in your lawn consider a weed and feed fertilization at this time. The nitrogen levels are usually high enough to feed your lawn perfectly. Know that it’s best to apply weed and feed fertilizer to a damp lawn so the weed part of the mix sticks to the weed it’s hunting. No additional watering for at least 24, perhaps 36, hours so the product is properly absorbed. The fertilizer label will give you all the necessary instructions, so be sure to read up before you apply.
When I was in the retail business, we recommended either Soil Tex or Desert Green granular fertilizers to give lawns a good kick in the pants for the first feeding. Both were made for our soils, could be used safely around trees and shrubs and had the added “multi-vitamin” aspect of iron and sulfur included in the balanced diet of nitrogenphosphorus-potassium that makes up a good fertilizer. You’re correct that there are lots of products to choose from but if you read your labels, or consult with a learned professional you’ll find the one that’s just right for this first wakeup fertilization.
Q: I went ahead and snipped out the finished bloom of my tulips and daffodils last week when it was so chilly. Now that that’s done, what’s next? — B.G., West Side
A: It’s good you got the spent bloom stalks removed. As far as what’s next, you’ll take your cue from the plants themselves. If the leaves of your plants are still green and sturdy looking, let them be. They are still photosynthesizing and re-feeding the bulb. But if the leaves are starting to discolor, turn a dull yellow color and look yucky, then it’s time to prune them back and be done with the magic that was your spring bloom. Aim to snip them down cleanly, as close to the ground as you can, and pitch the finished leaf matter. That’s it. The bulbs will rest and then, Mother Nature willing, they’ll re-appear next year to start our season all over again. Happy Digging In.