Choose the best compost for garden grass

Choose the best compost for garden grass

Lawn can be a real headache for the inexperienced or those who venture to spruce up the garden. Although it seems like a simple task, it requires a high maintenance compared to other carpet species.

One of these tasks is to carry out a complete lawn fertilizer program according to the variety and use that we are going to give it. Therefore, this article focuses on the nutrition of ornamental grasses that we can have in the garden. We will know the best application recommendations, the frequency and learn to differentiate between the different types of fertilizers.

Before we start, we leave you some interesting articles related to lawn maintenance :

Once these issues have been solved, we are going to know in depth the subscriber codes of this carpet species.

LAWN FERTILIZER NEEDS

For a lawn for family use, common in all types of gardens and swimming pool environments, the annual needs of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are those that we put in the table below. Nitrogen and potassium needs are very similar, the contribution of phosphorus being lower, a very important element in the emergence and settlement of newly implanted grass and in tillering.

NitrogenMatchPotassium
Family lawn10-15 g / m23-4 g / m210-12 g / m2

This 1-0.4-1 ratio is sufficient for the maintenance of a common lawn in home gardening, valid to apply throughout the year. However, in the event that you have implanted grass in your garden for the first time, formulas with higher nitrogen content are usually used.

On the other hand, although we have only mentioned NPKs, we must not forget the secondary macronutrients and microelements. The use of sulfur is recommended, especially in high pH limestone soils, without neglecting magnesium and iron, essential elements to avoid chlorosis of the lawn.

LAWN FERTILIZER APPLICATION FREQUENCY

There are 3 or 4 times when the application of fertilizers on the lawn is recommended. In this case, the more frequently, the more balanced the growth will be, especially the solid slow-release fertilizers.

However, this also makes maintenance difficult, which is why 3 applications per year is a comfortable standard for any medium maintenance lawn in a garden.

The 3 ideal fertilizer times coincide with the time of greatest budding and development of the grasses, with spring and summer being the application times:

  • March
  • June
  • September

APPLICATION RATE

The general dose is 30 to 40 g / m2. We will use the highest dose in cases where we see lack of growth or if our lawn needs a general stimulus. If it is in good condition, we can use 30 g / m2.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST LAWN COMPOST

In specialized stores or online platforms we will find a large number of brands and different mixes. There is no specific one that is the best, but there are some details that must be taken into account.

It is essential that the lawn compost contains secondary macronutrients and micronutrients . The most common and effective for the nutrition of this grass is sulfur (very interesting for limestone soils), calcium and magnesium. Among the micronutrients, which are usually provided in small amounts, iron is the most recommended.

Some of them also include organic matter, an element that will improve the moisture retention capacity and the complexation of nutrients, making their assimilation by the grass roots more effective.

BALANCED LAWN FERTILIZER

If we are looking for an alternative that is worth applying throughout the year, the 2-1-2 balance is the ideal one, since it is quite complete and applies from March. It is interesting to find that a part of the nitrogen contains inhibitors, so that it remains in the soil for a longer time and makes the growth of the grass more stable. Currently, the best ammonia nitrogen inhibitor is DMPP, avoiding losses associated with the nitric form.

GRASS GROWING COMPOST

In the event that we seek further development of our lawn, we can look for alternatives with a slightly higher concentration of nitrogen. A formula that works very well from the start of application in March is NPK 19-7-12 with 3% magnesium (MgO) and 18% sulfur (SO3). Likewise, it is applied at a rate of 30 to 40 g / m2 or even a little less.

HERBICIDE FERTILIZERS

It is usual to take advantage of the application of fertilizer together with herbicides, so that we keep weeds under control in the periods of greatest growth (spring and summer). These more complex formulations must be applied at a dose indicated on the label, the usual amount being 30 g / m2, which is equivalent to 3 kg / 100 m2.

The fact of incorporating the herbicidal formula does not imply that it can change the fertilizer formulation or its application, but it is necessary to take precautions in its application since it is a toxic element. The usual operations of use and application of fertilizers with herbicides for grass are the following:

  • Trim the lawn and leave 3 or 4 days before applying the herbicide compost.
  • Give a normal watering and keep the soil in temperature.
  • Apply recommendation dose (30 g / m2)
  • Continue with regular irrigations 24 hours after its application.

NATURAL LAWN FERTILIZER

What if we want to avoid the use of conventional fertilizers and use organic fertilizers? Today we have the possibility of using different products with an ecological certificate, zero waste and of organic origin.

While there are mineral sources that come from natural sources, such as marl or magnesium sulfate and potassium sulfate, we can also nourish with NPK from organic media.

Some of these sources are as follows:

  • Solid or liquid organic matter
  • Vegeta compost
  • Earthworm humus
  • Organic NPK or NK pellets
  • Amino acids and seaweed

CORRECTION OF DEFICIENCIES AND CHLOROSIS IN TURF

Lawn is a great store of chlorophyll, so the absence of light and the lack of nitrogen, magnesium or iron, among others, cause the dreaded chlorosis or yellowing, very common in this crop and typical of limestone soils.

In this type of soil, the element that is usually limited (not in presence but in the ability to be assimilated by the roots). For this reason, the chelated form of iron is the most common, since it is protected by a chelating agent that progressively releases iron, making it available to the roots.

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