Turf Care Essentials: Choosing the Right Fertilizer and Maintenance for a Lush Lawn

With people's growing love for nature, practices for a healthier and greener environment are more common than ever. A lush and attractive indoor or outdoor space is part of this trend. These spaces help maintain a healthy indoor environment and act as buffers against noise, air pollution, and excess heat.

Growers may select an appropriate turf grass option based on their local area. However, such green spaces require proper maintenance and nutrition, and suitable fertilizers are necessary to provide essential nutrients. While growers may choose indoor plants to have an indoor green space, the natural grass turfs are the most preferable for a healthy and lush green lawn. 

Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermuda grass are well-known lawn turfs that growers may use. These grasses possess the capability to withstand diverse stressors and substantial user activity, making them the optimal selection for lawns. Growers may consult Growcycle for a detailed guide on setting up healthier lawn turf. They provide all the necessary information regarding multiple cultivation aspects, including the best nutrient fertilizers, reliable types of equipment, and more.

What is Turf?

Turf is grass covering any soil surface with a sound root system to ensure healthy plant growth. Different types of grasses can serve as lawn turf depending on the growers' usage requirements and the area's native environment. Turfs may be natural grasses grown by planting the seeds for the required grass, while artificial turf is prepared using synthetic materials and apparently looks similar to natural grass turf.

Different Types of Turf Grasses 

Lawn turfs differ according to the seasons. Some grasses flourish well in colder months, while others need high temperatures for optimal growth. Some grasses ensure their growth in intermediate weather conditions. Below are discussed these types of lawn turfs; 

Warm Season Turf Grasses

Warm-season turf grasses have an expansive and sturdy root system. They grow well in higher temperatures and require less water for maintenance, making them suitable for summer. They can withstand drought conditions and high wear and tear and have the potential for the quickest recovery from winter stress. Some notable warm-season grasses are:

• St. Augustine grass
• Bermuda grass
• Red creeping thyme
• Centipede
• Bahia grass

Cool Season Turf Grasses

Growers living in areas with mild summers and prolonged winter seasons can opt for cool-season grasses for their lawns. These turf grasses can have denser and lush green grass throughout winter. They require lower temperatures to show efficient growth, and during summer, they may suffer from heat stress and require a lot of water to sustain themselves. Some of the notable cool-season turf grasses for the lawns are:

• Creeping Bentgrass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Red Fescue

Transitional Season Turf Grasses

Some regions have scorching and freezing weather that fluctuates throughout the year. In such spaces, turf grasses may not show efficient results, but some types can withstand such situations to some extent. Such kinds of grasses are called transitional-season turf grasses, and some notable of them are:

• Zoysia grass
• Tall Fescue
• Texas Hybrid Bluegrass

Factors Responsible for Turf Health

Maintaining healthy turf involves several key factors that influence its growth, appearance, and resilience. Here are the primary factors responsible for turf health:

1. Changing Climate

Climate is the most critical factor impacting turf growth and maintenance. Extreme temperatures cause drought conditions, while changing climate patterns contribute to extended heat waves. Similarly, turf growth is curbed in colder months due to the grass's resistance. Environmental stresses are becoming more common due to the rapidly changing climate. 

2. Irrigation Practices

The way growers irrigate their turf is also a critical factor in determining the overall health of the lawn. Turf does not solely require water, but the optimal results depend on several things, including the time turf is watered, the total water supply, and the method of watering.

Supplying the water via a subsurface irrigation system prevents unnecessary water escape via evaporation. Growers can ensure water penetration to the roots, thus allowing for a more vigorous turf. 

3. Fertilizer Application

The type of fertilizer and the way homeowners use it on their turf grass matters a lot in ensuring a well-maintained lawn turf. Instead of randomly adding the essential macronutrients, growers must study the soil’s nutrient makeup in detail.

Based on reliable soil testing, fertilizer containing only the required nutrients should be applied. Turf feeds containing micronutrients and ensuring microbial activity are also preferable. Growers should follow all the measures needed to effectively fertilize an area. 

4. Weed, Pests and diseases

The presence of weeds and pests in any turf adversely impacts its health. If these organisms get into the turf, they live there, eat its nutrients, and make it weak. Also, the pests penetrate the root zones and invade the extensive root network, making the turf weaker and prone to several diseases.

Growers must promptly apply the appropriate herbicides to minimize their proliferation and rehabilitate the affected grass with sufficient fertilizer applications and lawn maintenance techniques. 

5. Foot Traffic

Green spaces subjected to significant foot traffic experience considerable wear and tear, resulting in soil compaction. This compaction prevents material absorption into the soil, and applying chemicals to such soils potentially causes nutrient burn. Also, poor absorption leads to poor grass growth and frequent diseases of turf lawns. 

Best Nutrient Makeup to Ensure Healthy Turf

Different types of turf grasses have different nutrient requirements depending on various conditions. In addition to essential macronutrients, grass turf needs some additional things to flourish.

• Growers should use a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content for lawns with cool-season grasses. These grasses require nitrogen to maintain their lush green appearance during winter. A little phosphorus and sufficient potassium are also needed to ensure other physiological functions of plants. 
• Growers may consider a suitable slow-release fertilizer for established lawns. Such lawns may lack phosphorus, as the established turfs already have sufficient phosphorus. 
• Homeowners who use warm-season grasses as their lawn turf may feed excess nitrogen during optimal growth periods to improve growth in visible parts. Such turfs also require potassium to develop heat resistance effectively. 
• Micronutrients such as calcium are crucial for lawns experiencing poor growth, blade thinning, or chlorosis conditions despite the regular fertilizer application. Fertilizers with a good micronutrient ratio should be applied in such spaces. 

Essential Care Practices for Keeping the Turf Healthy

Growers must maintain the turf grass properly to keep it healthy and vibrant throughout the year. Some of the essential things to keep in mind for ensuring a healthy turf are:

1. Regular Mowing

Excessively grown turf grass is inappropriate for fertilizer absorption and gives the lawn a neglected look. Taller turf also becomes weak and brittle and is more prone to weeds and pest attacks.

To prevent such problems, gardeners must mow their turf grass regularly to ensure an efficient lawn. Growers should trim one-third of the grass's length in every turn of mowing. 

2. Soil Aeration

The soil of green spaces may become compacted after a stressful season or high foot traffic. Such soils find it hard to effectively absorb water, nutrients, and oxygen, thus curbing grass growth.

To address this issue, growers must manually aerate the soil by making small holes. This ensures the soil gets adequate nutrients, water, and air, ensuring a healthier and denser lawn. 

3. Thatch Removal

With the regular application of fertilizer, a layer of nutrients and dead matter accumulates in the soil, creating a thatch layer. If collected in excess, it prevents the nutrients and water absorption into the soil. Growers should remove the extra thatch layer for better material absorption and optimal turf growth. 

4. Enough Watering

Adequate water supply is crucial for healthier lawn turf. A lawn should receive around 6 inches of water monthly from different sources. Also, growers should not just water the grass; the turf should be watered deeper, ensuring maximal absorption via the roots. Doing so will provide better turf health while watering just the surface leaves the turf prone to certain plant diseases. 

5. Careful Fertilizing

Applying essential nutrients via fertilizers is crucial for turf grass maintenance and growth, but it should be done carefully. The right time of application and sufficient nutrients must be considered. Applying in extreme conditions and excess amounts should be avoided, as they harm the turf. 

6. Overseeding

Overseeding is effective in repairing damaged patches of turf and helps improve the turf's health and overall appearance. Growers should apply the seeds for cool-season grasses in early fall and overseed the turf during spring for warm-season grasses. 

7. Weed and Pest Control

Growers should carefully watch their lawn turf for possible invasions by weeds or pests. If even the slightest chance of their presence is observed, they should immediately take remedial or preventive measures to eliminate weeds and implement effective pest management practices. Identifying and preventing the issue on time allows the turf grass to suffer less from harmful invasions. 

8. Adding Organic Compost

Fertilizing the turf with organic nutrients for a long ensures good soil structure due to better material absorption and moisture retention. Also, the organic compost is responsible for sufficient microbial activity in the soil, improving its nutrient uptake potential and contributing to biodiversity. Growers should add a fine layer of organic matter to the soil surface to ensure a healthy turf. 

Tips to Apply Fertilizers for Better Turf Growth

Growers should follow a proper method to ensure smooth fertilizer application on lawn turf. Improperly applied fertilizer or even minor negligence can severely impact the turf. Here is a suitable method for growers to use an appropriate mix of nutrients on their turf. 

Go for a Suitable Fertilizer

Selecting a suitable fertilizer is crucial in maintaining a healthy and flourishing lawn turf. All the macronutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are essential in developing a healthy turf. Growers should focus more on fertilizers with high nitrogen content, as this will keep the turf lush green and ensure dense growth.

Phosphorus and potassium are also essential for root development and stress resistance. Growers should also assess the soil's needs and apply a slow—or fast-release fertilizer.  

Prepare the Lawn

Growers should prepare the turf thoroughly before the fertilizer application. Turf preparation includes cleaning up debris and unwanted objects. Following clean-up, an excellent mowing round prepares the grass to absorb fertilizer efficiently. Then, growers should water the lawn turf adequately, as parched grass can not take up the maximum fertilizer. 

Consider Weather Forecasts

Growers should plan their fertilizing schedule while considering weather predictions. Applying fertilizers when rainstorms or heavy winds are predicted causes issues like nutrient runoff or leaching.

It is also not recommended to apply on days when a heat wave is expected, or the temperature is too high. Days with milder temperatures and no possible weather stresses are the best days to fertilize the turf. 

Fertilize the Turf

After taking all the required measures, growers should carefully apply the fertilizer on the turf. To ensure the soil receives the right amount of fertilizer, it is good to consult the instructions mentioned on fertilizer packing. Growers should ensure the even application of fertilizing material all over the surface to avoid missed spots and patchy areas due to excess fertilizer. 

Water for Optimal Absorption

After successfully applying fertilizer, growers should leave some water on the soil. This helps the fertilizer soak deeper into the ground, allowing it to work better with the roots.

Watering after fertilizing is especially beneficial for granular fertilizers because it helps dissolve and mix the granules into the soil. However, growers need to water the turf gently after applying fertilizer. If they use too much water, it can wash away the nutrients they just added.

Monitor the Turf for Reapplication

The time for fertilizer reapplication may vary depending on the fertilizer the growers use. However, they should pay attention to the turf after applying the turf feed once and consistently monitor it to observe the nutrients' impacts on the lawn.

Once growers observe improper grass growth or yellowing of turf, they should immediately reapply the suitable fertilizer. Regularly monitoring the turf also minimizes the chance of weed and insect attacks. 

Turf Fertilizing Tips to Improve the Efficiency

To maximize the fertilizer efficiency in the lawn turfs, growers must keep certain things in mind:

1. Test the Soil

Growers need to know the soil's nutrient profile before adding additional nutrients. A soil test helps assess this profile conveniently. By testing the soil, growers may determine the soil pH, the presence of specific nutrients, soil moisture content, and more.

Having an idea of the soil's requirements allows growers to choose their fertilizer type and amount wisely. This avoids several issues, notably the nutrient burn caused by over-fertilization. 

2. Choose Best Turf Fertilizer

Fertilizers are prepared in different forms, application rates, and NPK ratios to cater to the nutrient requirements of multiple grass types. Growers should assess the fertilizer for a particular turf.

For example, the pre-established lawn turf may rely on slow-release granular fertilizers; however, growers should feed the new lawn turf a quick nutrient boost via a fast-release granular or liquid solution fertilizer. 

3. Avoid Fertilizing Too Wet Turf

Growers need to moisten the soil as a preparation step to let the fertilizer absorb effectively. However, growers should not apply fertilizer immediately after watering. Then, use the fertilizer for a day or two to let the soil dry. Too wet soil, when it gets the fertilizer, washes away the liquid solution fertilizer or causes the runoff of granular fertilizer.

4. Don’t Over-Fertilize

Growers must apply fertilizer only in the required amounts, and using more or less than grass needs is troublesome for the soil. Growers should carefully consider the necessary nutrients for optimal turf growth.

Excessive fertilizer application leads to nutrient burn, which has terrible impacts on the soil and the grass. The excess fertilizer also pollutes the surrounding areas when it is washed away from the ground.  

5. Apply in Mild Temperature

A mild and calm day is always a good time to fertilize the lawn turf. Growers should also choose the morning or afternoon to feed the turf, as applying nutrients in the blazing noon allows better absorption. The stressed grass can not effectively take up the required nutrients during high temperatures.

6. Prefer Fertilizer With Micronutrients

Plants require certain micronutrients to aid in growth and development, along with the necessary macronutrients. Micronutrients such as sulfur, magnesium, zinc, and iron are essential for certain plant functions, such as protein synthesis and chlorophyll formation. Thus, these micronutrients maintain a lush green and healthy turf. 

7. Ensure Fertilizer Rotations

For producers who want their plants to be able to absorb additional nutrients that are necessary, they should consider using a variety of fertilizers. They help counter the plants' nutritional deficiencies by providing a range of nutrients.

The thatch built on the soil surface after consistent fertilizer application is toxic due to excessive amounts of the same nutrients. However, the thatch contains multiple nutrients for turf health after rotating fertilizers. Thus, growers may ensure fertilizer rotation to get the best out of their lawn turf. 

Environment Friendly Options for Better Turf Growth

Usually, chemical fertilizers are seen as the only solution for efficient lawn turf growth and maintenance. However, growers may get the same benefits while switching to prepared turf feeds, keeping environmental health in mind. Here are some of the eco-friendly turf care options;

1. Phosphate Free Fertilizers

Phosphate is a common pollutant that affects water resources. Growers concerned about nutrient runoff and polluting nearby waterbodies can consider Phosphate-free fertilizers the ideal picks.

These fertilizers contain nitrogen and potassium as essential macronutrients, and their application is suitable for mature lawn turfs or those having enough phosphorus stored in their roots. 

2. Vermicompost

Vermicompost is the organic fertilizer prepared by allowing earthworms to act on biodegradable waste, converting it into an adequate plant feed. With the vermicompost, growers may have one of the best turf feeds that ensures aeration and moisture retention in the soil and supports essential microbial activity.

Moreover, when used for prolonged periods, the all-natural ingredients in this fertilizer improve soil health, which the overuse of chemical fertilizers may deter. 

3. Slow-release Organic Fertilizers

Slow-release organic fertilizers are the best approach to eco-friendly gardening for growers. The organically prepared ingredients are even more beneficial in the slow-release formulation as they prevent nutrient burn. This type of fertilizer, when applied, gets stored in the plant roots, thus preventing nutrient runoff or leaching, 

4. Fish Emulsion Fertilizers

Fish emulsion fertilizers are derived from fish and contain marine byproducts, notably:

• trace minerals
• amino acids
• traditional macronutrients

With this fertilizer, growers can better maintain the soil's essential microbial profile. When applied, the natural ingredients readily dissolve into the water and boost the lawn turf's nutrients. 

5. Fertilizers Made From Biochar

Biochar is charcoal created by burning organic materials in a low-oxygen environment. It locks carbon into the soil, helping retain moisture, improving soil structure, and enhancing nutrient availability when mixed into fertilizers.

Biochar can efficiently sequester carbon in the soil, making it an environmentally friendly choice. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions while promoting lush, green turf.

FAQs

How long does it take for newly laid turf to root?

Newly laid turf usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks to establish roots. During this time, it’s essential to keep the turf well-watered.

Is synthetic turf better than natural turf?

The choice between synthetic and natural turf depends on personal preference and intended use. Synthetic turf requires less maintenance and is durable, while natural turf offers environmental benefits and a softer feel.

What should I do if my turf gets damaged?

If your turf gets damaged, assess the area to determine the cause. For minor damage, reseeding or patching with new turf may suffice. For larger areas, you may need to replace the damaged sections entirely.

The Bottom Line

Setting up natural grass turf is important for keeping the environment healthy and increasing the area's value. With proper care and maintenance, growers can achieve lush, green, and healthy grass. An essential part of cultivating turf grass is the appropriate fertilization technique, which advantages both humans and the environment.

Growers should pay attention to the type of fertilizer, when and how often to apply it, and the specific formulation to ensure the grass stays healthy. Growcycle provides a range of products, including different types of fertilizer spreaders, cleaners and disinfectants, and also specific nutrients for indoor lawn health.

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.

About the Author

Victor Miller

Environmental Journalist Focused on Sustainable Agriculture

Victor Miller is an environmental journalist at Growcycle, where he covers the latest news, trends, and innovations in sustainable agriculture. He has a deep passion for storytelling that emphasizes ecological balance and responsible farming practices.

Before joining Growcycle, Victor worked for several agricultural and environmental publications, reporting on significant environmental issues and interviewing key figures in the sustainability sector. His work has been featured in various industry journals and online platforms.