Fertilizing Your Yard

• Read it before you feed it.

  Carefully read the label on the fertilizer bag. You will find three numbers– the first number is the percentage of Nitrogen (N), the middle is Phosphorous (P), and the third is Potassium or Potash (K).
  
  
• The Phosphorous (middle number) should be no more than 2. Our North Florida soil usually has enough phosphorous, so we generally don’t need to add more to our lawns. If you just want your lawn to be greener, you may only need to add iron.




• Consider using an organic fertilizer.

  Organic fertilizers are slow-release and add organic matter to the soil. Organic matter helps to retain moisture and nutrients, meaning you have to water less and use less fertilizer.



• Select a fertilizer with the highest percentage of slow release or water-insoluble nitrogen that is available (30% or more is recommended). Slow release fertilizers are less likely to leach out or wash away in runoff. This information can be found in the "Guaranteed Analysis" section on the back of the bag.



• To determine the % of slow release, divide the percentage of “slowly available nitrogen” by the amount or percentage of total nitrogen in the fertilizer. For example, a fertilizer with 15% nitrogen and 6.4% “slowly available nitrogen from sulfur coated urea” would mean that (6.4/15 = 42.67%) 42.67% of the nitrogen in the fertilizer is slow release.

• Avoid fertilizers that contain weed killers.

  Treat only the affected areas for weeds and insects and use nontoxic alternatives whenever possible. Consider pulling weeds by hand. Corn gluten is an excellent alternative pre-emergent and fatty-acid soap products can be effective broad-spectrum herbicides.


• Avoid applying fertilizers before heavy rains.


• Water lightly with ¼” of water after fertilizing to “water-in” the fertilizer and reduce loss.


• If possible, establish a fertilizer-free and pesticide-free zone within at least 10 feet of a water body or hard surface like a street or driveway.



• Remember, less is best.

  You may only need to apply fertilizer twice a year, in the spring and fall. If you are using a fertilizer with less than 30% slow-release nitrogen, only apply ½ lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn each application. If 30% more, you can apply up to 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per application. Use a maximum of two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year.

Brand	Formula (NPK)	Slow Release N	Where Available
GreenEdge (organic)	6-2-0 +3% Ca	90%	Ace Hardware
Milorganite (organic)	6-2-0	87.5%	Ace, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Phillips
Sta-Green	15-0-15 (NPK)	42.7%	Lowe’s
Espoma Turf-Tone	18-0-3	99%	Phillips Garden Center
WOW! Plus (corn gluten)	8-1-1	39%	www.gardensalive.com
Nature’s Tur	8-1-9	99%	www.extremelygreen.com
McGeary Organics	6-0-4	72.5%	www.mcgearyorganics.com
McGeary Lawn Gold	9-0-0	90%	www.mcgearyorganics.com
McGeary Corn Gluten	8-1-1	90%	www.mcgearyorganics.com
Ringer Lawn Restore	10-2-6	90%	www.saferbrand.com
Safer Natural Turf (corn gluten)	8-1-1	--	www.saferbrand.com

Call before visiting your local hardware store or garden center to check on availability.

GreenEdge and Milorganite are made with biosolids. Other types of organic fertilizers are made from manure, feather meal, bone meal, soybean meal and corn gluten. Corn gluten is also a natural pre-emergent herbicide.

NOTE:

All fertilizers and chemicals can potentially harm our waterways. Please, use sparingly and with caution. St. Johns Riverkeeper does not promote the use of fertilizers or lawn chemicals and does not endorse any specific lawn care products.