Lawn care can be a challenging part of gardening, especially if you want lush green growth. However, with the right fertilizer, you can ensure that the grass stays healthy and vibrant.
As we approach September, it’s crucial to feed your lawn with essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to keep it growing strong through the fall months.
Andrew Huber, lawn care expert from The Lawn Squad, has revealed that the best way to make your grass a “lush, deep green lawn” without breaking the bank is to create a homemade DIY fertiliser.
He stated: “Fertilizer is not just about growing grass, but about nurturing a landscape that can withstand the tests of nature and time. A solid lawn is your first defense against pests, diseases and environmental stresses.”
The secret to an effective lawn fertilizer lies in making sure it contains the nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, all of which are vital to maintaining a healthy lawn.
One of the best ways to reduce food waste and save money is to recycle kitchen scraps into fertilizer.
Andrew stated: “Turning kitchen waste and yard waste into compost is both environmentally friendly and makes sense for the garden. It’s a great way to reduce waste and benefit your lawn.”
Rich in potassium and phosphorus, banana peels are a great addition to your fertilizer.
Fish waste and vegetable peels, such as potato or carrot waste, also contain phosphorus and break down easily on the lawn.
However, one of the best sources of lawn nitrogen is coffee grounds, as a balanced amount of nitrogen promotes grass growth. Andrew noted, “Coffee is not only a necessity in my morning, it’s also great for my lawn.
“Nitrogen-rich coffee grounds can be sprinkled on the lawn or mixed with water (about a pound of coffee grounds to five gallons of water) to create a nutrient-rich lawn tonic.”
There are many kitchen scraps that can help your lawn, and experiment to find what works best.
Once you have the ingredients, all you have to do is set them aside, mix them together with water and leave them alone to break down properly. Then use them to feed your lawn.
When using this ingredient, make sure to mow your lawn a few days before fertilizing and water the lawn to better absorb the nutrients.
Next, check the weather forecast to make sure there is no heavy rain that day that could wash away the fertilizer after application.
Once you’ve made your own DIY fertiliser, it’s important to have the right kit to apply it to your lawn, and Andrew swears by a knapsack sprayer for the job.
Spray the grass well, making sure to go back and forth to spread it evenly, then water lightly to allow the fertilizer to soak into the soil.
Keep an eye on your lawn after that to avoid overdoing or skimping on any particular nutrient, and you’ll be on your way to a lusher, greener lawn before you know it.
Andrew emphasized, “Monitoring your lawn’s response is critical to determining the effectiveness of your DIY fertilizer.
“I always closely monitor the growth and color changes of the grass. In addition, doing a soil test before starting a fertilization program ensures that I don’t over- or under-weight certain nutrients.”
