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Fertilizing Your Lawn      

Just like people, all plants (including grass) need food to thrive. In addition to sunlight and water, plants use several elements to grow. They gather some, such as oxygen, hydrogen and carbon, from the air. Other elements are used in relatively small amounts and are gathered from the soil. Fertilizers provide elements that are naturally missing from your lawn.

High-maintenance Lawns	Low-maintenance Lawns
Lawn seed mix is predominantly Kentucky Bluegrass varieties. Requires regular watering. Lawn should be fertilized 3–4 times per year. See “Lawn Care Calendar”.	Lawn seed mix is predominantly Creeping Red Fescue and Rye Grass. Requires some supplemental watering. Lawn should be fertilized 1 – 2 times per year. See “Lawn Care Calendar”

Synthetic Lawn Food
Type	Purpose	Application
Bachman’s Crabgrass Preventer with Turf Food	Blend of nutrients and pre-emergent herbicide. Promotes lush green grass. Prevents the germination of crabgrass and other annual grass seeds.	Apply mid April through May. A second application in early June is also recommended. Activated by a light watering or rain.
Bachman’s Weed and Feed	Blend of nutrients and post-emergent herbicide. Promotes lush green grass. Kills existing broadleaf weeds such as dandelions and clover.	Apply mid April through June and September through mid October. Apply when grass is wet and the weather forecast is clear for 24 hours after application.
Bachman’s Turf Food	Fast-acting formula. Promotes a thick, lush lawn.	Apply early summer. Activated by a light watering or rain.
Bachman’s Fall Winterizer	Prepares lawn for winter dormancy. Encourages root growth.	Apply September through October. Activated by a light watering or rain.
Bachman’s Starter Fertilizer	Promotes strong deep roots. Use whenever seeding or sodding.	Apply anytime during the growing season. Activated by a light watering or rain.

Organic Lawn Food
Type	Purpose	Application
Ringer Lawn Restore	Will not burn the lawn. Makes yard more disease resistant. Helps to minimize thatch. Child and pet friendly.	Apply anytime during the growing season. Reapply every 8 weeks to high-maintenance lawns. Water after applying.
Concern or Perfectly Natural Lawn Fertilizer	Will not burn the lawn. Makes yard more disease resistant. Helps to minimize thatch. Child and pet friendly.	Apply anytime during the growing season. Reapply every 8 weeks to high-maintenance lawns. Water after applying.

1.	Spread herbicide-free fertilizer with either a rotary or drop spreader. (Do not spread lawn fertilizer by hand.) Spread fertilizer with herbicide with a drop spreader.
2.	Fertilize in the morning when temperatures are below 85 degrees and calm with little wind.
3.	To ensure even coverage, apply the fertilizer in one direction at 1/2 the recommended rate and then a second application at 1/2 the recommended rate perpendicular to the first. (See illustration for grid pattern.)
4.	Remove any fertilizer from hard surfaces such as driveways or streets; this will help control pollution to our lakes and rivers.

Related Bachman's Information

	Lawn Care Calendar
	Lawn Weeds
	Seeding and Sodding a Lawn
	Unhealthy Lawns

Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Centers
Your local garden expert since 1885.
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Select source information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension, www.extension.umn.edu.

Last Updated: May 2012