There's an old saying that many lawn-owners have been living by for years. It goes something like this: Don't fertilize your lawn in the summer because you'll cause lawn burn. Lawn burn sounds terrible. But what is it?
Years ago, people used fast-release and agriculture-grade fertilizers on their lawns. These products spread too much nitrogen at one time for the microbes in the soil to break down. This caused the water-absorption process in the grass plants to reverse. So the grass would start giving water back to the soil and dry out. That resulted in a burned look.
Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Fertilizers are slow-release products. Bacteria in the soil are able to break down the nitrogen in the particles over time, thereby releasing nutrients slowly and steadily. This process takes 6 -8 weeks.
Heat and dry spells can put stress on your lawn. Here are some tips for helping your lawn get through a long, hot summer.
Make sure your lawn has received adequate moisture the week before you fertilize. Also, be sure to follow the instructions on your fertilizer package label.
When it's hot outside, reduce stress on your lawn by minimizing foot traffic.
Set your mower to its highest position, and make sure the blade is sharp. Taller grass can grow deeper roots. Dull blades can lead to excess moisture loss in your grass.
Also, keep this in mind: Most weed-and-feed products are temperature-sensitive -- not because of the fertilizers, but because of the herbicides. Weed-and-feeds should not be used when temperatures are over 85 degrees. Be sure to check your label before applying this type of product.
