You know your lawn needs fertilizer, but how do you deliver the chemicals in the proper manner to ensure not only maximum efficiency but the utmost safety as well? These tips can help.
The Proper Way to Spread Lawn Fertilizer
Ready to spread the food for your grass? Start by choosing the best spreader for your needs.
- There are many types of fertilizer spreaders on the market. A broadcast spreader or cyclone spreader disperses the fertilizer over a wide area, and can be either walk-behind or handheld. A drop spreader is just what it sounds like: the fertilizer is dropped on the area, not spread wide. If you are using liquid fertilizer, delivery systems that attach to your garden hose are the most popular and effective.
- Always wear gloves and goggles. Fertilizer can cause chemical burns on your skin, and can be especially dangerous if it gets into your eyes. Protect yourself from splashes and spills.
- Walk backward as you work. Opt for a spreader that works as you walk backward with it, instead of pushing it. This keeps your shoes free of fertilizer and keeps the distribution even.
- Apply half of the fertilizer while going in one direction, then apply the other half while moving in the opposite direction across your lawn. This ensure that every section of your lawn gets the fertilizer it needs.
- Watch for clumps in dry fertilizer. When fertilizer gets damp, it has a tendency to clump a bit, and that can jam up the spreader. If you see clumps, break them up with a small garden trowel.
With a bit of planning, spreading lawn fertilizer can be as easy as dumping a bag into the spreader and taking a stroll through your lush backyard.
Shannon Dauphin is a freelance writer based near Nashville, Tennessee. Her house was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her hobbies.
