For the best coverage and application of fertiliser, it is recommended that you use a Handigreen spreader on setting No.5 or any other type of spreader at 10 grams/m2. Application rate is 20 grams/m2 or 2 kg/100m2 in total for your lawn.
To ensure good coverage and even growth with even colour spread the fertiliser in a grid pattern, walking North to South and then West to East. This will cover the area twice ensuring an even coverage.
Types of Fertiliser
There are two types of fertilisers slow and fast release. At Lawn & Turf Contracting we use a variety of four high quality fertilisers which include; Yaramila COMPLEX, CAN, DAP, FOLTEC SG 24-0-8. DAP is our most common fertiliser for establishing newly sown lawn in the Autumn season and coming out of the summer period. This is applied when Lawn and Turf are drilling or prepping the lawns before initial seeding is applied or soon after. This is because Phosphate is critical for root establishment and regenerating growth after the drought. It also has 17.6% Nitrogen which works well for rapid growth with the correct additional water requirements.
Yara Mila complex is used regularly on the established lawns which means the lawns that have already sprouted seed and the fertiliser is used as a capital to maintain and continue making the grass look lush and green. This fertiliser has good amounts of potassium specifically potash which is a potassium-rich salt this is beneficial at keeping the plant strong and resistant to drought, disease and pests. This fertiliser also helps provide and keep approximately equal amounts of nitrogen and potassium to make for a good healthy plant and soil.
Throughout the winter periods when the weather is cooler making the soil temperature low, Lawn and Turf Contracting use Yara Bela CAN. This is because this fertiliser Yara Bela CAN contains Nitrogen in the nitrate form which make it available to the plant straight away as it’s a fast-release fertiliser. Most other fertiliser has Nitrogen in ammonia form which is a slow-release fertiliser and the soil microorganisms have to convert it to nitrate for the plant to be able to use it, when the soil temperature is low the microorganisms are slow to change the ammonia therefore it takes a large time period for the fertiliser to be effective compared with the fast release fertiliser which acts quickly.
Anderson DG 28-0-6 is another fertiliser that Lawn and Turf utilises because it doesn’t burn during the hotter dryer months throughout the Summer period as well as requiring little moisture to release the nutrients to the grass. It’s also 50% slow release so it stays active for 10-12 weeks where the above fertilizes have only half the active period.