How To Fertilise Your Lawn

Lawns are made up of thousands of small, hungry plants. Lawns grow quickly while it's warm, using up lots of energy. Mowing also depletes the lawn's energy reserves.

Why fertilise?

It is a common misconception that lawns and plants get all the food they need from the sun, but sadly this isn't true. All plants require additional nutrients to grow and, in many cases, these are drawn from the soil. However, overtime, the nutrient “bank” in your soil starts to diminish – it's what happens when you continue to make withdrawals but no deposits. You can fix this by adding a fertiliser to replace those nutrients in your soil.

Correct fertilising procedures are necessary to keep your lawn healthy and green throughout the year. Reduced growth and paleness of colour are two of the main symptoms of poor nutrition in a lawn - your turf will look sparse and weak. Application of a balanced fertiliser is the simplest way to manage turf nutrition, supplying the turf with adequate levels of all nutrients. Fertilising is also the easiest way of controlling weeds in lawns.

Liebigs law of the minimum

So, why is this nutrient bank so important? Each nutrient plays a part in regulating plant growth. When one or more nutrients becomes depleted, this can affect or restrict the growth of the plant. The image below shows how nutrient deficiencies can limit the potential of filling the whole bucket.

We need to correct these deficiencies to ensure plant health and growth reaches its full potential. The most common used nutrients in plants are NPK, the big three: Nitrogen (N) Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). While these are essential in all plants, the concentration of each nutrient differs for lawns, so never use a lawn fertiliser on another type of plant!

What is meant by NPK?

N: Percentage of Nitrogen in the product.
Keeps lawn green and helps with disease and wear tolerance.

P: Percentage of Phosphorus in the product.
Promotes healthy roots for better drought tolerance.

K: Percentage of Potassium in the product.
Increases plant strength against climatic conditions i.e. drought and cold.

Getting the best results from your fertiliser

For the best results from your fertiliser, you need to make sure you:

Choose the right fertiliser
Apply accurately
Water properly
Re-apply as needed, not after damage occurs

Choosing the right fertiliser

Munns Professional has 3 different fertilisers which solve all different problems.

The Liquid range

Feed straight into the leaf for fast results
Feeding straight into the leaf means less runoff from irrigation or rainfall
Feeding straight into the leaf means it can't be locked up in soil in cases of poor pH

Munns Professional Green Dominator is all about green with envy, so has the four key greening elements: Nitrogen, Iron, Manganese and Magnesium. This is not a complete fertiliser like some of the others and needs to be used as part of a program like the Munns Professional Program.

Munns Professional Lift Off, contains the big three nutrients NPK and is ideal for establishing new lawn from turf or seed. Again, this product should be used as part of a program like the Munns Professional Program.

The Fine Granular range

These are complete fertilisers, containing NPK and trace elements as well as organic matter. These products provide upfront nutrition for quick results, but also improve the soil nutritional bank.

Munns Professional Golf Course Green is a triple action formulation. It is designed to feed all levels of your lawn. Additionally, it contains organic ingredients and a natural wetting agent, so can assist with repairing stressed lawns. It contains more than 10 essential nutrients and trace elements.

Munns Professional Buffalo Booster is similar to its brother, Munns Professional Golf Course Green, but we have slighted changed the content and ratio of the big three nutrients to better suit buffalo lawns.

Long-lasting Fertiliser

The advantage of using a long-lasting fertiliser is the reduced frequency of reapplication and no spike in growth.

Munns Professional Green Keeper is a controlled release fertiliser, specially formulated with lawns in mind. It releases essential nutrients to feed your lawn in a precise controlled fashion, cleverly matching its nutrient demands to provide a lush, green healthy lawn for a full 6 months. This maximises utilisation of nutrients and reduces unnecessary surge growth. It contains 6 essential nutrients and trace elements.

Apply accurately

Applying your fertiliser accurately begins by measuring out your area. This will help determine the coverage amount, to ensure you don't over or under apply.

Make sure your lawn isn't dry. While it doesn't need to be wet, fertiliser should never be applied to a lawn suffering moisture stress. If in doubt water a few days before application.

Measure out the required amount. Check your label and measure your lawn to determine the required amount of fertiliser for your lawn. Remove this from the bag and split into 3 piles.

Split your lawn into two equal sized shapes and start spreading the first pile over the first section – aim to use it with none leftover, but do not come up short. Repeat the same for your second area.

If you do come up short use, the 3^rd pile to complete the lawn. If you don't, spread the 3^rd pile over the entire lawn in a wider broadcast this time travelling in a different direction.

Store the remaining product in a dry cool place, out of reach of children or “pay it forward” to your neighbours, friends or family.

Water properly

When applying a granular fertiliser, it's important to follow up this fertiliser with a good amount of water. Water it in well after application and again the next day to ensure the fertiliser gets into the soil. Following up with regular watering over the next 21 days is vital as the lawn will need water to supplement its new growth!

Re-apply as needed

As needed, not after the damage has occurred! Resurrecting a damaged lawn always requires far more time and money. Think of it as light and frequent for best results.

After you apply a fertiliser, note the time frame given on pack and make a note in your diary or calendar and reapply before the damage is done.