LANDTECH
FERTILIZER
The summer Bermuda grass is starting to take hold, and the winter Rye grass is slowly yellowing and fading away. That means it is time for the final phase of the Spring Grass Transition, fertilizing! This will give the summer grass the extra boost it needs to grow in thick and green all season-long.
Most fertilizer will be made up of the same 3 key nutrients, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. The concentration of each element will depend on the species of grass, the growing region, and the specific conditions of the grass area(s). In the desert southwest, our summer grass is Bermuda, which is well-suited for high temperatures and full sun. Because of the unique requirements of Bermuda grass in our desert region, a typical fertilizer applied during the spring grass transition would be 21-7-14. This means the fertilizer mix is made up of 21% Nitrogen, 7% Phosphorus, and 14% Potassium.
N
Nitrogen makes up the bulk of the nutrients found in these fertilizers because Nitrogen is what gives all plants, including grass, their healthy green color. Click here for more information about Nitrogen and its role in plant health.
P
Phosphorus helps promote healthy root growth. Therefore fertilizers applied at the tail-end of the spring transition will have a minimal amount of phosphorus, as the Bermuda root system is already established.
K
Potassium, like phosphorus, also aids in root development. But potassium also provides resistance to diseases, and helps your grass better tolerate the stress of emerging from its winter dormancy.
Combining nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium during the final stages of the spring grass transition will help ensure your grass has all the nutrients it needs to look its best all summer!