Anyone have a lawn fertilizing 'plan'??

[sorcerormickey]

I was just wondering if anyone out there has a lawn fertilizer 'plan'?? At my nursery, we suggest people use the EMIL method - Easter, Memorial Day, Independance Day, and Labor Day. I have never actually tried this method - I just fertilize when I think it needs it (if I am not too lazy!). So, do you fetilize? If so, what is your plan or method?

 

[Tulirose]

Actually, I always thought that the first treatment should go down around St. Patrick's Day! Not that I was ever ready to apply it at that point in time. I had a service for a few years because when we had cesspool replaced, I could just not get the lawn back into shape. But the service is expensive and I was not happy with the results. He would blame lawn dying by the driveway on sprinkler coverage (or rather lack of it) and so I had the sprinkler installer come back out and he said the spread is fine and the coverge is fine. So who do you believe?

Last year we did it ourselves, about four times, and the lawn did not die in that one area - it was a little thin but much better than when I had the "professional" come and fertilize. And I think he would fertilize about six to eight times a year!!

I'll let you know what they say in my spring gardening course I'll be taking next month!

 

[amid chaos]

Since we are surrounded by water here on the Cape, fertilizing lawns is the biggest cause of nitrogen leaching into fresh and saltwater.

Plants (lawns) can only absorb so much nitrogen and the rest is leached.

Since we are only a few feet above sea level, the over abundance of nitrogen affects our drinking water here.

There are alternatives which we are encouraged to use. The usage cycle is very similar.

 

[TigH]

We go to LESCO (a lawn fertilizer, etc. warehouse) and they have a program for us to follow. We are usually a month or two or three behind what they recommend! Right now our grass is very green and lush looking. That could all change in a month!

 

[shep]

We do a program too, and the place we order from(local place)tells us when to put the first application down and then it's every six weeks after...Plus its a lot cheaper to do yourself...$40 for 4 bags compared to $30 a application..