The Grass Doctor

How much can I REALLY fertilize my yard?

I have been using the Scotts plan, which goes through about 5 to 6 applications each year. How much time has to go by before you can apply regular ole Scotts fertilizer to the yard? Maybe not a full application but enough to get seedlings to grow and keep the yard green. For example, I applied Scotts Halts with Crabgrass Killer on March 1st so how much time has to go by before I can apply a little fertilizer? Maybe 4 weeks? I don't want to kill my lawn - just keep it green and healthy. Thanks for the help! Thanks for the answers thus far. Just to clarify, I would like to see answers regarding fertilization not environmental thoughts. If it's not me over-fertilizing, it's someone down the street.

Public Comments

1. once a month but read the bag
2. Scotts is timed release, so you can't hurt your lawn by overapplying. Excess will simply run off with the next rain, polluting the public water supply. Follow the instructions on the bag, and you should be fine.
3. Over fertilization is as bad for the environment as it is for your lawn. Fertilizers are washed away by rain water which ends up in a storm drain. Water from storm drains is untreated and goes directly to a river, lake or any other body of water nearby. These fertilizers cause algae to over grow. When algae overgrows it blocks sunlight to the marine life and steals oxygen from the water that fish need to live. In Jacksonville, FL, we have recently learned the hard way when our beloved St. John's river turned completely green. This has so many reproductions on the environment as well as our local economy. Depending on where you live, your soil will have different needs. You can find out what specific fertilizers and amounts your lawn needs by doing a search on the subject. Your city or hometown most likely has its own website. You can find out how to contact the environmental resources office or agriculture office. They will be able to help you. Learning the specifics may take a little investigative work but it is the best way to keep a healthy green lawn.
4. I use Scotts all the time but I just wait until the grass looks like it needs some fertilizer and then I make an application. It usually ends up being about half of the "normal" Scotts program.
5. Over fertilizing does not help. Consider using an iron supplement every other month during the warm season if you wish for a greener lawn.
6. Four to six weeks between Fert apps is pretty good. I would wait at the least 2 weeks between chemical apps, including fertilizer. Your real problem comes with the amount you put down in a one time application. Too high a concentration may cause some yellow-tipping.