The Green View

Fertilizing Your Lawn: the "why," "when" and "how"...

Why is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence?  Maybe because your neighbor uses Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer 26-4-12!  The “why,” “when” and “how” of fertilizing your lawn can be confusing, and you may have questions as you gaze across your starving turf.  So why should you fertilize your lawn? 

There is a better reason to fertilize than “green grass envy.” Fertilizing is an important regular lawn maintenance practice, just as vitamins and regular exercise are important for your own physical well-being. Your lawn is a living, breathing wonder and fertilizing enhances the color of the grass, and strengthens it against disease, weeds, parasites and stress.  If you take your lawn for granted and neglect it, the weeds and brown spots are sure to appear.

There is some science to the process of fertilizing your lawn, but it’s not as complicated as you might think, and Greenview products and services make it easy and carefree for you.  First, remember that grass is not just grass. There are different kinds of grasses growing in lawns and each type may have its own requirements. One of the most important factors in selecting the type of turf grass is the climate in which you live. If you live in the southern U.S., your lawn may consist of “warm-season” grass like Bermudagrass, Buffalograss, Zoysiagrass, Centipedegrass, Bahiagrass or St. Augustinegrass, to name a few.  In the North and in Canada, your lawn may be a “cool-season” grass like Bentgrasses, Bluegrasses, Fescues and Ryegrasses.  And between these extremes and in the Eastern U.S., we have “transition zones,” toughest for growing grass because it’s too hot for some, too cold for others.  So often your grass in these areas will be a mixture, building on the strengths of each grass type.

So it’s good to know what grass grows best in your climate and under your outdoor conditions. Once you know what kind of grass you have, next question is when to fertilize? The answer: during your growing seasons.  In most areas of the country, in spring, your grass is re-born, growing new roots and shoots hungry for nutrition.  A good rule of thumb is to fertilize after the first three mowings.  We recommend Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer and applying it after the forsythia has bloomed but before the dandelions go to the "puff ball" stage. The combination of weed control ingredients kill over 200 broadleaf weeds and prevent crabgrass. And in fall, your lawn reaches down deep to survive the winter, developing a strong root system. Greenview recommends applying Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Fertilizer in early September followed by an application of Greenview Fairway Formula Late Fall Fertilizer (Winterizer) around the time you put the lawn mower away, usually mid to late November. 

Depending on your area of the country, your growing seasons will vary.  So to be sure you are fertilizing just enough, but not too much, by matching the grass you have (warm weather, cool weather or mixture) with your growing seasons to customize your fertilizing schedule.

For your cool season grasses, give them one to two light feedings in the early fall to promote root growth but not heavy enough to promote top growing.  Mid-spring feeding will help promote top growth and thicker foliage development.  But don't fertilize too heavily in the summer or late spring and stay away from those fast acting fertilizers that can "overdose" your lawn.

Your warm season grasses grow the most in late spring to early summer.  This is the time that they need the additional nutrients supplied by our Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer 26-4-12.

In the south, where you have a longer growing season, you can fertilize on a regular basis whenever lawns stay green all year.

Here's a summary of the USDA Zone Map.  There are many other types of zone maps gardeners use, but this is the most common Department of Agriculture map to determine your zone.

Zone	Location
Zone 1	Fairbanks, Alaska Resolute, Northwest Territories (Canada)
Zone 2	Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, Flin Flon, Manitoba (Canada);                              Unalakleet, Alaska, Pinecreek, Minnesota
Zone 3	International Falls, Minnesota St. Michael, Alaska; Tomahawk, Wisconsin,Sidney, Montana
Zone 4	Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota Lewistown, Montana; Northwood, Iowa, Nebraska
Zone 5	Des Moines, Iowa, Illinois, Columbia, Missouri Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Zone 6	St. Louis, Missouri, Lebanon, Pennsylvania; McMinnville,                      Tennessee, Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Zone 7	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,Collingswood, New Jersey;                                     Little Rock, Arkansas, Griffin, Georgia
Zone 8	Tifton, Georgia,Dallas, Texas; Gainesville, Florida Austin, Texas
Zone 9	St. Augustine, Florida, Houston, Texas; Fort Pierce,                                    Florida, Brownsville, Texas
Zone 10	Naples, Florida, Barstow, California; Miami, Florida Coral Gables, Florida
Zone 11	Honolulu, Hawaii, Mazatlan, Mexico

The rest is in the fertilizer product you choose and the company that stands behind it. The best thing about our Greenview product is that one application provides the right amount of nitrogen for the entire spring and summer season and our 70% slow release nitrogen fertilizes up to 12 weeks! Slow release nitrogen feeds your lawn controlled, steady nutrition over a longer period of time.  Then your neighbor gets to view your carpet of thicker, greener grass on a regular basis.

So on which side of the fence do you want to be this spring?

Photos courtesy of the Purdue University website.  Chart courtesy of the USDA website.

Submitted by J. Weinmann

Want to look out your window this spring and see green?

Yes, that’s your lawn out there.  It’s a living thing.  And like any living thing, to thrive it needs food, water, and protection from disease and parasites. We at Greenview speak loudly on behalf of the good old American lawn. In fact we care so much that we use the same technology used on championship golf courses—promoting slow and steady growth of those delicate grass roots. 

But we also know how hectic life can be for you homeowners.  So that’s why we say: keep it simple. A little raking, some aerating and nitrogen will bring back the green in your yard.  Nitrogen is the key nutrient in turf fertilizer. Whether you have Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, or a tall fescue lawn, you may need 3 to 5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn per year to get the results you’ve dreamed of. Most brands of fertilizer call for several applications per season.  We say: do it once, and do it right.  One step is all you need.  If you use our Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed and Feed with Crabgrass Preventer, you get the ideal combo of nutrients, like Phosphorous (P) and potassium (potash, K), and weed prevention.  That’s total weed obliteration—including what the experts call “pre-emergence” (for crabgrass) and post-emergence (for broadleaf weeds).

TIP: You homeowners who consistently return grass clippings during mowing will see the best results. No need to worry about when to fertilize.  If you are on our Annual Lawn Plan, we monitor the weather for you.  When your Greenview bags arrive it's time!

Submitted by J. Weinmann

Zero Phosphate Fertilizers from Greenview

Do you want a healthy and beautiful green lawn this fall? With Greenview's Zero Phosphate Fall Fertilizer you will get the lawn you always wanted while being "Eco-Friendly" to the environment.

Phosphorous, which young grass needs for root development is usually not needed by mature or well established lawns.  Before choosing a fertilizer it is a good idea to perform a soil test to determine if your lawn needs additional phosphorous. A recent university study concluded that most home lawns have adequate amounts of phosphorous which is delivered naturally from the break down of leaves and plants.

So what are the benefits of using Greenview's Zero Phosphate Fertilizers with slow release nitrogen?  Greenview fertilizers contain a patented slow release technology and are environmentally friendly because they release nutrients slowly over a period of weeks, allowing the grass plant to take up the nutrients. 

Remember, during the fall most home lawns do not need additional phosphorous supplements, so now is the perfect time to use Greenview's Zero Phosphate Fall Fertilizer!

The Lebanon Seaboard Corporation is a proud member of The Chesapeake Bay Program.  Read how they are supporting this important environmental stewardship initiative.

The Best Time to Apply Fertilizers

Wondering about the best time to apply fertilizer? Here are some quick tips from the Greenview Fertilizer website to make it easy for you.

• In the spring, the best time to apply fertilizer is after 3 mowings. Apply .5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet to support growth and to build-up reserves for summer.
• Cool season grasses go dormant in the summer and fertilizing at this time is not recommended.  If you have a warm season grass, your lawn requires frequent fertilization as it grows all summer and needs the added nutrients to maintain health and color.
• Another important time to fertilize is in the fall to help the grass develop a strong root system. Apply 1.5 to 2.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet (Use the higher amount if your lawn is Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass, soil is sandy, or grass clippings are not returned to the lawn.)
• Check out the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan where lawn care experts provide recommendations for your lawn program.  They even tell you when and how to apply each fertilizer and weed control treatment - so you get the best results.  The Greenview Annual Lawn Plan makes it easy - all you do is push the spreader!

Greenview - Growing Lawns for 60 Years!

When Do I Apply Greenview Fertilizer?

If you are a Greenview Annual Lawn Plan Customer, then you don't need to worry about the right time to apply fertilizer.  With the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan, we deliver your Spring, Summer, Fall and Late Fall fertilizers and lawn care products to you at the exact right time for you to spread it on your lawn.

For homeowners who need to figure out the best time to apply lawn fertilizer on their own, here are some tips:

1. Find out what heat zone you reside in.  You can go to the National Garden Association’s Zone Finder and insert your zip code.  With this heat zone code - you will be able to research the correct timing for fertilizer applications in your area.  Your local state cooperative extension service is a good place to start.  In addition to your heat zone, the right timing will be based on climatic and phenological indicators for your region.
2. When selecting a lawn fertilizer, be sure to read the package label.  Most bags will tell you when to apply the lawn fertilizer - though it will provide only general timing recommendations...like "apply anytime in Spring".  Generic timing means you get average results, because grass and weeds germinate and grow at different times.  And lawn experts know when you apply fertilizer and weed control products is just as critical as what you apply, to get the best results.
3. In order to narrow down on the right timing for fertilizer application, you need to understand how grass and weeds grow.  Cool season grasses grow in the spring, much of their energy is spent in top growth (trying to go to seed), fertilizer is needed in spring but not as much as when the grass plant is growing roots in the fall.  Spring is also the time when the most troublesome weeds are germinating and emerging.  For example crabgrass seeds germinate when the soil temperatures are 55 deg. F. for 24 - 48 consecutive hours, and this is several weeks earlier than the dandelions emerge or the forsythia blooms.
4. If you really want to hit the sweet spot with timing - you need to study the fertilizer label and understand how the nutrients are released over time (is it quick release or a controlled release fertilizer).  Check how long the fertilizer will feed the grass plant.  Greenview Fairway Formula Fertilizers feed through a patented slow release nitrogen technology for up to 16 weeks.  The slow release provides an even feeding of nutrients to the grass plant which helps grow healthy, thick turf.  You will find other brands last 4 weeks and then suggest a repeat fertilizer application.

If this is more work and research than you care to do - go to www.greenviewfertilizer.com and sign up for the Annual Lawn Plan.  We will help you select the right fertilizer product for your lawn, and we will ship it to you at the right time for you to apply!  All you have to do is push the spreader, we even give you the spreader setting for your spreader model.

Greenview Fertilizer is also available in stores throughout the continental United States.   But when you are ready to leave the details to us, sign up for the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan .  Check it out today!

Organic Fertilizers

Is an organic fertilizer safer for the environment?

While organic fertilizers tend to contain very low amounts of nitrogen (3% vs 25-30% for chemical fertilizers), nitrogen is a critical nutrient for the growth of healthy, thick turf.  Even though lower nutrient loading in the soil is good from an environmental perspective, organic fertilizers release the nutrients immediately and rain can wash them away with the ground water, leaving the grass plant starved for nutrients. 

As the benefits of an organic fertilizer often go unnoticed, homeowners will spread multiple applications of organic fertilizers to generate a response.  Organic fertilizer and multiple applications is costly, time consuming and not environmentally friendly.  Homeowners may think using an organic fertilizer is beneficial, but it will have very little impact on the grass plant.

We believe there is a better way - and that is by using a slow release fertilizer that provides nutrients slowly over an extended period of time.  And because of the slow release technology in Greenview Fairway Formula Fertilizers - the nitrogen nutrient will not be washed away with the first rain.

Learn how to get the benefits of organic fertilizer - and better results.

Summer Lawn Care

Children and adults enjoy walking across soft, springy grass.  Green is a restful color and pleasant to look at particularly if you have the chance to partake of an early cup of coffee outside in the morning.  Lawn maintenance is still needed throughout the summer.

The Heat Factor

Cool season grasses go dormant in hot weather. In prolonged heat, these grasses take on both the color and the texture of shredded wheat rather than soft springy, green grass.  Water will not make the grass grow, but will prevent the soil surface from hardening and cracking.  Do not fertilize your lawn until the hot weather breaks. If you used Greenview Fairway Formula Fertilizer the grass will have nutrients available for when cooler days arrive.

Water

Frequent short bursts of water do not soak into the root zone; they evaporate before the grass can use them.  So water early in the morning, and water well.  Set a small cup within reach of the sprinkler and water until that cup has one inch of water in it.  If you do this weekly, your grass will be able to withstand the heat and stress of the summer.

Humidity

Locations that experience hot, humid summers can be prone to fungus problems in the lawn.  If your lawn suffers from a fungus, do not water at night as that will encourage dampness on the lawn and create a great environment for the fungus to spread.  Use Greenview Problem Solver - Bayleton to eradicate the fungus before resuming your watering regime.

Cutting

During the hotest stretch of the summer, keep the mover height around 3-4 inches.  This will keep the grass long enough to inhibit weeds and will keep the surface cool and moist enough to sustain good growth. 

In addition to the many lawn care articles on the Greenview Blog, check out the Greenview Fertilizer Website for more lawn care advice and tips.

Author Kate Copsey can be reached at www.katecopsey.com.

How Much Fertilizer Do I Need?

Finding out how much fertilizer to put onto your lawn is easy if you know the size of your lawn area.  Greenview Fertilizers has a simple planning tool that will tell you how many bags of fertilizer you will require for your property. Check out this lawn size conversion chart.

Acre to Square Feet Conversion Table

Acres	Square Feet
0.25 (1/4) acre	10,890 sq. ft.
0.5 (1/2) acre	21,780 sq. ft.
0.75 (3/4) acre	32,670 sq. ft.
1.00 acre	43,560 sq. ft.
2.0 acres	87,120 sq. ft.
3.0 acres	130,680 sq. ft.

If you don’t know the size of your lawn area, you will need to drag out the pen, paper and the calculator – yes it’s math time!

Start with the front lawn area: measure from the driveway to the lot line, then measure from the sidewalk to the planting bed in front of the house.  Draw the approximate shape of the lawn and put the measurements on it.  Multiply these two numbers to get the basic area of the front lawn, in square feet.  Note any extra areas such as small lawns on the other side of the driveway, and calculate them separately.  Deduct any areas that are devoted to plantings and sidewalks. Your final number will be the area of lawn that you need to fertilize.  Repeat this with the back lawn area as well as the area at the side of the house.  Add all these areas together to get the total lawn size of your property. 

Most fertilizers are packaged in 5M bags, meaning one bag of fertilizer will cover an area of 5,000 sq. ft.  Divide your total lawn area by 5,000 to get the number of bags to spread.  If the number does not come out even, round the number up to the nearest whole number.  Unused fertilizer can be stored and applied next year, be sure to seal the bag and store it in a dry location. 

Author Kate Copsey can be reached at www.katecopsey.com

Weed and Feed

Many years ago, lawns were fed with manure from the farm and weeds were tolerated or hand pulled. Manure was spread in the fall and allowed to decompose over the winter releasing nitrogen into the soil.  This replaced depleted nitrogen in the soil and thus encouraged a burst of fresh green growth on the lawn.  If the manure was applied when it was too fresh, it could burn the lawn; if applied too late in the spring when there was no rain or snowfall then it could not decompose effectively.  Today we have modern fertilizers such as Greenview Fairway Formula Fertilizers that replace the manure and supply nitrogen to the lawn in a more effective way.

If your lawn contains weeds, you will need fertilizer and a herbicide, often called "weed & feed" to eliminate the weeds.  Weeds germinate in the spring when the soil warms up and perennial weeds begin their new growth cycle.  Most lawn weeds such as dandelions, clover and thistles are classified as ‘Broad Leaf’ weeds.  This enables them to be selectively treated without harming the grass blades.  The weeds need to be actively growing to be successfully treated. 

Crabgrass is slightly later to emerge than most broad leaf weeds, but crabgrass is an annual and can be treated with a pre emergent herbicide which will prevent the crabgrass weed seeds from germination.  Remember not to put Crabgrass Preventer down when you have just seeded the lawn, as it will prevent the germination of the grass seed.

By combining the broadleaf weed killer with a pre emergent crabgrass treatment along with the fertilizer such as in Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer, you only need to make one application of the product.   Timing for a combined product is important, so you need to keep a careful eye on your garden and the weather so that you are able to ascertain when the majority of the weeds, but not crabgrass, are up and growing.  Alternatively you can let Greenview keep an eye on the weather and let them gauge when conditions are right for application of the products.  And while most of your neighbors are watching the sky and running to the store to fetch their heavy bags of fertilizer and weed treatments, yours can be delivered by Greenview right to your garage door at the right time. 

Learn more about the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan.

Author Kate Copsey can be reached at KTCopsey@aol.com.

How to Choose a Spreader

Most people use a mechanical spreader to distribute lawn treatments to their property.  These come in two sorts – a Drop Spreader and a Rotary Spreader. Both of these models require that you fill a hopper with material and push the spreader over the lawn.  For most homeowners, the biggest problem is knowing how far the spreader is depositing the nutrients. 

With a drop spreader, the device will have an opening in the base of the hopper that runs the width of the hopper.  When a trigger is pulled, the slot cover is pulled back and the material runs through the opening onto the grass.  As you walk, pushing the spreader ahead of you, the material is spread across the lawn.  The biggest problem with these spreaders is that for a large area of grass, you need to walk up and down numerous times. The swath of lawn fertilized for each run is limited to the width of the spreader, and probably no more than eighteen to twenty four inches.  The advantage is that when you have smaller areas, or areas close to walkways and flowerbeds, the chemicals are dropped right below the spreader and not onto surrounding areas.

With a rotary spreader, the material is placed into the hopper in the same way as for the drop spreader.  The prime difference is that the opening drops material onto a segmented dish, with only a small amount of material going into each segment.  When you walk behind this device, the dish rotates and flings the material onto the surrounding areas, thus covering a much wider area than the drop spreader.  Getting even coverage with this type of machine is more difficult, so make sure that you know how far the material goes and adjust your aisles accordingly.

For both spreaders, it is recommended that you cover the lawn in one direction, spreading one half the fertilizer.  Then cover the lawn a second time but in the perpendicular direction, using the second half of the fertilizer. 

Adjust the settings on the spreaders according to the label on the bag so that you get the appropriate amount of material spread evenly on the lawn.  If you are using Greenview products, and your spreader is not listed on the label, use our handy Spreader Setting Tool to find the appropriate spreader setting for your Greenview Lawn Care Products.

Author - Kate Copsey can be reached at KTCopsey@aol.com.