Fertilizing Your Lawn

® Hertzler Farm and Feed Inc.

The way to a healthy lawn is through its soil. The ideal soil for gardening contains a mixture of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Also, the pH value, which indicates the acid or alkaline level, should be neutral, or around 7.0

Weeds: A healthy lawn is your best defense against weeds. As grass strengthens and thickens, it actually helps prevent crabgrass, dandelions and other weeds from growing by blocking out the sunlight and using up the moisture that weeds need in order to germinate.

A healthy lawn can take some time to develop. Until your lawn has reached this point, you can still fight weeds naturally by mowing your lawn no shorter than two to three inches and by removing any weeds you notice to prevent further damage.

Hertzler's custom blend program.

28-4-8 is a slow release fertilizer with 3% iron for quick green-up and micros added. This is excellent for established lawns and pastures. Coverage is 10-15,000 square ft.
14-28-14 is an excellent starter fertilizer with 3% iron for quick green-up and added micros. The higher phosphorus level promotes root growth. This is a good starter fertilizer for lawns or pastures. Coverage is 10-15,000 square ft.
10-10-10 is an old standby. Coverage is 5,000 square ft.
Pennington's Crabgrass Preventer in the spring as listed below.
Pennington's Weed & Feed in the summer as listed below.

Another option is Pennington's 5-step program

Spring:

Pennington Crabgrass Preventer Plus Fertilizer 28-3-4 with Barricade®

• For selective pre-emergent control
of crabgrass and broadleaf weeds in established lawns
• Provides up to 6 months control depending on rainfall
• 20 lbs. covers 5,000 sq. ft.
• Contains 0.20% Barricade® pre-emergent herbicide

Barricade is a registered trademark of Sandoz LTD

Note: There are several different chemicals used in crabgrass preventers; Team and Barricade are the most popular.

Barricade: Takes 1 application which last all season-4 months. Also has some broadleaf weed control. May cause some root pruning of existing grasses but on well established lawns this should not be a problem.
Team: Last 8 weeks and you need 2 applications per season. It will not harm roots of existing fescues.

Pennington Lawn Starter 18-24-6

• Formulated especially for starting new lawns
• High phosphorous level great for starting young plants
• 20 lbs. covers 6,000 sq. ft.; 40 lbs. covers 12,000 sq. ft.

Summer:

Pennington Weed & Feed with Tri-Power® 25-4-6

Contains a proven effective broadleaf weed killer
Use only on bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass, Bermuda, bahia, zoysia, or St. Augustine lawns
20 lbs. covers 6,000 sq. ft.

Tri Power is a registered trademark of Riverdale Chemical Company.

Pennington Lawn Food 27-4-6

• High analysis fertilizer containing slow release nitrogen and minor elements
• Will gradually continue feeding your lawn for up to 4 months
• 20 lbs. covers 6,000 sq. ft.; 40 lbs. covers 12,000 sq. ft.

Winter:

Pennington Lawn Winterizer 20-5-15

• Designed to help winter injury
• Will gradually continue feeding your lawn for up to 4 months
• For cool season grasses like fescue and bluegrass
• 20 lbs. covers 6,000 sq. ft.

Organic Option:

Milorganite: 6-2-0 + 4% Iron Ideal for lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, seeding and new sod establishment

To improve the health of your soil, use a natural organic fertilizer. "Many synthetic fertilizers release nutrients faster, while organic fertilizers are better at releasing nutrients at the rate plants need them and may add beneficial organic matter," said John Stier, an expert in horticulture with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Microorganisms in the soil break down organic matter into a usable form by plants."

Non-Burning
Will not harm tender leaves or roots.
Can be applied in the hottest temperature or driest conditions.
Low Salt Index
Milorganite contains virtually no chemical salts, so it never burns
Non-Leaching
University studies show that Milorganite, a slow release fertilizer, will not leach from the root-zone with frequent watering, even on sandy soils. That means no contamination of the groundwater or wells.
4% Iron-Naturally Chelated
Provides deep green color in leaves. Iron and micronutrients are absorbed by the plant's root system and used for beneficial growth
Long Lasting
Slow release fertilizer (90% WIN). All nutrients released at a controlled rate for 8-12 weeks, no surge growth.
No Excessive Growth
Milorganite provides uniform growth and well established root systems. This means fewer grass clippings