What You Need to Know About Lawn Fertilization Services in Bremerton, WA

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June 12, 2024

Maintaining a lush, green lawn requires more than just sunlight and water. By regularly fertilizing your lawn, you provide your grass the essential nutrients they need to grow healthy and resilient. 

At Sunrise Turf and Pest Management, we offer expert lawn fertilization services tailored to the unique conditions of Bremerton, Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island, Tacoma, WA, and surrounding areas. Here’s everything you need to know about lawn fertilization, its benefits, cost, and tips for finding the best lawn fertilizers. 

What is Lawn Fertilization?

Lawn Fertilization involves applying nutrient-rich substances to promote healthy growth and vitality. Fertilizers replenish essential nutrients, ensuring vibrant green color, increased turf density, and resilience against environmental stressors. Regular fertilization sustains a lush, healthy lawn throughout the growing season.

Why Fertilize Your Lawn?

Fertilization supplies your lawn with essential nutrients that promote robust growth, enhance color, and improve overall turf health. Regular fertilization helps:

  • Strengthen grass roots, making your lawn more resilient to environmental stress
  • Boost resistance to diseases and pests
  • Improve drought tolerance
  • Encourage denser growth, which helps crowd out weeds
  • Improve color and appearance

Maintaining a lush, green lawn requires more than just sunlight and water. By regularly fertilizing your lawn, you provide your grass the essential nutrients they need to grow healthy and resilient. 

At Sunrise Turf and Pest Management, we offer expert lawn fertilization services tailored to the unique conditions of Bremerton, Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island, Tacoma, WA, and surrounding areas. Here’s everything you need to know about lawn fertilization, its benefits, cost, and tips for finding the best lawn fertilizers. 

Tips for Choosing the Best Lawn Fertilizer

Different types of fertilizers do different things. Even when you work with a professional lawn care company, it helps to know what factors to consider when choosing the right fertilizer for your lawn. Here are some tips:

1. Get to know your soil. 

Start with a soil test to check the pH level and identify any nutrient deficiencies. You can get a soil test kit from your local garden center or send a sample to a lab. This way, you’ll know exactly what your soil needs, whether it’s more nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or something else.

2. Know your grass type.

Different types of grass need different nutrients. Identify if you have cool-season grass (like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue) or warm-season grass (like Bermuda or zoysia). 

Cool-season grasses typically need more nitrogen in the fall and spring, while warm-season grasses benefit from it during the summer. Choose a fertilizer that’s tailored to your specific grass type for the best results.

3. Consider nutrient ratios.

Fertilizers come in various formulations, such as nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) ratios. For example, a 10-10-10 fertilizer has equal parts of each. In the spring, you might want a higher nitrogen ratio (like 20-5-10) to boost growth. In the fall, a balanced or higher potassium ratio (like 10-10-20) can help prepare your lawn for winter.

4. Slow-Release vs. Quick-Release.

Decide if you want a slow-release or quick-release fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers are great if you prefer low-maintenance lawn care because they feed your grass over time, reducing the number of applications. 

Quick-release fertilizers give an immediate nutrient boost, ideal if your lawn needs a rapid pick-me-up. Just be careful with quick-release to avoid over-fertilizing and burning your grass.

5. Check for additional ingredients.

Look for fertilizers that offer more than just the basics. Some include micronutrients like iron, which can help green up your lawn, or soil conditioners like compost that improve soil health. If your soil is compacted, for instance, a fertilizer with added organic matter can help loosen it up and improve root growth.

6. Read labels carefully.

Always read the fertilizer label thoroughly. It tells you what’s inside, how much to apply, and how often. For example, if a label says to apply 1 pound per 1,000 square feet, follow that guideline to avoid over-fertilizing. Labels also indicate if the product is safe for pets and kids, which is crucial if your lawn is a family play area.

Types of Lawn Fertilizers

There are different types of fertilizers and knowing each type can help you choose the best one for your lawn’s needs. Lawn fertilizers fall into three types: 

Granular Fertilizers

Granular fertilizers are great for steady, long-term feeding. They release nutrients slowly, which means your grass gets a consistent supply over time.

This is perfect if you don’t want to fertilize too often. Spread them evenly using a broadcast or drop spreader, and make sure to water your lawn afterward to help the granules soak in.

Liquid Fertilizers

Liquid fertilizers work fast because they’re quickly absorbed by the grass. They’re perfect if your lawn needs an immediate nutrient boost or if you’re trying to fix specific deficiencies. 

Mix them with water and apply using a hose-end sprayer. Just be careful to follow the instructions, as it’s easy to over-apply and potentially burn your lawn.

Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are made from natural materials like compost, manure, or bone meal. They’re fantastic for improving soil health and structure, which benefits your lawn in the long run. They release nutrients slowly and also support beneficial soil microbes.

While they might not give an immediate green-up like synthetic fertilizers, they’re great for sustainable, long-term lawn care. Apply them just like granular fertilizers and enjoy the added benefits to your soil.

Yes, our fertilization treatments are pet-safe. However, we recommend keeping pets and children off the lawn until the treatment has dried, typically within a few hours. We will notify you on the day of application to help you manage this.

How often should my lawn be fertilized?

Our programs include either 4 or 5 treatments per year, designed to provide continuous nourishment throughout the seasons. Regular applications ensure your lawn receives consistent nutrients for optimal growth.

What if it rains after the treatment?
A light rain can help the fertilizer soak into the soil, but heavy rain right after application can wash away the nutrients. Our team monitors weather conditions to schedule treatments at the best times and will provide guidance if rain is expected.

Can I water my lawn after fertilization?

Watering after fertilization can help nutrients penetrate the soil. We typically recommend watering the lawn lightly if it does not rain within a day or two after treatment, ensuring the fertilizer is properly absorbed.

Our Lawn Fertilization Programs

At Sunrise Turf and Pest Management, we offer two comprehensive lawn fertilization programs to meet your lawn’s specific needs:

Premium Program (5 Treatments)

Round 1: Liquid fertilizer with pre-emergent weed control to prevent weed growth.Round 2: Second round of liquid fertilizer with broadleaf weed control.

Round 1: Liquid fertilizer with pre-emergent weed control to prevent weed growth.

Round 2: Second round of liquid fertilizer with broadleaf weed control.

Round 3: Granular fertilizer application with another broadleaf weed control treatment.

Round 4: Liquid fertilizer with spot herbicide treatment to eliminate persistent weeds.

Round 5: Final liquid turf builder fertilizer to sustain your lawn through winter.

Basic Program (4 Treatments)

  • Excludes the third round in the summer, focusing on spring and fall applications to maintain healthy growth and weed control.

If you have pets at home, don’t worry. Our fertilization treatments are pet-safe. We’ll let you know on the day we apply it, and just keep your pets off the grass until it’s dry. Once it’s dry, your pets can safely enjoy the lawn again.

Add-On Lawn Care Services

To complement our fertilization programs, we offer a range of additional turf care services:

  • Moss Control: Keeps your lawn free from moss, which can compete with grass for nutrients.
  • Weed Control: Targets and eliminates weeds to ensure your grass has space to grow.
  • Aeration: Improves soil aeration, allowing better water and nutrient absorption.
  • Overseeding: Introduces new grass varieties to fill in bare spots and promote dense growth.
  • Grub Control: Protects your lawn from damaging grubs.
  • Surface Insect Control: Keeps surface insects at bay to maintain turf health.

Professional Lawn Care Service in Bremerton, WA

Keeping your lawn vibrant and healthy takes regular fertilization. Sunrise Turf and Pest Management offers specialized programs tailored to your lawn’s needs.

For homeowners in Bremerton, Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island, Tacoma, and surrounding areas, our expert lawn care services can transform your yard into the envy of the neighborhood

Contact us today at (833) 302-1900 to make your yard the VIP of the block.Â