I'm not in Kansas (Indiana here), but I like to use a good general purpose fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. Seems to just kinda feed everything OK.

I am not a huge believer in all the "weed and feed" products out there. They are very costly, and I know I don't have a golf course type turf to begin with so it would be a waste of my money.

If you use Ammonium Nitrate, you'll get killer growth and lush green color, but it will be short lived and you'll be getting more tractor seat time than you even want. Plus, it only lasts a short time and then the effect is gone.

 

I'm not in Kansas (Indiana here), but I like to use a good general purpose fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. Seems to just kinda feed everything OK.

That's exactly what the Master Gardener program recommends without soil samples.

 

That's exactly what the Master Gardener program recommends without soil samples.

I've just always gone with what my Dad always did when he had the farm, and he'd always hit the yard with some GP fertilizer and it always looked good. Can't say as I'm motivated enough to be doing the soil sample thing every season.

My biggest reason for recommending that approach is that unless you've really invested in creating a turf-type lawn, the other higher priced fertilizers are largely going to be money thrown away, IMHO. Now, if one started from scratch and really worked at creating a lawn, then I might could see using the higher priced stuff.

 

Thanks for the information.

 

Around here tripple 16 is the generic mix. Also if you can buy from a farm feed/fert store. I can buy a 80# bag there for about the same price one pays at a H&G center for a 20# bag.

 

When is the best time?

 

What kind of grass do you have? You're in the transisiton zone, so it could be a warm season grass or a cool season grass, or a mixture.

They have different fertilization requirements.

 

K-31 Fescue.

 

With Fescue, you'll be OK with a generic fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. I'd say you can apply most any time now, but the preferred time to fertilize is in the fall. This gives the roots the entire winter to feed, but you can apply it now as well.