By Jim Schild and Gary Stone, Extension Educators, UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center
Fertilizing a turf grass lawn is a lot more than just buying a bag of fertilizer and spreading it all in the spring.
There are several decisions to make. One is how much fertilizer to apply; another is when to apply it. And spring is not the best time to apply most of the year's fertilizer.
The goal of a good fertilizer program is to keep growth at a minimum while maintaining a good, thick, dense, well-colored lawn. To reach the goal, at least two-thirds of the fertilizer should be applied during the fall to thicken the turf and help the grass recover after the summer stress.
