The Best Fertilizer for Floratam

New Lawns

• Proper fertilization of a new lawn is important to developing good cover. The best starter fertilizer for Floratam is one that’s high in phosphorous. This essential nutrient encourages early root growth and promotes plant vigor. Don’t use a high-nitrogen fertilizer on your new lawn, because it won’t develop good roots and will be more susceptible to disease. Add fertilizer at a depth of 3 inches. Nitrogen can be applied every month for the first three months. The amount to add varies depending on your location. Contact your local county extension for recommendations for your area.

Growing Season

• Floratam lawns need three or four applications of fertilizer every year. Adding additional nitrogen during the growing season will maintain good growth and color. Use a complete turf-grade fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio. How much fertilizer you apply will depend on the type of soil you have, what your local microclimate is and your mowing habits. For instance, recycling grass clippings may mean you don’t need to add as much fertilizer. A soil-test analysis is the best way to determine what your lawn needs. Follow recommendations carefully and be careful not to add high levels of nitrogen, because it will cause excess levels of thatch to accumulate.

Other Nutrients

• Like other types of St. Augustine grass, Floratam is susceptible to iron deficiency, especially in alkaline soils. Yellow grass can indicate a deficiency of iron or nitrogen. A soil test will help you identify which it is. Foliar applications of iron sulfate or iron chelate will correct an iron shortage better than adding iron to the soil. Potassium helps Floratam develop a tolerance to cold and drought and improves root growth. Once your lawn is established, it will be able to get most of the phosphorous it needs from the soil. Fertilizing your lawn through late fall will help it recover earlier in the spring.

Tips

• Some states and towns regulate fertilizer use. For instance, in Florida, it’s illegal to add more than 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Check your local county and city guidelines. Water-soluble nitrogen fertilizers like ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulfate are “fast-release” fertilizers, and they can burn your lawn, especially if it’s wet. Apply fertilizer to dry turf and water your lawn immediately afterwards to help the fertilizer dissolve. Even better, use “slow-release” fertilizer for more even growth.