What Can I Get to Fertilize My Lawn That Has Seeds on it?

N-P-K

• Every bag of fertilizer displays three numbers separated by dashes. These numbers tell you the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contained in the fertilizer, in that order. For example a fertilizer labeled 10-3-20 contains 10 percent nitrogen, three percent phosphorus and 20 percent potassium.

  Nitrogen plays a key role in keeping your lawn dark green and healthy, but does not play a major role in establishing new turf. Phosphorus and potassium are most important when you start a lawn from seed.

Role of Phosphorus

• Newly seeded lawns need phosphorus to stimulate early root growth and plant vigor. Look for starter fertilizers with a high percentage of the middle number.

Role of Potassium

• Potassium plays an important role in strengthening cell walls and helping a plant use nitrogen more efficiently. A newly seeded lawn that is low in potassium is more susceptible to environmental stresses from water fluctuations, insects and diseases. A good starter fertilizer has a higher percentage of potassium, or the third number.

Applying

• If you haven’t seeded the lawn yet, gently work a starter fertilizer into the soil before you sow the seeds. If you have already seeded the lawn, apply a starter fertilizer immediately after you sow the seed. Follow the application rates on the bag carefully to prevent over-fertilizing. Use a broadcast or drop spreader to distribute the fertilizer evenly.