Your Lawn Care Game Plan: How to Weed and Feed Your Georgia Lawn for Year-Round Health

Managing weeds in Georgia can be particularly challenging due to its warm climate, which fosters rapid weed growth. While fertilizers are used to promote healthy lawn growth, some products combine nutrients with pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicides, providing weed control along with fertilization. 

Which Fertilizer is Best for Grass?

The best choice for your Georgia lawn depends on the grass type and soil condition. 

Soil testing is an important first step in knowing which fertilizer and weed control to apply. Results will show imbalances in pH as well as nutrient deficiencies. Georgia’s warm-season turfgrasses benefit from fertilizer with a high-nitrogen content.

Ultimately, fertilizers that include herbicides are best for feeding your lawn and gardens because they control weeds at the same time. 

Are there Chemical-free Fertilizers? 

Many Georgia homeowners prefer organic fertilizers to improve soil health while promoting robust grass growth without chemicals. Georgia’s warm-season grasses respond well to organic fertilizers. Here are a couple of popular options for fertilizer and weed control for Georgia lawns and gardens.

• Corn Gluten Meal: A natural pre-emergent herbicide, helping prevent weeds while providing nitrogen to boost growth. Offers weed prevention and fertilization in one application. 
  • Best Time to Apply: Early spring before weed seeds germinate. This natural pre-emergent fertilizer prevents weeds like crabgrass from sprouting while adding nitrogen to the soil.
• Espoma Organic Weed Preventer: This slow-release fertilizer is ideal for promoting healthy, lush green grass. It’s 100% organic, and its microbes improve soil health by breaking down nutrients over time.
  • Best Time to Apply: Early spring and early fall. This is another organic option that uses corn gluten meal to prevent weed seeds from germinating, while promoting lawn health.
• Compost: Incorporating organic compost as a top dressing once a year helps to further enrich the soil and improve its structure.

Regular watering ensures proper nutrients break down effectively. Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation.

These organic options are well-suited to Georgia’s warm climate and can help you maintain a vibrant, healthy lawn naturally.

Consult a Lawncare Professional for Best Results

Consulting a professional before fertilizing your lawn is always a good step, especially when dealing with specific local conditions like Georgia’s climate. Here’s why:

• Soil Testing: Professionals can perform detailed soil tests to determine the exact pH and nutrient levels. This helps in selecting the right type and amount of fertilizer for your lawn’s needs. Consider the following benefits of soil testing:
  1. Soil analysis measures macro nutrient levels such as phosphorus (develops roots) and potassium (strengthens soil against drought), but not on nitrogen (promotes rapid growth) – one of the most needed nutrients for your lawn. 
  2. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), are indicated as N-P-K on fertilizer products and always in that order. When you see on a fertilizer bag or bottle numbers such as 10-5-5 or 32-0-4, this reveals the percentage of N-P-K. For example, 10-5-5 is a mix of 10% nitrogen, 5% phosphorus and 5% potassium.
  3. Experts recommend choosing products with P and K only if your soil analysis shows they are low. Too much phosphorus can create runoff which enters waterways resulting in algae and environmental issues.

• Grass Type Compatibility: Georgia lawns often consist of warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, or Centipede. A professional can recommend fertilizers that are best suited for your specific grass type.

• Timing and Application: Professionals know the ideal times to fertilize, based on your grass type and the season. Applying fertilizer at the wrong time can promote weed growth or damage the lawn.

• Environmental Considerations: They can help ensure that your fertilization practices are environmentally friendly, avoiding run-off into nearby water sources or over-fertilizing, which can harm the ecosystem.

• Weed and Pest Control: A professional can assess if your lawn needs more than just fertilizer, such as pest or weed control, and offer an integrated approach.

When to Apply Weed and Feed

So, when should you fertilize? Timing is just as important as the kind of fertilizer and weed control you will need. In Georgia’s warmer climate where grasses like Bermudagrass, Zoysia, St. Augustine, and Tall Fescue grow well, fertilize in April, before the lawn fills in with new growth and weeds have not yet germinated. Avoid fertilizing in hot and humid conditions when temperatures rise to more than 85 degrees. A second application should be spread in the fall when temperatures start to cool down again.

How Much Fertilizer Do I Need?

To prevent burning your lawn or causing grass to grow too fast, you need to know how much of each macronutrient you need your fertilizer to deliver. In other words, do the math! 

To determine how many bags of fertilizer your lawn in Georgia will need, you’ll need to know:

1. The size of your lawn (in square feet)
2. The recommended amount of nitrogen for your grass type (warm-season grasses usually need about 1-1.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application)
3. The fertilizer’s N-P-K ratio (This tells you the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the bag)

Let’s break this down:

Step 1: Measure Your Lawn’s Size

• Use a measuring tape or a lawn measurement app to get the square footage of your lawn.

Step 2: Know the Nitrogen Recommendation

For most warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, or Centipede in Georgia:

• Bermuda grass: 3-5 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. annually (applied in 2-4 applications).
• Zoysia grass: 2-3 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. annually.
• Centipede grass: 1-2 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. annually (low nitrogen requirement).

Step 3: Calculate Based on Fertilizer’s Nitrogen Content

For example, if you’re using a fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 24-0-11, that means the bag contains 24% nitrogen. So, for every 100 lbs of fertilizer, you’ll have 24 lbs of nitrogen.

Formula to Use:

1. Determine how much nitrogen you need: Multiply your lawn’s square footage by the amount of nitrogen required per 1,000 sq. ft.

Example: If you have a 5,000 sq. ft. lawn and need 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft., then you’ll need 5 pounds of nitrogen.

1. Figure out how much fertilizer is needed to provide that nitrogen:
   Take the amount of nitrogen you need and divide it by the percentage of nitrogen in the fertilizer. 

Step 4: Check the Weight of Fertilizer Bags

If you are using a 50-pound bag, and you need 20.8 pounds of fertilizer, then one bag is more than enough for this application. For larger lawns or higher nitrogen requirements, you may need more than one bag.

Example Calculation:

• Lawn Size: 5,000 sq. ft.
• Nitrogen Requirement: 1 lb per 1,000 sq. ft. (for Bermuda grass)
• Fertilizer N-P-K: 24-0-11

Total nitrogen needed = 5 lbs, so in this example, you will need about 21 pounds of fertilizer. If the bag weighs 50 pounds, you’d only need part of a bag for this application.

How to Apply Fertilizer Lawn Fertilizer

Applying fertilizer correctly is key to achieving a healthy, green lawn. Choosing a high-quality spreader for the most even distribution possible will get you off to a great start. Remember to always follow label recommendations. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply fertilizer to your Georgia lawn:

1. Choose the Right Fertilizer And Weed Control Combination.
   • Use the recommendations above to choose a fertilizer that is suited for your grass type (Bermuda, Zoysia, or Centipede) and soil conditions. 

2. Check the Weather.
   • Apply fertilizer when the grass is dry but expect light rainfall or water the lawn shortly after application. Early morning or late afternoon on a cooler day is ideal. Avoid hot days because extreme heat can burn the grass. 

3. Mow Your Lawn First
   • Mow the grass a day or two before applying fertilizer to ensure nutrients reach the soil effectively. Leave a little time between mowing and fertilizing to prevent too much stress on the grass.

4. Determine the Right Amount of Fertilizer
   • Following the advice above, calculate how much fertilizer you need depending on the size of your lawn and the health of your soil.
   • Avoid over-fertilizing, as it can damage your lawn and cause nutrient runoff.

5. Use a SpreaderA spreader ensures even distribution of the fertilizer, which is critical for avoiding patchy growth or lawn damage. Here are a couple of suggestions:
   • Broadcast Spreader (Rotary Spreader): Best for large lawns, this spreader distributes fertilizer in a wide, even pattern.
   • Drop Spreader: Provides more precise distribution, which is ideal for smaller lawns or areas where you want more control.
   • How to Set Your Spreader: Follow the fertilizer bag instructions for the correct setting based on the type of spreader you’re using. It will provide a specific setting number to ensure you distribute the right amount per square foot.

6. Apply the Fertilizer in Two Passes
   • First Pass: Walk across the lawn in one direction (e.g., horizontally), ensuring even coverage.
   • Second Pass: Walk in the opposite direction (e.g., vertically), making sure you overlap slightly with the first pass to avoid streaking.

7. Water Your Lawn
   • Water your lawn lightly after applying fertilizer to help the nutrients soak into the soil. This also prevents the fertilizer from sitting on the grass blades, which can cause burns.
   • Ensure you water evenly, but don’t overwater to the point of creating runoff.

8. Clean Up
   • Sweep up any fertilizer that may have landed on driveways, sidewalks, or patios. This prevents it from washing away into storm drains or damaging those surfaces.

9. Follow-Up Care
   • Avoid heavy foot traffic on the lawn for a few days after fertilizing to allow the nutrients to settle into the soil.
   • Keep a regular watering schedule, especially during dry periods, to maintain lawn health.
   • Wear gloves and a mask when handling fertilizer, especially if it’s synthetic. Always follow the product’s safety guidelines.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure your Georgia lawn gets the nutrients it needs in a balanced and effective way. Let me know if you’d like more advice on specific grass types or fertilizers!

Simply Green Weed Control and Fertilization Program

Remember, Simply Green Lawn Care experts will carefully evaluate your lawn and determine the best program for your property based on the type of grass, types of weeds, time of year and the underlying issues within your lawn. 

Simply Green specialists will service your yard every four to eight weeks, depending on the time of year, to ensure proper maintenance, superior weed control and effective fertilization. Simply Green Lawn Care Plus only uses high-quality products that are safe for your family and the environment. 

Contact Simply Green today for a free consultation!