Has your lawn been looking a little lackluster lately? Are the weeds starting to take over? If you’re frustrated with your lawn’s appearance, don’t worry – you can fix it!
One easy way to improve your lawn’s health is by adding fertilizer. And believe it or not, you can make your own fertilizer right at home. All you need is some common ingredients and a bit of time. So read on for instructions on how to make homemade fertilizer for your lawn. You’ll be amazed at the results!
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What You’ll Need
Making your own fertilizer is more then rummaging around your yard for soil or pulling chemicals from your cleaning closet. With the right ingredients, you could make a easy fertilizer at home. Below are some items you’ll need:
- One bottle of beer
- One can of soda
- Mouthwash
- Ammonia
- Dish soap (not antibacterial)
- Hose applicator
Step-By-Step Guide to Making Your Own Homemade Lawn Fertilizer
Lawn care is incredibly important and fertilizing your lawn should be part of your yearly maintenance. You could go out and buy some lawn fertilizer, or you could make your own! With this step-by-step guide, you can create your own lawn fertilizer with items you may already have around the house.
Step One – Mixing
Start by mixing together the beer and soda in a large bucket. Then, add in half a cup of mouthwash and half a cup of ammonia. Next, add half a cup of dish soap. This will help increase the nitrogen levels making for a happy green yard.
Step Two- Application
Once everything is mixed together, transfer the lawn fertilizer to the hose applicator. It’s important to note that the hose applicator is a crucial step in fertilizing your lawn. This feature dilutes the fertilizer as a concentrated mixture can cause chemical burns to your lawn.
To use, simply apply the fertilizer to your lawn as you would with any other lawn care product. Make sure you spray the fertilizer evenly across the entirety of the area.
There you have it! A simple and effective way to make your own lawn fertilizer using items you likely already have around the house. Not to mention, this homemade lawn fertilizer is much cheaper than what you can purchase from the store. So, if you’re looking to save a few bucks and fertilize your lawn at the same time, give this method a try!
Fall Lawn Care Tips
As the leaves begin to change color and fall from the trees, it’s time to start thinking about your lawn care routine. Fall is an important time of year for lawn care, as it helps prepare your grass for the cold winter months ahead. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Clean Up the Fallen Leaves
While some people love the aesthetic of leaves scattered across their lawns, others prefer a neater look. If you’re in the latter camp, then you’ll need to do some leaf cleanup in the fall. Additionally, leaving leaves on the ground can smother your grass and prevent sunlight from reaching the blades, which can damage your grass.
You can use a traditional rake or a leaf blower to make this task easier. Once you have all the leaves in a pile, you can either bag them up for disposal or compost them.
Fall Weeding
Fall is the perfect time to take control of your weed problem. By taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and longer days, you can easily get ahead of the weeds and prevent them from taking over your yard or garden.
First, you should start by identifying the problem areas. Weeds typically love sunny, open spaces, so take a close look at any areas that get a lot of sun exposure. Once you sought them out, it’s time to start attacking the weeds.
The best way to do this is by using an herbicide. You can also use more organic methods, such as hand pulling, or baking soda. Be sure to apply the herbicide evenly and carefully following the directions on the label. You may need to reapply the herbicide several times over the course of a few weeks to completely eliminate the weeds.
De-Thatching
Thatch is a layer of dead and living organic matter that accumulates at the base of grass plants. If left unchecked, thatch can become matted and dense, leading to a number of problems for your lawn. It can lead to decreased drainage, increased pests and diseases, and a generally unhealthy appearance.
Fortunately, checking your thatch level is easy to do and only takes a few minutes. All you’ll need is a sharp shovel or spade. Simply insert the blade of your tool into the soil at the edge of your lawn, and then gently lift up a small section of turf. Take a close look at the root system of the grass plants. If you see a thick layer of thatch, it’s time to act.
There are a few different ways to remove thatch from your lawn. You can use a power rake or dethatching machine, which will quickly remove the unwanted layer of buildup. You can also try using a garden fork or similar tool. Or you can aerate your lawn. Aerating your lawn helps improve drainage and reduce compaction.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to remove the thatch from your lawn and dispose of it properly; don’t just leave it on the grass where it will continue to cause problems.
Seeding Your Lawn
Fall is the best time of year to seed your lawn because the cooler temperatures and longer days allow the grass seed to germinate quickly and develop deep roots. To start, first choose the right type of grass seed for your lawn. If you live in a warm climate, choose a variety that is heat tolerant.
Next, prepare the seed bed by raking up any dead leaves or debris. Now you can spread the grass seed evenly over the prepared area and lightly rake it into the soil. Water the seeded area daily, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.
It’s also important to overseed bare patches. This will help thicken up your lawn and make it more resistant to disease and pests.
Fall Fertilizing
Fall is actually the perfect time to fertilize your lawn since the cool weather gives the grass a chance to slowly absorb nutrients and store them up for next spring.
First, choose a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen. Nitrogen is important for encouraging green, healthy growth in grass. Or you can make your own with the recipe above! Apply the fertilizer in late September or early October. This will give the grass plenty of time to absorb the nutrients before the ground freezes.
It’s important not to apply too much fertilizer. A little goes a long way, and too much can actually damage your lawn. Water the fertilizer well as this will help it reach the roots of the grass, where it can do the most good.
A Healthy Dose of Fertilizer
Have you ever tried making your own lawn fertilizer? If not, now is the time to give it a go! It’s easy to do and the results are well worth it. Not only will your lawn be healthy and green, but you’ll also save money in the process.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started today! And if you have any tips or tricks of your own, be sure to share them in the comments below.
