Fertilizing Lawns Understanding the nutritional requirements of the lawn and soil nutrient levels are perhaps the most important aspects of producing a quality stand of turfgrass. Fertilization of lawns is essential for the production of quality turf. However, exceeding recommended fertilizer application rates or improper application timing can pollute surface water and groundwater quality.
All plants require certain chemical elements for proper growth and appearance.
Of these nutrients, at least 16 are known to be essential elements. All essential elements except carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from the soil and absorbed by plant roots. If limited nutrients are available in the soil, lawn growth and quality may be limited. However, essential elements can be added to the soil through fertilizer applications. Lawn fertilization is the application of sufficient amounts of all essential elements to produce optimum turf growth.