Fertilizer is essential for good lawn growth. Depending on the type of grass, from one to three fertilizer applications should be made during the growing season, usually early May, early to mid-June, and late summer. Lawn fertilizers vary in composition and price. However, most available lawn fertilizers will not have this exact ratio but will still give good results. The price of the fertilizer relates somewhat to the analysis and the nutrient carriers used on the fertilizer.
Cheap fertilizers are usually water soluble, thus, have a high potential to burn the grass.
Water-soluble fertilizers will give a response for four to six weeks. Many of these fertilizers have disclaimers on the bag stating they will not burn the grass if the directions are followed. The directions usually state that the fertilizer must be watered-in immediately after spreading. Because these fertilizers are water-soluble they become available in the spring when temperatures are still cool. More expensive fertilizers are not water-soluble, have low burn potential, and give a response for up to eight weeks.