C. Soil Tests - A fertilizer program should begin with a soil test. Soil tests provide specific fertilizer recommendations for your lawn and garden and can help you avoid applying more fertilizer than is needed. For more information on soil testing, contact the Lane OSU Extension Service at 682-4243. These multi-step programs are promoted as the sure and easy path to the perfect lawn. The pressure to have the perfect lawn, however, has clouded a number of issues and a number of ingredients have been mixed that should have been kept separate.
Most commercial fertilizers contain phosphorus, a major water pollutant.
Yet many soils already contain enough phosphorus to grow a healthy lawn. The underscores the need for a soil test before applying fertilizers. Shallow root systems are unable to sustain lawns through a drought or harsh winter. Fall fertilizer applications, however, promote deep, healthy root systems and hardy lawns. F. Gardens, Trees, and Shrubs - Start with a soil test.