Soil tests tell consumers how much fertilizer and lime is needed.
Test kits are available for a nominal fee at Penn State Cooperative Extension offices throughout the state or at garden centers. Fertilizer should be bought on the basis of its quality, not the size of the bag or the price. Landschoot says that value depends on the amount and source of nutrients in the bag. Fertilizer labels have three numbers that designate the percentages of nitrogen, phosphate and potash in the bag. Lawns usually require annual applications of all three of these nutrients, with some lawns needing higher amounts than others.