When is the Best Time To Fertilize...
And other FAQs about your lawn and gardens
Are you looking for answers to all of your lawn a garden questions? Then you have come to the right place. Our EarthWorks From Home agronomists have been helping professional turf specialists for over 30 years. And now they are here to help you! Want to know when is the best time to fertilize? Are you worried that your kids or pets won't be safe? Is rain in the forecast and you don't know if you should fertilize? Do you want to know why we recommend soil testing first? Those answers and more can be found right here. And if you don't find what you are looking for send us your question by using form at the bottom of this page.
1. Soil Testing
It is important to consider biological factors and chemistry when evaluating your soil. These factors impact soil compaction, plant growth, contamination, and the plant’s ability to get nutrients.
The EarthWorks For Home kit includes: pH, organic matter, base saturation, total exchange capacity, extractable sulfur, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, boron, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, aluminum.
The EarthWorks For Home kit includes: pH, organic matter, base saturation, total exchange capacity, extractable sulfur, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, boron, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, aluminum.
EW4H considers biological factors and chemistry when evaluating your soil. These factors impact soil compaction, plant growth, contamination, and the plant’s ability to get nutrients.
The soil test is always a roadmap for how to reach your goals for your lawn or landscape, it’s never a report card for how you did. Some changes in the soil happen slowly and take a few seasons to be seen on paper, but rest assured you will see response in the growth and vigor of your plants.
2. When and How To Fertilize
Dry (granular) fertilizers are typically applied in the spring and fall. Liquid fertilizers are typically applied in the summer. See our EW4H Lawn Program and EW4H Garden Program for more details.
Immediately. Our products are made from organic composted materials, so there is an “earthy perfume” associated with the product. This does not pose a health threat and will cease naturally or water it in to reduce it quickly.
For best results, we recommend a mix of granular and liquid fertilizer 3-4 times a year.
We recommend watering after the application or timing with rainfall. This will help break down the fertilizer and get it to the soil where it will begin going to work for you. Rest assured that your lawn will be unharmed if watering after the application is not a possibility. In addition, watering after application will greatly reduce the organic odor of the fertilizer.
For best results, you should mow first and rake excess lawn waste that might prevent the product from getting to the soil.
3. Types and Benefits of Fertilizer
Critical nutrients that help the plant and soil thrive. Like fueling your body with food.
Many fertilizers are chemically based. We believe it’s better to work with nature than against it. So all of our fertilizers are either organic or organic based.
Not only does it make the grass look plush and green and give your neighbors envy. Use of an organic based fertilizer also benefits the environment.
Organic Based means that we have added small amount of traditional fertilizer to help the products perform better. The ingredients of these products are primarily organic.
Organic means that all of the ingredients are carbon based. In order to use this word the product should be certified by OMRI. We only use the word organic to describe our products that have been certified.
Absolutely! Applying a base of granular fertilizer at the time of planting and applying a liquid drench while watering will bring about fantastic blooms and nutritious vegetables.
All of our products are safe to use on both the lawn and in the garden. However for best results use the products designed for the indicated environment.
EarthWorks For Home doesn’t focus on grass type, as much as we focus on the soil. The first step should be taking a soil test to see what nutrients your soil needs. All grass uses the same type of fertilizer.
4. Products and Programs
The soil test is always a roadmap for how to reach your goals for your lawn or landscape, it’s never a report card for how you did. Some changes in the soil happen slowly and take a few seasons to be seen on paper, but rest assured you will see response in the growth and vigor of your plants.
Immediately. Our products are made from organic composted materials, so there is an “earthy perfume” associated with the product. This does not pose a health threat and will cease naturally or water it in to reduce it quickly.
For best results, we recommend a mix of granular and liquid fertilizer 3-4 times a year.
We recommend watering after the application or timing with rainfall. This will help break down the fertilizer and get it to the soil where it will begin going to work for you. Rest assured that your lawn will be unharmed if watering after the application is not a possibility. In addition, watering after application will greatly reduce the organic odor of the fertilizer.
For best results, you should mow first and rake excess lawn waste that might prevent the product from getting to the soil.
Not only does it make the grass look plush and green and give your neighbors envy. Use of an organic based fertilizer also benefits the environment.
Our product line includes a soil test kit, granular and liquid organic and organic based fertilizers.
We suggest starting in the early Spring with a soil test. Our Earthworks for Home programs for both Lawn and Garden include a mix granular and liquid fertilizers used from Spring through the fall.
Yes it is OK to use EW4H fertilizers, and a great way to have beautiful grass and gardens around the pool. No ingredients in the EW4H fertilizers can hurt you at the dilution of a small amount of product in a swimming pool. If you want more detail please note the SDS page for each product ingredients.
Please visit our section on where to buy to find your nearest garden retail center.
Absolutely! Our organic based fertilizer products are not only safe for the environment but for you and your loved ones as well.
Yes of course, safety first. There should be particular attention to keep away from dogs as they could be attracted to the granular fertilizer.
When applying just remember the number 5!
Setup your spreader:
Scotts Rotary Spreader: Setting 5
Spyker Rotary Spreader: Setting 5
All other spreaders: Middle Setting
Walking speed, terrain, and other factors can affect spreader settings but this is a good setting to start!
Apply 5 lb of product per 1000 sq. ft.:
Walk at a steady pace and setup your passes roughly 5 ft apart so that the widest thrown granular lands in the wheel tracks of your previous pass.
Clean-up:
Sweep or blow any granular from sidewalks and driveways back into the lawn. This will keep fertilizer from getting in our waterways, but onto our turf to increase the environmental benefits of your lawn!
Re-enter and Enjoy!
Safe for people and pets to immediately get back on the lawn.
Since our products are living nutrients, we do have an expiration on them. Both should be stored in cool, dry places and kept sealed. For best results, the liquid fertilizers should be used within a year.
- Check the nozzle setting to make sure it is in the “ON” position. Note: there is an Off, Water, and On Position.
- Liquid fertilizers should be shaken well before applying.
- Liquid fertilizers should be stored at room temperature. When stored in a hot location for a long period they can become thicker.
Watch How To Apply Liquid Fertilizer
5. Weed Control
No. EarthWorks does not manufacture any pesticides (this includes herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides). There are several safe and organic options on the market, likely available at your local garden store or online. By creating a healthy soil environment, our professionals find that the use of our products lower their need for pesticides. When the turf is dense, weeds can’t grow!
EarthWorks does not manufacture any pesticides (this includes herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides). There are several safe and organic options on the market, likely available at your local garden store or online.
Yes. The use of Earthworks will minimize the need for pesticides and weed killers, however, they work just fine together.
Our professional customers use them together all the time!
Ask Jack & Joel
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