Maintaining a lush, green lawn can be a daunting task for gardeners, but with the right fertiliser, achieving healthy and vibrant grass is within reach. As September draws closer, it’s vital to arm your lawn with key nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to promote strong growth throughout the autumn, reports the Express.
Lawncare specialist Andrew Huber from The Lawn Squad shared a cost-effective tip for prepping your turf for a “lush, deep green lawn” by concocting a homemade DIY fertiliser. He explained: “Fertiliser is not just about making your grass grow it’s about nurturing a landscape that can withstand the tests of nature and time. A robust lawn is your first defence against pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.”
The effectiveness of a lawn fertiliser hinges on its nutrient content, specifically nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which are essential for a healthy lawn.
Repurposing kitchen leftovers into fertiliser is an ingenious way to cut down on food waste while saving money. Andrew advised: “Turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into composted material is both eco-friendly and garden-smart. It’s an excellent way to reduce waste and benefit your lawn.”
For instance, banana peels are an excellent source of potassium and phosphorus and can greatly enhance your fertiliser mix.
Fish offcuts and vegetable peelings, including potato and carrot remnants, are rich in phosphorus and will decompose effortlessly on your lawn.
Yet, when it comes to a nitrogen boost for your turf, coffee grounds take the crown, as they contain the ideal balance of nitrogen to encourage lush grass growth. Andrew enthused: “Coffee isn’t just my morning essential, it’s also great for my lawn.”
He suggested a simple method for using coffee grounds, explaining: “Nitrogen-rich coffee grounds can be sprinkled on the lawn or mixed with water (about half a pound of coffee grounds to five gallons of water) to create a nutrient-packed lawn tonic.”
A variety of kitchen leftovers can benefit your lawn, and finding the perfect mix often involves a bit of trial and error.
Once you’ve gathered your components, simply set them aside, blend them with water, and let them break down before using the concoction to nourish your grass.
Before applying this homemade fertiliser, trim your lawn a couple of days prior and water it to enhance nutrient absorption. Also, check the weather forecast to avoid heavy rain on the day of application, which could wash away your efforts.
For distributing your home-brewed fertiliser, Andrew highly recommends a backpack sprayer to ensure even coverage across your lawn. Spritz your lawn thoroughly, walking back and forth to spread the fertiliser uniformly, then lightly water the area to aid the nutrients’ penetration into the soil.
Keep an eye on your grass following treatment to ensure you’re not overdoing or underdoing any particular nutrient, and soon enough, you’ll have a lush, green lawn.
Andrew stressed the importance of remainging viligant, saying: “Monitoring your lawn’s response is crucial for determining the effectiveness of your DIY fertiliser.”
He added: “I always keep a close eye on grass growth and colour changes. Additionally, conducting a soil test before starting my fertilisation regime ensures that I’m not overdoing or underdoing certain nutrients.”