Fertilizer 2020

When is everyone putting out their first application? Any NPK ratio suggestions for St Augustine near Dallas? I need to have a soil test done but haven’t.

Neil Sperry and others promote Nitrogen only fert as our soil has plenty of Phosphorus. I had my soil tested from A&M and WayPoint. Both show me low to borderline low in Phosphorus. Both said I should add P as the first fert and last fert. My Ph is 7.7 with both. Both said I should add 2-5lbs per 1000 of elemented Sulphur spring and fall to lower Ph.

That said: I'm going with Scotts Starter Fert to get my P. Then going Carbon X for the next two. Not to mention Humic acid apps.

Soil test, including those from Tx A&M are horrible for predicting P needs on the highly calcareous soils of the Blacklands that extend from OK down through Central Tx. I think Neil probably has it close to right but I usually use a high N to P ratio fertilizer on my lawn. Much more likely to have a phosphorus and/or potassium deficiency if you remove clippings.

That's why I sent a sample to Waypoint too. They are one of the top testing labs in the country. Their customer service is outstanding. Once you get your results you can call and talk to one of their soil engineers/nerds. They will go over your report step by step and answer any questions you have and tell you exactly what needs to be done. They also have an app where you can log all your soil test.

I've followed Neil pretty regularly with my lawn care and most of my clients. I will say this for the general public, Bonus S has done my lawn good for the past several years. This is along with proper pre-emergent applications to combat weeds. I now buy from Solutions Pest and Lawn. Derek led me to their website and it is a great resource. Solutions Pest and Lawn

This is copied from a web page I follow:
Nitrogen in Complete Fertilizers
If you use a complete turf grade fertilizer it should have a 4-1-2 ratio by weight of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. A complete fertilizer means it contains at least of some of all those nutrients. A 16-4-8 fertilizer is an example of a 4-1-2 fertilizer appropriate for St. Augustine grass lawns. To determine the amount of fertilizer needed to equal 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, divide 100 by the first number in the fertilizer analysis. For example, if you are using 4-1-2 fertilizer, you need to apply 25 pounds to get 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet

When and How Much to Apply
St. Augustine grass is best fertilized three weeks after the grass turns and the danger of frost has past. Horticulturists at Texas A & M University recommend applying 1 pound of quick-release nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn every 8 weeks, or 1 1/2 pounds of slow-release nitrogen every 10 weeks, during the growing season. Horticulturalists at the University of California-Davis recommend applying at least 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet during the active growing period. Do not fertilize when the grass is dormant in the winter.

I thought this was going to be about something else...

Excellent advice, on Bonus S with ST Aug, but you don't to use it on a Bermuda. I was told there would be no math There are Nitrogen calculators online now that make life easy. This is the one I use.

http://agebb.missouri.edu/fertcalc/

My plan is for the end of next week after my waterlogged yard dries up a little.

Spent several hours earlier working in my yard was bored so would up helping a couple of neighbors do theirs as well. I still had a bag of regular Scott’s and put it down when finished.

Please don't fertilize your lawn until the warm season grasses are actively growing and can put it to use.

Hey Mr Turf Dawg will Target 6 MSMA hurt Dormant bermuda grass ? I have a bunch of weeds that need to be gone

This, you will burn the [censored] out of it

There is never a bad time for target 6

Thanks

😬