Today’s commercials on radio are more to the point than commercials of days gone by. One of today’s commercial starts out, “Men, do you have low T?” Of course, we know the symptoms: low drive and no energy.
The question I am asking you homeowners is: “Does your lawn have low P?” P stands for phosphorus, the second number on the fertilizer bag. A fertilizer bag labeled 16-4-8 contains 16% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus and 8% potassium. This fertilizer grade is advised by the industry professionals when there is no soil test on which to base a recommendation. A fertilizer bag containing the three numbers is “commonly” called a complete fertilizer although a good fertilizer should include three other macro-nutrients: sulfur, calcium and magnesium and the micro-nutrients.
We have a problem. Our yards have a low P disorder. The visual symptoms of phosphorus deficiency are thin turf, browning dead grass roots, and a purplish leaf color. Over 80% of the yards that I have visited since the beginning of the year have had low levels of soil phosphorus. The majority of the homeowners have been applying fertilizers with little or no phosphorus. The reasons for this situation may be the following:
1. Homeowners purchasing fertilizer recommended by untrained store employees.
2. Failures to soil test every one to two years and follow recommendations.
The solution for low P is to take a soil sample to your local county extension office and show the results of the soil report to your lawn and garden distributor. They will be able to provide you with the fertilizer or the equivalent they have in stock. Read the label and make sure it is a slow release fertilizer.
Remember, the time to apply fertilizer to your lawn is from the third mowing date after green-up (April/May) to the middle of August (August 15). Fertilizer applied after this date may cause your lawn to “stay happy” and not begin to go into the fall dormancy.
