Award-Winning Lawn Fertilizing Service by a Master Gardener

Welcome to award winning Master Gardener Lawn Care.  We are the only lawn fertilizing service, operating in Macomb County, MI that has the passion for creating REMARKABLE showcase lawns!

The Master Gardener Lawn Care Program

Master Gardener Lawn Care uses the highest quality of professional controlled release organic and organic based granular fertilizer products.

• Early spring – Pre-emergent crabgrass control, weed control, and a special blend of organic based controlled-release fertilizer.

• Late spring – Professional organic based controlled-release fertilizer and broad leaf weed control as needed.

• Early summer – Professional organic based controlled-release fertilizer and broad leaf weed control as needed.

• Late summer – Professional organic based controlled-release fertilizer and broad leaf weed control as needed.

• Early fall – Professional organic based controlled-release fertilizer and broad leaf weed control as needed.

• Late Fall Winterizer– Professional organic based controlled-release fertilizer and broad leaf weed control as needed.

Two of the most asked questions we receive are: 1. What are the best fertilizers to use?  2. Are organic fertilizers better than conventional fertilizers?  The short articles below were written by Purdue University’s Turf School professors.  I thought they answer these questions perfectly.  A couple of things to keep in mind when reading them are, that at  Master Gardener Lawn Care we use only controlled release products and we use organic products.  We will make our decision as to the type of product to use based on which will give you the most remarkable lawn.

What is the best fertilizer to use?

There is no one perfect or absolute best fertilizer to purchase for your lawn, but there are many good ones available. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient; the percentage of nitrogen in fertilizer is expressed as the first number in the series of three on the fertilizer bag. What kind of nitrogen in the product is the key information, as there are fast-release and controlled-release nitrogen sources. To find the answer, look in the guaranteed analysis section on the back of the bag. Key terms to look for include controlled-release, slow-release, slowly-available, or water-insoluble nitrogen. Some specific types that may be listed include ureaform, sulfur-coated urea, polymer-coated urea, and IBDU (isobutylidenediurea). Several organic nitrogen sources are controlled-release.

Most quality lawn fertilizers offer a balance of fast and controlled release sources to offer a fertilizer that will provide some quick color (without a big surge of growth) and some long-lasting nitrogen.

Are organic fertilizers better than conventional fertilizers?

Whether a fertilizer is organic or synthetic, after applied to the lawn it must convert to a form the plant can use. Once converted, the plant does not know the difference as to the nitrogen source. One of the advantages associated with organic sources is a low chance of burning grass. Some synthetic fast-release sources have high salt levels that increase the chances of burning. On the other hand, most synthetic controlled-release sources are very unlikely to burn grass.

A drawback of many organic nitrogen sources is the percentage of nitrogen is quite low, meaning it takes considerable material to be spread over the lawn to give the proper rate of nitrogen. Some materials, such as compost, are best used as a soil conditioner to improve soil quality, rather than to supply nutrients.

Furthermore, most organic and some synthetic fertilizer sources rely on soil microbes to break them down to release nitrogen, so they do not work when soils are cold. So as you can see, there are tradeoffs to consider when making these comparisons.

About the Author

Ryan Mccuen is an Owner and Director of Operations for Master Gardener Lawn Care located in Macomb County, Michigan.   Ryan’s Company, Master Gardener Lawn Care, provides an organic based lawn fertilizing service in Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Washington Township, Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, Clinton Township, Warren, Sterling Heights in Macomb County, Michigan.  Master Gardener Lawn Care was established in 1991 and provides lawn fertilizing service, core aeration, weed control, soil testing and insect control.  For more information on our lawn care and lawn fertilizing services or to request a free lawn care analysis please visit our Free Lawn Fertilizing Service Estimate page on the mastergardenerlawncare.com website