Fertilizer Question, Need help

[johnap104]

I went to my local Lesco store today to buy some winterizer fertilzer. The girl that helped me sold me so 10-0-20. Is this the correct mix for winterizer? I live in the Midwest. I thought I should be using the 32-0-10. Any advice would be appreciated.

[FdLLawnMan]

Well, first of all, it is way to early to apply winterizer, around Halloween is the preferred time. If you are going to apply fertilizer now a 50% slow release is what I use and then a high nitrogen, low slow release, less than 30%, around Halloween. Unless you are in sandy soil you do not need much, if any additional P or K, our soils normally have adequate amounts of both for turf growth.

[Marcos]

Originally Posted by johnap104

I went to my local Lesco store today to buy some winterizer fertilzer. The girl that helped me sold me so 10-0-20. Is this the correct mix for winterizer? I live in the Midwest. I thought I should be using the 32-0-10. Any advice would be appreciated.

johnap, I think you'd get a different prognosis from just about EVERY lawnsiter on this one!

I do agree with FdLLawnMan, though, late Aug / early Sep is too early to be thinking about the "last application".

My premium customers will get a thorough double soil aeration, a endomycorrhizal fungi injection, 15# / 1000 sq ft of soybean meal, all mixed up, and covered up with approx 1/2" of finished compost...from leaf and manure origins.

My 'bridge' organic customers will get an aeration and a 18-1-2 product, that's a marriage between traditional and organic lawn care.

Deere / Lesco's 32-0-10 is designed for drought conditions, because, if I'm not mistaken, is about 70-75% slow release...with iron!
If you applied that product now...it'll be used up by the end of September, easily. Then you'd be back there looking for something ELSE as a winterizer!

10-0-20 certainly can't hurt your lawn.
That extra K (potassium) does wonders for root growth, especially in conjunction with a good, deep, thorough soil aeration, if you're planning on doing that this fall too.
Does your soil have a potassium deficiency, by chance?
Have you ever had a soil test done for any reason?

[johnap104]

Actually, I wasn't planning on applying it until until October. I just wanted purchase it now because the dealer is 60 miles from where I live and I didn't want to make another trip. So the 10-0-20 would be ok for fall?

[johnap104]

Where can I send a soil test to?

[FdLLawnMan]

Originally Posted by johnap104

Actually, I wasn't planning on applying it until until October. I just wanted purchase it now because the dealer is 60 miles from where I live and I didn't want to make another trip. So the 10-0-20 would be ok for fall?

That is nor what I would apply as a winterizer. Marcos and I do not agree on this, but there is no proof that adding additional potassium, when there is already adequate amounts, results in additional root growth. If I were you I would use 32-0-8, 30% slow release in late October unless your soil results indicate low P or K. I will look up the address for the soil tests and put it in another posting. I will also look up the website that gives instructions on how to properly obtain the soil samples.

[PSUTURFGEEK]

My question is how did you find a Lesco open on sunday, they aren't even open saturdays in pa.

[rcreech]

Originally Posted by FdLLawnMan

That is nor what I would apply as a winterizer. Marcos and I do not agree on this, but there is no proof that adding additional potassium, when there is already adequate amounts, results in additional root growth. If I were you I would use 32-0-8, 30% slow release in late October unless your soil results indicate low P or K. I will look up the address for the soil tests and put it in another posting. I will also look up the website that gives instructions on how to properly obtain the soil samples.

Totally agree with Mike!

Go high N in the fall/late winter. You can use slow release but the later it gets (especially after a frost or two) you can go all mineral N.

[Barefoot James]

Marcos,

What are you using to spread 1/2 inch of compost?

[johnap104]

I actually went to the John Deere Landscape store on Sat. They are only open until noon.