Micronutrients for lawns are offered in just trace amounts — as the name implies. But they are essential ingredients in the secret sauce that converts a simple plot of grass into a lush and vibrant lawn. Although the macronutrient trio NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) gets all the press, you'll never enjoy the healthy, resilient lawn you seek without the appropriate micronutrients for your lawn.
So, what do micronutrients do for lawns, and which ones do you need? Let’s find out!
What Do Micronutrients Do for Lawns?
When you understand what micronutrients do for lawns, you’ll be sure to include them in your lawn care. Micronutrients are essential nutrients required in tiny amounts, but without them, the supported organisms — like your lawn — can never thrive. For example, humans need iron to absorb oxygen. It is absolutely crucial to our health, yet we need it in trace amounts: just about 0.0036 teaspoons a day. That is the power of micronutrients. Iron is also a vital micronutrient for your lawn, along with manganese, zinc, copper, and boron. These micronutrients are critical for root development, leaf growth, respiration, photosynthesis, and reproduction. Every facet of your lawn’s health relies on proper levels of these micronutrients.
Best Micronutrients for Lawn Fertilization
Let’s take a closer look at what micronutrients do for lawns.
- Iron (Fe): Iron is crucial for chlorophyll production, which gives grass its green color. It is essential for photosynthesis, respiration, and energy transfer. Iron is critical for the lawn's vitality and ability to green up.
- Manganese (Mn): This micronutrient is required for photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and synthesis of certain enzymes. Manganese is essential to robust root development and disease resistance.
- Zinc (Zn): Zinc is necessary for hormone production, growth regulation, and enzyme systems. It is critical to leaf formation and stem growth and development, ensuring robust grass.
- Copper (Cu): Vital for overall plant metabolism, copper is required for photosynthesis and respiration, improving the lawn’s resistance to stress and pathogens.
- Boron (B): This micronutrient is required for cell wall formation and helps regulate reproductive development. Without sufficient boron, your grass will be brittle and less fertile.
Without proper levels of these micronutrients for the lawn, your grass will become yellow, stunted, and wilted, with curled tips and weak root development.
Note: Although these micronutrients are absolutely vital to your lawn's health, take great care when applying them. Too much of these lawn micronutrients can kill your lawn.
How to Apply Micronutrients for Lawns
How exactly do you apply micronutrients for lawns when some need less than a tablespoon per 1000 square feet? Just like our vitamins, micronutrients for plants are blended with a “carrier” to make dosing easier. Micronutrients for the lawn are typically available in liquid or granular form. Before applying micronutrients to your lawn, do a soil test to learn the existing nutrient levels and pH balance. This will tell you which micronutrients your lawn needs.
- Granular Micronutrients: This is a slow-release method for applying micronutrients to the lawn. Granular micronutrients are ideal for maintaining consistent nutrient levels. They are typically applied using a broadcast or rotary spreader. For small lawns or confined spaces, a drop spreader works well. Water lightly following the application.
- Liquid Micronutrients: Liquid micronutrients for lawns offer rapid absorption, making them ideal for correcting nutrient deficiencies promptly. They also help spot treatments to overcome damage or disease. Water lightly to wash the micronutrients off the grass blades and into the soil.
- Organic Micronutrients: You can also find micronutrients for lawns derived from organic sources such as fish emulsions, seaweed, kelp, or compost. Available in liquid or granular forms, organic micronutrients also feed the soil microbes essential to your lawn’s health.
- Application Tips: Guided by your soil test results, apply granular micronutrients every 6-8 weeks during the lawn’s growing season. Liquid formulations may require more frequent applications, especially during peak growth. Always follow the label instructions for dosage and frequency to prevent overfertilization.
How Long for Micronutrients to Improve Lawn Health?
We know micronutrients are essential for your lawn’s health, beauty, and resiliency. But how long does it take for micronutrients to improve lawn health? It depends on the form you choose:
- Liquid Lawn Micronutrients: Liquid micronutrients for lawns are rapidly absorbed by the grass, with visible improvements seen within a week or two.
- Granular Lawn Micronutrients: Granular micronutrients are released more slowly. You’ll start noticing improvements within 3 to 4 weeks.
- Organic Lawn Micronutrients: Organic micronutrients typically provide visible benefits within 4 to 6 weeks.
Whichever form you choose, micronutrients are critical to the health and vibrancy of your lawn. Proper application of micronutrients is an essential part of lawn care. If you still have questions about how to apply micronutrients to your lawn, contact us at Lawn Pride®. We’re all about healthy grass. We’re happy to answer your questions and provide expert lawn tips.
Why Choose Lawn Pride for Micronutrient Lawn Care?
Micronutrients for your lawn are absolutely necessary for its health, beauty, and resiliency. Trust Lawn Pride to know the best micronutrients for your lawn and to apply them properly in the correct amounts at the right times of the year. We can just fertilize your lawn and manage the micronutrients, or we can take care of it as part of our comprehensive lawn care services. We’re happy to customize our services to your specific needs, and we always give you our very best. The Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do, ensuring you’ll be happy with our work.
Are you ready to enjoy the lawn of your dreams? Request your free estimate, and Lawn Pride will do the rest.
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not apply to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.