Every homeowner wants a fresh, green lawn that boosts the aesthetics of their yard. Fortunately, you can incorporate a wide range of techniques to make your lawn look dark green and thus more appealing.
One of the most common ways to do this is to apply iron to the lawn. Iron often ensures that your grass obtains enough nutrients. But does too much iron hurt your lawn?
Is too much Iron going to hurt your Lawn?
Ironite is the most common supplement used for lawns. This supplement is rich in minerals and nutrients. Hence, it can be very advantageous to the grass on your lawn year-round.
Importance of using iron in your lawn?
Other than making your lawn look dark green, iron offers other benefits to your lawn. Below are some of the benefits of applying iron to your lawn.
- Iron helps the grass in your lawn become more immune to pests and diseases, especially during autumn and winter. However, you have to purchase an excellent liquid iron fertilizer. Iron generally makes your plants more robust and healthier.
- Applying iron to your plants makes the grass more resistant to harsh climatic conditions. During winter, the temperatures are relatively low. And this can damage the whole lawn. Using iron on your plants makes them more resistant to extremely cold temperatures.
- Applying iron to your lawn also prevents problems with moss in your lawn. Iron makes moss turn black and makes it simple to remove.
- Additionally, iron can also destroy the harmful effects of the worms in the soil. Subsequently, the iron application will keep your soil in good condition.
Excessive application of iron
Does excessive application of iron harm your lawn? Usually, when you apply too much iron to your lawn, it leads to burning. Although most iron fertilizers indicate that they are not harmful to plants, they can react adversely when applied in excessive amounts.
Also, an iron application can have a negative effect when the grass is highly wet. Furthermore, when the daytime temperatures exceed 26 degrees Celsius, the iron can harm the grass. Therefore, it would be best to get a professional to apply iron on your lawn. Doing this will help you avoid unnecessary damage to the grass.
Generally, applying iron on your lawn in excessive amounts hinders grass growth. Before conducting an iron application procedure, ensure you read and understand all the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are not careful, iron can stain hard surfaces in your garden.
Therefore, apply with caution. Avoid spilling the iron on other hard surfaces in your lawn. Additionally, note that iron is not good for your garden plants. It could stain and damage them.
Most iron lawn products have general usage guidelines on the packaging. Ensure you read and comprehend all of them before using the product. Lawn experts often advise using approximately one pound of iron on 100m² of grass.
After applying the iron, take time to water the grass. Doing this will help the iron settle into the soil.
Iron Deficiency In Lawn: Causes And Diagnosis
Even though too much iron can be a problem in your lawn, grass often needs iron. In fact, iron deficiency is a severe problem in most lawns. So, it is crucial to look for the right iron supplement for your lawn. However, you have to evaluate your lawn to ensure iron deficiency is the issue.
A good percentage of lawns don’t need any iron supplements. But note that changing the level of iron in your grass can lead to several problems with other soil nutrients. So, how do you determine the iron level in the soil?
Identifying the level of iron in your soil requires you to take soil samples to a lawn expert. They will help you measure the level of each nutrient in the soil. During this time, you can examine the soil to check for any other problems.
How do you know your lawn is iron deficient?
If your lawn is iron deficient, the grass blades will turn from rich green to yellow. There are many reasons your lawn would appear this way, and one of them is lack of iron. Consult a lawn expert if you want to identify the exact issue affecting your lawn.
Another sign that can help you identify iron deficiencies in your lawn is a poorly established lawn. If you’ve used the right fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, but you haven’t seen a change in your lawn, consider using iron supplements. Nonetheless, note that iron can easily be washed away from the soil by heavy rain.
When should you apply iron to your lawn?
It is essential to know the right time to apply iron to your lawn. Conducting iron application on your lawn when there are harsh climatic conditions can make it ineffective.
For example, during heavy rains, iron supplements can get washed away. Also, when temperatures are too hot, iron supplements can burn the grass blades. Therefore, it would be best to apply iron to the lawn during winter. At this time, the temperatures are relatively low, and there is less direct sunlight.
Ultimately, the time you choose to apply iron to your lawn usually depends on your geographical region. Remember, climatic conditions vary based on your area.
How Often Can You Apply Iron To Your Lawn?
Very few people know how often they should apply iron to their lawns. Gardening lawn experts usually recommend applying iron to your plants at least once every four to six weeks. But this depends on your plant requirements, among other factors.
As seen earlier, applying iron on wet grass delivers a reverse effect. So, during rainy seasons, you may want to avoid using iron supplements on your lawn. Also, applying iron supplements to a very dry lawn is not advisable. Before applying iron to the grass:
- Consider the quantity of iron, among other nutrients in the soil.
- Evaluate the soil pH to identify the exact amount of iron to apply.
- If you have a domestic lawn, consider applying iron four times per year.
However, you can apply iron up to ten times a year, depending on the condition of your plants. During iron application, it is usually advisable to mix it with fertilizer to obtain the best results.
Types of Iron Fertilizer
Currently, there is a broad spectrum of iron fertilizers to use for your lawn. Before purchasing a specific iron fertilizer, it is often advisable to understand the benefits and drawbacks offered by each. Also, analyze your lawn’s requirements. This way, you will be able to settle for the best iron fertilizers.
Ferrous sulfate:
One of the best iron fertilizers is Ferrous sulfate. This iron fertilizer is popular among most lawn owners since it is budget-friendly. Even so, this fertilizer only works best in soil with a neutral pH. It contains about 20% of iron, therefore using it in soils with extremely high and low pH is not advisable.
Chelated iron:
This iron fertilizer safeguards the lawn from rain and oxidization. It stabilizes metal ions like Fe+3, sodium, ammonia, and amino acids or citrate.
FeEDTA:
This fertilizer delivers excellent functionality. However, they only work well in slightly acidic soils. Also, this fertilizer does not work well in alkaline soil.
Why your lawn needs iron nutrients
Ultimately, applying iron to your lawn makes the grass healthier and more robust. Nevertheless, you have to know the correct amount of fertilizer to use on your lawn.
Keep in mind that too much iron can hurt your lawn. It can lead to burning and yellowing. Also, applying iron in extremely hot temperatures can lead to burning.
Before using any iron fertilizer, it is best to ensure that you read and understand all manufacturer’s guidelines. Moreover, ensure you purchase the best type of iron fertilizer for your lawn. Some of the best iron fertilizers include ferrous sulfate and chelated iron.
And on top of that, don’t forget to remove weeds to ensure your lawn is green and healthy.
If all this does not work for you there is the option to have something else instead of growing grass like getting and artificial turf.