Part of keeping your lawn healthy involves feeding it the nutrients it requires for growth. Organic lawn care methods obviously exclude the use of synthetic fertilizers. Not only do these products contribute to water pollution, they don’t work any better in the long run than organic methods of feeding the grass. Here are some guidelines for fertilizing your organic lawn.

Feeding your lawn is primarily a matter of giving grass the nitrogen it needs for robust growth. Because grass grows almost continuously for most of the year, it demands a constant supply of this nutrient.

Synthetic chemical lawn fertilizers are formulated to release a lot of nitrogen all at once into the soil, which is not particularly desirable. The influx of food causes the lawn to grow quickly for a while, meaning that it has to be mowed more often. There is also the very real possibility of burning the grass if the fertilizer is not applied carefully.

On the other hand, high-nitrogen organic fertilizers feed the grass more slowly. Instead of dissolving in water, these products rely on help from soil microorganisms to release nitrogen and other nutrients. This is a good thing because the lawn will grow slowly and consistently over a longer period of time. Be sure to water the lawn thoroughly after applying fertilizer, or apply it just before rain is expected.

Depending on the type of grass, your lawn’s fertilizer requirements will range from 1/2 pound to 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet each year. If you don’t know what’s in your lawn, you can start with a basic maintenance dose of 1 pound per 1000 square feet. Or take a sample of the grass to a full-service nursery to be identified. Remember that simple grass clippings, left on the lawn after mowing, are an excellent - and free - fertilizer. Clippings will add about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet.

When should you fertilize your lawn? In cool climates, autumn is best time to fertilize. This strengthens the lawn for the winter and provides nutrients for the following year. But in warm climates, the best time to fertilize is in the spring or summer. Some experts recommend feeding the lawn once per year, while others suggest two or three applications of fertilizer, especially in warm climates.

Is it possible to over-fertilize the lawn? It certainly is, and in fact this is a common mistake. Too much fertilizer promotes excessive growth aboveground, creating extra watering and mowing work and making the lawn more vulnerable to pests and disease. In addition, roots become lazy because they don’t need to stretch to find nutrients.

Fertilizing the grass is an essential part of organic lawn care. You should be somewhat conservative when applying fertilizer to avoid over-feeding. Slow and steady growth is what you’re trying to achieve. Bear in mind that fertilizer is not a cure-all for your lawn’s problems. Other practices such as aeration and proper mowing also contribute to keeping the lawn in top shape.