Ten timely tips for prime lawn health:

1. Fertilize at the right time
Time your fertilizing to meet your lawn’s needs, not yours. Let the lawn green-up and mow it a few times before applying a lawn food formula after winter’s end. 

2. Turf-grass fertilizers are best
Choose a fertilizer made for your type of turf grass, making sure the label lists your grass.

3. Take care with new lawns
Use “new lawn” or “starter” formulas for lawns less than 2 years old, and you’ll appreciate the thickening effect they deliver in the first seasons.

4. Slow and steady release
Select slow-release granular fertilizers for established lawns since they deliver a consistent supply of nutrients during the lawn’s fastest growth times. Avoid fertilizers that have only one ingredient (such as nitrogen or potassium) unless testing reveals you have special soil needs.

5. Spread it out
Buy a fertilizer spreader and be sure you understand how to calibrate it for your lawn’s favorite granular food. Walk behind the spreader at a good pace (but don’t run), and make a pattern that covers each area of the lawn only once.

6. Reapply when necessary
Water-soluble lawn food doesn’t last long in the soil, so plan to reapply it as directed on the label. Spray with caution and avoid overfeeding.

7. Fertilize and winterize
Fertilize at least one additional time during the growing season and apply a winter formula in early fall if one is recommended for your type of lawn grass. Gauge your own lawn, as research says that only once a year is fine for established turf.

8. Keep it wet when working

Fertilizing a very dry lawn can burn stressed turf.

9. Use small-scale home products

Remember not to use agricultural fertilizers on true turf grasses — save them for the pasture.

10. To each its own

Apply fertilizer and weed-control products separately rather than in combination products.

Follow these tips for a happy and healthy lawn.