There are so many fertilisers available on the market is it little wonder that people become so confused they end up purchasing one that is not what they are after? Selecting an appropriate fertiliser depends on a number of factors, namely, the type of lawn you have, the climate of your situation, the season, what it is you want to achieve, how much time you can devote to the project and finally simply personal choice. There are a number of types of fertilisers which can be generally classified as follows:-

1. Natural organic fertilizers

These are typically plant or animal waste that has been dried and composted, such as blood & bone or mushroom compost. There are so many types available and most have their specific advantages. Whatsmore, the problem of over-fertilizing becomes a non-issue with natural fertilizers. The reason being that natural fertilisers are only very slow decomposed by bacteria and hence the availability of the minerals is not so large as to overwhelm the plants. They are generally cheap and are readily available. Whatsmore, they are environmentally friendly. However, disadvantages do exist. Organic fertilisers tend to be messy, require larger quantities due to their low nitrogen percentage and as most could testify they are often highly pungent. The release of nutrients is highly variable and reflects the number and work of microbiotic activity which generally rises and falls with soil temperature. What this can mean however, it that nutrients may be unavailable in early spring and late autumn, when grass is actively growing and needs nutrients.

2. Soluble synthetic fertilizers

These fertilizers are produced chemically but maybe called organic if they derive from organic ingredients. Unlike their organic relatives the synthetic fertilisers are specifically made to provide fast release of essential nutrients. The mix of nutrients is again designed for the particular plant, lawn type that the fertiliser is to be used on. As different plants have different nutritional needs. Whatsmore, they do not depend on the activity of microbes to release nutrients enabling nutrients to be more precisely delivered even during autumn and spring when needed most.

They're readily available because they do not depend on microbes, like natural fertilizers do. That means they can deliver at critical time periods, with precisely known effects. They can be more affordable and lighter than natural choices due to their concentration.

Synthetic fertiliers require numerous applications due to their shorter effectiveness. Whatsmore, they can some times ‘burn’ lawns due to their extremely high sodium concentration.

3. Controlled-release fertilizers

These are like a hybrid or cross of both the organic and soluble synthetic fertilisers. Common types include ‘osmocote’ for plants. Generally these products contain nitrogen as part of a complex compound that breaks down slowly in the soil. Others consist of pellets made of a quick-release nitrogen compound coated with a semi-permeable resin or plastic-like material. Each time the pellets get wet, they release small amounts of nutrients through their coatings until they are fully depleted.

These last anywhere between 3-6months, depending on the type of fertiliser and amount of available water. Because of their concentration only small amounts are needed and due to the controlled nature of their release they do not need to be reapplied as frequently as with the synthetic fertilisers.

4. Complete fertilizers

Complete fertilizers contain:-

• nitrogen (nitrates or ammonium),
• phosphorus (phosphoric acid), and
• potassium (potash).

The particular composition of the fertiliser will depend on the use of the fertiliser and the composition of each should be indicated. Obviously, what you need will depend on what it is you want to fertilise, the season (whether the plant is growing), how much water is available, the temperature, etcetera.

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