Fertiliser for new lawn

stuarta99 · April 2020

Ok so I've reset my lawn, just need to level, put down the nematodes for remaining leatherjacket and then seed. I've got my seed ready, just need to decide on fertiliser.

So far I've seen 2 different ones. 1 is enough for 40sqm and contains 15:4:10 NPK and from the supplier I bought my nematodes. The other is 80sqm and from the same people that I bought the seed from and contains 6:9:6 NPK and is only £5 more. However my area is only 10sqm so both more than adequate but I guess will keep for a second treatment. There is a difference in chemicals though and not sure what difference that makes? I am leaning towards the bigger bag as they know what the seed is I have.

Fairygirl · April 2020

I used B,F&Bone for mine, a couple of weeks before sowing seed.
You don't really need anything fancy.

I'm not sure it's wise to seed if you're still trying to get rid of leatherjackets though

stuarta99 · April 2020

Ok thanks. I'm pretty sure I've got rid of most of them as I was going through the soil with fingertips to get pebbles out and picked a lot out. The people I got the Nemotodes from said to wait a week so that was the plan. I've also got 5x the amount I need so should kill off any remainder I hope and will treat again in September rather than December like we have been having.

Just wasn't sure which fertiliser to go for.

stuarta99 · April 2020

I don't have any top dressing either so I just thought maybe I'd skim some soil off the top to sprinkle back on top the seed before firming in

Fairygirl · April 2020

Yes - that would probably do, but make sure the grass seed is in good contact with the soil below. You might need to sieve it a bit if it's a bit lumpy.

I just used a thin layer of compost on mine

stuarta99 · April 2020

Ok thanks. Have just noticed I have a bit of John Innes Mature Plant compost and almost full bag of Westland Gro Sure Ericaceous compost. They are open and possibly couple years old, dunno if any good?

Fairygirl · April 2020

They would be fine @stuarta99. It's only to give the seeds a wee bit of cover

stuarta99 · April 2020

Excellent thanks. So any thought on which fertiliser then I think I'm done. Lower nitrogen and 2kg for £15 from seed supplier or higher nitrogen and 1kg for £10 from Nemotode supplier. Not sure if higher or lower nitrogen is best

Perki · April 2020

You can get a pre seeder fertiliser from various suppliers. If you've added any top soil that's more than enough to feed the grass for a while, personally Bone meal would be better than fish blood and bone , FB&B is a faster release of feed compared to BMeal which you don't want with hence why BM would be a better choice out of these two.

You want a fed higher in Phosphates for root development. N P K is what you will see on packets P is for Phosphates.

Personally I wouldn't worry to much about fertilisers at this stage, when the lawn established is when you should really start feeding it

stuarta99 · April 2020

Ok thanks, so the one at 6:96 would be better than 15:4:10. I complete forgot about it until my neighbour mentioned it then the place I got the seed from said yes definitely which is the 6:9:6 one. I just wanna give it every chance and not miss anything.

It had received a 'Spring' treatment by Greenkeepers who look after them which was in their words "a nitrogen rich feed to give the lawns their early vigour and a broad spectrum weed killer" but because there was no grass in the back, it was just sat there as pellets and now it's all been dug over.

glasgowdan · April 2020

You shouldn't need any fertiliser for a new lawn. If you really must, then make it a low nitrogen one

Fertiliser for new lawn

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