Fertilizing with Your In-Ground Sprinkler System

Want your garden to look as good as the plants at the nursery? Wish your lawn looked like fresh-laid sod? You need to fertilize. There is a lot to learn about when to use fertilizer and how to apply it effectively. Synthetic fertilizer is a great tool, but it must be used wisely. There are a number of studies linking incorrect application and health problems, so reducing the handling involved is a wise idea. Applying fertilizer incorrectly or in too-high concentrations will damage or burn your lawn and gardens.

Applying fertilizer to your gardens and lawns via your sprinkler system - fertigation, may be an option. This avoids having to take all the precautions necessary when applying dry fertilizer and reduces the risks to pets and children. Because fertilizer is applied in liquid form right at root-level in small amounts there is less danger of burning plants or killing lawns.

Adding fertilizer to your irrigation system makes sense because plants can develop healthier roots which makes them hardier to drought, weather, disease and pests.

What is Fertigation?

Fertigation is the process of adding liquid fertilizer to your irrigation system. While you water your garden or lawn, you can also add the nutrients it needs to perform better and look great. Fertigation can be used in residential or commercial applications and has been used in commercial agriculture and gardening for many years.

Benefits To Fertigation
Use less fertilizer

Due to the nature of residential sprinkler systems, liquid fertilizer is used. Liquid fertilizer is diluted so that it is delivered in smaller more frequent amounts. You will use 70-90% less fertilizer this way.

More Effective

Applying dry fertilizer or standard dilution amounts of fertilizer will sometimes provide more nutrients than plants can absorb. With the lower concentration application through inground sprinklers, plants are able to absorb what's received more efficiently.

Use Less Water

When applying dry fertilizer, proper hydration is essential to the success of the application and absorption of the fertilizer. If fertilizer is applied and not watered correctly, plants are damaged and then become prone to disease. With fertigation, you're not applying any additional water, only what you would normally supply through your sprinkler system.

No Fertilizer Run-Off

When applying fertilizer to hills or sloped lawns, storm run-off can be a big concern and environmental hazard. The dangers of synthetic fertilizers seeping into ground water and other water sources are well-documented. By fertilizing at root-depth in small amounts there is no run off or environmental danger.

Reduce Transplant Shock

It's often recommended to add fertilizer to new plantings to ensure a good start. With fertigation, new plantings receive the nutrients all season. As you water new plantings more frequently, as is recommended, they'll receive extra nutrients as well so they get the best possible start.

We want your lawn and garden to perform and look its best and we can help you get the results you're looking for! NutriLawn Ottawa Irrigation is a full service lawn care and irrigation company and can take care of all your lawn and garden care needs.
Contact us today for your complimentary quote.