Milorganite

This is a good time to reiterate the lawn fertilizing scheme a good friend has developed using Milorganite. He calls it his holiday system. He applies Milorganite to his lawn four times a year -- on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day and Halloween/Thanksgiving. He has been doing this for more than 10 years and has an absolutely beautiful lawn.

Thanksgiving may seem to be too late to fertilize a lawn. The folks at Milorganite suggest making that fourth application just before the soil freezes, which around here is usually after Thanksgiving. They call this "dormant feeding." Because it's so late in the season, there is still fertilizer available to give the lawn an early greenup in the spring

When you get right down to it, everybody wants the same thing from their lawn–a lush green carpet that's easy to take care of. And it all starts with a fertilizer that's easy to apply. Easy in a non-burning, non-striping, non-staining, no-need-to-water-in kind of way. To find out how easy it is to apply Milorganite on lawns simply click on the appropriate heading.

Proven Fertilizer Product.

After more than 70 years of making everything from backyards to bell peppers as good as they can get, we ought to be. It's even used worldwide on golf courses to keep grass green and plush.

Non-Burning Fertilizer Product.

You can use one type of fertilizer that promises not to scorch or stripe lawns, then another to care for delicate flowers and tender shoots. Or you can put your faith in Milorganite—the natural organic fertilizer proven to work on anything that grows. It contains virtually no chemical salts, so it never burns plants—even in the hottest temperatures and driest conditions. And Milorganite doesn't need to be watered in to work.

Iron is essential for the formation of chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green. And greening power is what your plants get from Milorganite—the fertilizer containing more than 4% iron. Unlike the iron salts some fertilizers contain, Milorganite's iron is organically complexed and readily absorbed by your plants. So while it's priced like inexpensive iron salts, Milorganite iron acts more like expensive synthetic chelates. That means it even works in poor soils, regardless of soil pH. And Milorganite won't stain nearby walks, patios, drives, fences or walls like other fertilizers can.

High Standards

Meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Exceptional Quality Standards."

We're pleased to report that Milorganite easily meets the EPA's stringent "Exceptional Quality Standards." So its non-burning, no-chemical-salt formula is ideal for all your fertilizing needs.

Slow-Release Formula. Uniform Growth.

Milorganite's slow-release formula (83% water insoluable nitrogen) provides nitrogen over an eight- to 12-week period, eliminating the problems with excessive growth, like constant mowing and extra clippings.

Ideal for sandy soils.

Sandy soils aren't exactly known for being rich in organic matter or holding onto nutrients. Milorganite contains 75% organic matter by weight and releases its nutrients slowly. And in the process, helps promote beneficial microbial activity.

Resists leaching. Environmentally friendly.

Thanks to its slow-release formula, Milorganite stays in the root zone. A recent University of Wisconsin-Madison study concludes that there is less nitrogen and phosphorus in the runoff water from Kentucky bluegrass fertilized with Milorganite than from the same turf that received no fertilizer at all. So there's no need to worry about groundwater or well contamination. Even with frequent watering. Even on sandy soils.

FOR COOL-SEASON (NORTHERN) GRASSES

SPRING–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft.

SUMMER–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft.

FALL–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft.

Golf course superintendents use a late-season application of Milorganite on northern grasses for an earlier spring green-up. Apply 40 lbs. to cover 1,500 sq. ft. just before a permanent snow cover appears imminent.

FOR WARM-SEASON (SOUTHERN) GRASSES

SPRING–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft. after turf breaks dormancy.

EARLY SUMMER–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft.

LATE SUMMER–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft.

FALL*/OVERSEEDING–Apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft. in the fall or when overseeding with cool-season grasses.

Avoid nitrogen applications to warm-season grasses in the fall less than one month prior to the average first killing frost date in your area, unless overseeding with cool-season grasses. Centipedegrass and bahiagrass prefer spring and summer feedings. Avoid late fall fertilization of these species to limit possible winter kill.

ON NEW LAWNS

SEED BED AND SODDING PREPARATION–Apply two 40-lb. bags per 2,500 sq. ft. of planting area and mix Milorganite in the top two inches of soil before seeding or sodding.

FOLLOW-UP APPLICATION–After the third mowing of the newly seeded or sodded lawn, apply one 40-lb. bag per 2,500 sq. ft. of lawn. Then follow the schedule for your particular type of grass.

SPREADER CALIBRATION

If your spreader model is not listed here, please follow these instructions to ensure Milorganite is applied at the proper rate. As always, you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that Milorganite won't burn.

1. Set your spreader so that the opening(s) in the bottom are 3/4 open when engaged.

2. Put eight pounds, or 1/5 of a bag, of Milorganite into your spreader.

3. Begin fertilizing your lawn, starting along an edge, and continue until the spreader is empty. Leave the spreader where it was when it ran out of Milorganite.

4. Measure the area of lawn you fertilized. You should have covered about 500 square feet (20 ' x 25 ', 10 ' x 50 ', etc.). If so, skip steps 5 and 6 and continue fertilizing your lawn. If not, go to step 5 or 6.

5. If you covered much more than 500 square feet, increase the size of the opening(s) in the bottom of the spreader and repeat steps 2-4 on an unfertilized lawn area.

6. If you covered much less than 500 square feet, decrease the size of the opening(s) in the bottom of the spreader and repeat steps 2-4 on an unfertilized lawn area.

(3 cups of Milorganite=1 lb.)

Proper mowing is essential for a healthy lawn.

So are these handy tips:

1. Keep your mower sharp.

2. Cut when grass is dry.

3. Set mower to correct cutting height (2 1/2 to 3 inches).

4. Mow often enough so you never remove more than one-third of the lawn height each time.

Milorganite contains 13 essential plant micronutrients, nutrients that promote vigorous growth and vibrant color in everything that grows. Its non-burning formula means it's easy and it works—here, there, everywhere it's applied.

Milorganite can be found in most independent garden centers.

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