(NC)-When the air turns crisp and leaves start to turn colour, many of us head outdoors for a final cleanup of garden, backyard, patio and deck areas. Stowing patio furniture and cleaning and storing summer tools is typically part of the routine, but when the leaves fly, there is one more thing you can do in a matter of minutes that will pay off for your home environment next spring: fertilize your lawn.

After your last cut of the year, a fall feeding provides the nutrients your lawn needs to withstand the harshest weather. Choose a wintercare fall lawn fertilizer for the best rate of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (N-P-K).

“The fall application of fertilizer makes a big difference to the health of your lawn come spring,” says Kathy Russell, the lawns expert at Scotts Canada. “Regular feeding promotes healthy root growth and a healthy lawn is better able to crowd out weeds and resist other pests, so you’ll have less maintenance overall.”

Most people fertilize once or twice a year, but feeding your lawn four times a year is recommended by agronomists as optimal for most lawns. Choose a slow release, all-in-one particle fertilizer and make sure the fertilizer is applied on the lawn only by using a drop spreader, or one with an edgeguard technology that helps to prevent the fertilizer from landing on driveways and other hard surfaces.

If you prefer an alternative fertilizer for your pets or family, choose Scotts EcoSense Natural Lawn Fertilizer 10-1-5, one in a new line of alternative products that provides families with options to conventional lawn and garden care products. More lawn care tips are available online at www.scottscanada.ca or www.scottsecosense.ca.

“Your lawn makes an important contribution to the environment, cooling the temperature around your home, absorbing pollutants and providing oxygen, so it’s well worth taking care of,” adds Russell, noting real estate experts estimate quality landscaping can add 10 to 15 per cent to the value of your home.

Did You Know?

Lawns make an important contribution to the environment:

. Healthy turf traps pollutants and absorbs carbon dioxide, resulting in cleaner air.

. A 50 foot by 50 foot lawn provides enough oxygen every day for a family of four.

. Urban areas can be 4° to 7° Celsius warmer than rural areas. Healthy green spaces are dramatically cooler than asphalt, helping to cool the environment around your home, reducing energy costs related to air conditioning in the summer.

. Grass and ornamental trees and shrubs can absorb sound, reducing noise levels by 20 to 30 per cent.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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