lawn conundrum

I didn`t notice the first part of your post, sorry.

 

you don't need to use fertilizer at all on any lawns or on any plants .... most people never

but if you want a really pristine lawn, you have to feed it and water it and care for it .... you are are a professional gardener, and if you dispute that fact, perhaps you should ask for your money back from the institution that issued you your diploma

I'm not an expert, and have always said so .... but I do know that by feeding the lawns it makes a huge difference ... thats why they fertilize bowling greens and golf courses and football pitches etc on a regular basis

I don't criticize those who do not wish to pay for fertilizer .... but I give them the option and the cost .... like I said, no skin off my back, I'm just the gardener who works there once a week

and if you wish to dispute the benefits of lawn fertilizers, or if you wish to tell professional (international) groundsmen that they are 'wasting' their client's money by using fertiliziers, then may I suggest you air your opinions on this forum as they are more knoweleagble than me ... I am sure that you will receive a lot of 'comments':

http://www.lawnsite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=236

my initial post on this thread was inforiming the OP (original poster), that he can mow his lawn, and it would be beneficial to fertilize .... I also suggested a fertilizer and gave him a link with a price, and worked out the approximate cost ... I also said 'OOPS' when I worked out the cost

nowhere did I mention that it had to be done .... I was merely giving an honest opinion and trying to be helpful ...

and, I responded to someone who implied that I am wasting clients money and someone who took a 'stab' at me with the remark of being 'professional'

 

So you DON`T criticise any of them? Also, I am qualified, that is how I know you do not feed ANY plants in the middle of November.

 

yup, those 1/4 of my clients are tightfisted ... they won't even pay £1 for 20 daffodils from poundland ... (and I was not going to charge labour)

and, you are saying that under no circumstances should one fertilize lawns in the middle of november? ..... very interesting comment, as this totally contradicts the manufaturers of autumn/winter lawn fertilizers ..... perhaps you should lodge a complaint with trading standards? .... go on, I dare you!

and also go on the lawn forum that I supplied the link to and make that statement .... I am 100% certain that the professional grounsmen who post there will rip you apart ....

just shows what happens when you get your diploma from a village college

:OUCH:

 

I obviously know more than you AND the manufacturers put together.. You encourage plants to grow now and all that young growth gets killed off at the first frost.

 

thanks .... I will make a new thread on the international lawn forum and state that you are degreed in horticulture and dispute the fact that fertilizers should be used on lawns in autumn/winter

will let the people who maintain lawns full time for a living respond, and will quote excerpts of their statements on this thread in a day or two

Like I said, I'm still learning but we may all learn something new

 

Tell me *dim*, are you taking advice from UK manufacturers or US manufacturers

 

I listen to what anyone and everyone says, then research further and make up my own mind

that's why I frequent forums

Scotts Autumn lawn fertilizer is a UK manufacturer .... they state that their autumn/winter fertilizer can (and should) be applied from september till february
http://www.lovethegarden.com/files/sc-lb-lawn-food-autumn-label.pdf

and Evergreen autumn lawn fertilizer (also UK) also states that it should be applied in Autumn

 

the site is hosted from the USA, but there are groundsmen who part their knowlege from all over the world (including the cold parts of the US and Canada)

 

someone gave me this link discussing late fall lawn fertilizing ... (this paper applied to climates similar to the U.S. midwest and north and is from Ohio State University .... )

Benefits of Late Fall Fertilization | Turfgrass Pathology Program

I have not read the whole paper yet but I have other links from other universities that have done intensive research on the benefits of fertilizing lawns in autumn/winter

read and decide for yourself

 

Oooh .... everyone gone quiet now?

as long as everyone has learned something new, ..... I'm happy