Fertilising the lawn is essential.  There are three essential nutrients: Nitrogen (N) helps to increase leaf growth and give the green colour.  This is applied during the optimum growing period.  Phosphorous (P) plays a fundamental role in the release of energy in the plant.  Potassium (K) is taken up by the grass plant’s roots, assists the grass plant to become disease resistant and encourages a healthy growth.

Fertilisers applied during the Spring and Summer should contain a higher percentage of Nitrogen and in the Autumn fertilisers containing a higher percentage or Phosphorous and Potassium should be applied.  When you purchase lawn fertilisers from the garden centre there will always be a ratio number of the nutrients contained in it.  Look for a NPK analysis.

Fertilisers should be applied with a spreader.  Trying to spread fertiliser by hand is unwise and will lead to scorching of your lawn as it cannot be applied evenly.

If the lawn is on a chalk or heavy clay soil then consider the use of liquid feeds.  These feeds are absorbed by the leaves of the plant and not through the root system like granular fertilisers.  On clay soils it is difficult for granular fertilisers to reach the root zone.  On chalk soils the nutrients get leached through the rootzone very quickly.  If there is a layer of thatch on your lawn then again the granular fertiliser has difficulty in getting down to the rootzone.