Newbie on lawn care - Am I on the right track?

[Lady Blue]

I purchased some Miracle Gro Lawn Food to help my lawn. Last October, I seeded my back yard and it is starting to really take sprout. Is this product a good product to use on the new seedlings? Also, my front yard needs to be more thicker and greener. Is the Miracle Gro still a good choice? The sod in the front is 1.5 years old.

Finally, what months would be best to start using the product? The grass is starting to turn green. Do I wait until it is hotter and spring is in full swing or begin now?

 

[trehugr4life]

what state/growing zone do you live in?
for new seed you should use a starter fertilizer...18-24-12

 

[badkitty3168]

I have used Miracle Grow for lawns, garden beds, pine trees. All of their products are good. I've only used the liquid product that one puts in a canister at the end of a hose. Their granular products may work differently.

I live in South East Michigan, and I start about mid-April, or when the Forsythias bloom, to start lawn care. I prefer granular products, but put them on half strength first, then 2-3 weeks later do half-strength again. I recommend not feeding your new back lawn too heavily at first. Don't forget to keep it watered so the roots will grow deep, and don't cut it too short or it will struggle. Figure that if you cut the grass to 3", the roots will be about that deep if they get adequate water. Same for front lawn, but since it's older, just use fertilizer, and if crabgrass is a problem in your neighborhood put some preventer on it in April. When it is hot outside lawns and plants work harder to pull water from their root system, and often the ground is drying out more quickly. So if they have to also work against too much fertilizer or weed killers, that can slow down growth. In hot months I put on applications really early in morn or after sun goes down.

I don't always buy a well-known brand name; have found that those three numbers are the same in expensive or inexpensive products.