Granular Lawnifi's Most FAQs | Sod University | Sod Solutions (2024)

As we progress through the active growing season, a lot of us are looking for the best fertilizers for our lawns and gardens. Some of us are searching for the best fertilizer for our specific grass type or ornamentals while others want the best fertilizer for the environment. Sometimes, finding the cheapest fertilizer for the largest amount of coverage is all we are looking for. Like it or not, there’s a science behind fertilizers.

In another blog, Sod University covers our most frequently asked questions aboutLawnifi’s liquid formulations. With the addition of a new granular product, Sod University answers some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from homeowners about granular fertilizer. Lawnifi Foundation is the newest addition to the Lawnifi brand fertilizer family. Foundation is the perfect granular fertilizer for home lawns and gardens. The slow-release mixture of nitrogen feeds plants over an extended amount of time without overfeeding nitrogen to plants all at once. Feed your plants with Lawnifi Foundation throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.

What is granular fertilizer?

Granular fertilizer is sold in little granules that look like small, multi-colored pellets. Granular fertilizer can be sold in small plastic canisters or medium and large-sized bags for turfgrass and other plants. Granular fertilizers are a great option for those who prefer traditional slow-release formulations. Typically, granular fertilizers take longer to be broken down by plants. Although this may seem like a disadvantage, you tend to make less fertilizer applications over a longer period of time. This is especially true for Lawnifi Foundation as its slow-release formulation requires applications once every three months.

What does Lawnifi Foundation do for my lawn?

With a 29-0-5 NPK formulation, Lawnifi Foundation is perfect for lawns, landscape ornamentals, potted plants, hanging plants, gardens and more. A fertilizer’s NPK formulation stands for the ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These three macronutrients are always represented by the three numbers on a fertilizer label. Foundation also contains two percent iron (Fe), which helps plants carry oxygen throughout the leaves, roots and other parts of the plants to promote a green, healthy lawn and landscape.

Lawnifi Foundation provides plants with essential macro and micronutrients needed to perform at their greatest genetic growth potential while surviving changes in weather or damage caused by insects, weeds, disease and other environmental stressors. To learn more about fertilizer nutrient ratios, visitHow to Read a Fertilizer Label.

Why should I choose granular over liquid fertilizers?

A lot of times, the answer to this question depends on the situation your lawn and garden are in. Granular fertilizer is a great option for situations that favor traditional slow-release formulations. Although some liquid fertilizer also feature slow-release components, granular fertilizer is always absorbed at a slower rate because the soil and plants have to break it down first. This can be described as “spacial difference”—the distance between the fertilizer nutrients and the plant roots to reach absorption.

A greater spacial difference can be used to a plant’s advantage. For example, if you want the fertilizer you applied to last all season without having to constantly make applications, plants take a while to break down granular fertilizer. This can save you time and money on fertilizer applications.

“Sparging” is starting to become more popular as well. Granular fertilizers are “sparged” with liquid fertilizers. In other words, the granular fertilizer is covered with a coat of liquid fertilizer that is immediately absorbed into the plant upon application. This allows plants to immediately absorb nutrients and progressively feed on the granules over an extended amount of time.

Powered byCatalyst Technology^TM, Lawnifi Foundation is sparged with liquid fertilizer containing nano-sized nutrients that are immediately absorbed into the plant at the time of application. This increases efficiency and maximum nutrient uptake.

When should I purchase granular vs. liquid fertilizers?

Granular fertilizer should be purchased when homeowners are trying to increase the spatial difference between fertilizer nutrients and plant roots. Refer to the previous question for more details. Liquid fertilizers can sometimes be more expensive than granular fertilizers and they are more susceptible to volatilization (or turned into a gas and potentially evaporated into the atmosphere). Liquid fertilizers are easier to use as they attach to the end of your garden hose for an even spray. Lawnifi’s liquid fertilizers also deliver nutrients in their plant available form, which means they are immediately absorbed into the plant. For more information, check outGranular vs. Liquid Fertilizers.

How much is a bag of Lawnifi Foundation?

A 25 pound bag of Lawnifi Foundation can be purchased for the same price asLawnifi’s New Lawn Starter Boxor any of the three seasonal boxes—$49.99 before shipping or taxes. Each fertilizer box contains three bottles of liquid fertilizer that must be used during the spring, summer or fall season. Lawnifi Foundation, however, only requires one application every three months. In other words, you will make one application of Lawnifi Foundation that lasts for three months as opposed to any liquid fertilizer box that requires three applications during each active growing season. This leads us to the next question: how many sq. ft. does Lawnifi Foundation cover?

How many sq. ft. does a 25 pound bag of Lawnifi Foundation cover?

A 25 pound bag of Lawnifi Foundation covers 5,000 sq. ft., which is the same coverage as any individual bottle of liquid fertilizer. Lawnifi Foundation needs to be applied once every three months. In comparison, a box of liquid fertilizer requires three applications for each season (spring, summer or fall).

How do I apply Lawnifi Foundation?

Lawnifi Foundation should be applied with the use of abroadcast or drop spreaderfor lawns and gardens. The application rate should be set on your spreader to apply five pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 sq. ft. After applications have been made, be sure to water the product in to help with absorption.

How often do I apply Lawnifi Foundation?

A 25 pound bag of Lawnifi Foundation covers 5,000 sq. ft. and feeds for up to three months. In comparison, each box of liquid fertilizer requires three applications during the spring, summer or fall season.

How long does it take for Lawnifi Foundation to work?

Since Lawnifi granules are sparged in liquid fertilizer powered by Catalyst Technology, Lawnifi Foundation contains a small portion of phosphorus and potassium that are immediately absorbed into plants for overall health. The rest of the fertilizer granules are broken down and fed to plants over a three month period of time. Foundation contains slow-release nitrogen that feeds plants slowly over time. This prevents plants from receiving too much nitrogen all at once.

Which plants can Lawnifi Foundation be applied to?

Lawnifi Foundation can be applied on all plants. You can use it for your garden, trees, shrubs, potted plants and hanging flowers, vegetables, various types of turfgrass and more.

Which grasses can I use Lawnifi Foundation on?

Lawnifi Foundation can be applied to the warm and cool season grasses listed below:

Can I use both liquid and granular fertilizer?

This usually depends on what the two fertilizer products are. If you are using Lawnifi Foundation and also want to use a Lawnifi liquid fertilizer box, we usually recommend applying Lawnifi Foundation once every three months. After three months have passed from your first application, you can either a) follow up with another application of Lawnifi Foundation or b) switch out the application of Lawnifi Foundation with a seasonal liquid fertilizer box.

We usually don’t recommend using both at the same time as this may overfeed your lawn or garden with nutrients. Plants only need a certain amount of nutrients and using these both at the same time is usually too much at once. If you are using Foundation with a different liquid fertilizer, read both products thoroughly before application.

Can I mix Lawnifi Foundation with a liquid fertilizer?

In most cases, yes, but again, this really depends on the other product you are using. Lawnifi is compatible with other fertilizers, however, make sure you read both product labels thoroughly before application. Be sure to withhold from over-applying nitrogen or other nutrients to your lawn as this can cause unnecessary damage. Asoil analysiswill inform you of the amount of nutrients your lawn needs.

Can I mix Lawnifi Foundation with an herbicide, insecticide or fungicide?

In short—yes. Lawnifi Foundation, as a granular fertilizer, can be mixed with othergranularcontrol products. For example, you can mix Lawnifi Foundation with a granular fungicide likeHeritage Gand a granular insecticide likeMerit 0.5GorDylox 6.2. This allows you to feed your lawn and protect it from insects and disease at the same time. However, pay special attention each products’ application rates as they may differ from one another. You want to apply each granular product at the application rate specified on the product label. Do not over-apply fertilizer or any other product on your lawn as this may result in damage.

• St. Augustine
• Zoysia
• Bermuda Grass
• Centipede Grass
• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue
• Fine Fescue
• Tall Fescue

• Bentgrass
• Dichondra
• Microclover
• Annual and Perennial Ryegrass
• Kikuyugrass
• Bahia Grass
• Carpetgrass

Is Lawnifi Foundation used for new lawns?

When it comes to new lawns, Lawnifi Foundation can be used and demonstrates successful results, however, we generally recommend using theLawnifi New Lawn Starter Boxinstead. The New Lawn Starter Box contains the appropriate NPK ratio of nutrients to promote root growth so that new sod, seed, plugs or sod pods can establish into the soils they’ve just been planted in. Generally speaking, phosphorus functions to promote root growth, which is needed at the time of establishment.

The New Lawn Starter Box contains two bottles of Grow, which have a lot of phosphorus, potassium and carbon in them to help roots establish, and one bottle of Maintain, which contains the perfect amount of nitrogen, iron, amino acids and microbes in it to enhance the color of your new lawn and contribute to healthy soil composition. Learn more inWhen to Fertilize Newly Installed Sod.

Is Lawnifi Foundation safe for pets?

Lawnifi isn’t going to hurt your pets or children. You obviously don’t want your pet to eat it, but it is generally safe for your family and pets to walk around on a freshly fertilized lawn.

Which Lawnifi product should I purchase first?

The best answer for this question depends on your situation. If you have installed new sod or planted new grass seed, grass plugs or sod pods, we recommend using theNew Lawn Starter Boxbecause it helps newly installed plants establish. You can useLawnifi Foundationon established grass or other plants throughout the active growing seasons for spring, summer and fall. You also have the option to use theSpring Fertilizer Boxin the spring,Summer Fertilizer Boxin the summer andFall Fertilizer Boxin the fall. The annual or monthly subscription provides all three seasonal boxes with either annual or monthly payments.

For more information on Lawnifi, our article onWhy Use Lawnifi Fertilizer?provides an overview of why the Lawnifi fertilizer brand is a really great option to use for lawns and gardens. If you are more interested in Lawnifi liquid fertilizer, readLiquid Lawnifi’s Most FAQs.