Sometimes called “controlled release” or “time-released” fertilizers, the ingredients of these fertilizers are released over a period of time to feed your lawn for an extended period. This is one major benefit to these fertilizers. Most often used by professional lawn care companies, these slow-released fertilizers ensure your lawn receives a high amount of nitrogen, released over time, reducing the probability of burning, and requiring fewer applications.

In these fertilizers, nitrogen, usually coated with various thickness of sulfur, is released by hydrolysis (water activity on the pellets). The thicker the coating, the longer it takes for the nitrogen to be released and utilized by the plant - hence the term “slow-released”. Slow-released fertilizers contain a percentage of nitrogen which is not covered with a coating, and hence is release to the plant directly.

Usually the higher the nitrogen content, and the higher the percentage of slow-released nitrogen in the fertilizer, the better the quality, and the higher the cost. Wagner uses a specially blended granular fertilizer.

Since grass uptakes nitrogen and potassium in a 1:1 ratio, our formulation is 20-0-20, with 50% slow-released nitrogen. After reading much research, experiencing years of results, and doing many soil tests throughout out the region, we have found our custom blended granular fertilizer to be very effective! We use this fertilizer for each application, except when organic fertilizer is requested. Some lawn care companies will have “econo” programs where they’ll put down a very low quality fertilizer, reducing the application price slightly to get a contract. Wagner will not use any product which is below our high standards. We are committed to giving the best value for service offered, but this may mean we’re not always the lowest price!

If a low quality fertilizer is used, like a 7-7-7, or a 10-6-4, we believe it doesn’t supply the lawn with enough nitrogen. As well, if its something like a 20-5-10, but only 10% of the nitrogen is slow-released, we believe its shocking the grass by applying too much nitrogen that is directly available to the grass plant - and burning is a distinct possibility. Furthermore, it means you’re feeding the grass intensely at one time, then giving it no food for an extended period. This can’t be healthy for a lawn.