Should I water my lawn immediately after fertilizing?

Watering after fertilizing isn't optional - it's a science. Granular fertilizers specifically require an accurate irrigation method to activate nutrients without leaching them away. I've restored lawns where homeowners hosed down urea pellets on the turf and washed away fertilized nitrogen down the storm drain, sending a small river of nitrogen to the local stream, and killing the fish. The timing and amount of irrigation make the difference between healthy turf and killing a stream condition.

Drought-prone areas require different practices. For instance, my Arizona clients utilize subsurface drip lines to directly irrigate fertilizers into the root zones of crops and minimize the risk of evaporation. Summer rains in Florida will often catch you off guard. I'll defer applying anything if the weather service is calling for over 1 inch of rain - I have seen over 90% of the nutrients just lost from rainfall.

Devices are essential. Driveways can waste 35% water with oscillating sprinklers rather than rotary nozzles. A Texas homeowner saved runoff by moving to a soaker hose timer system - their well water nitrate levels dropped 40ppm after six months.

Read the full article: When to Fertilize Lawn: By Region & Grass Type