Lawn growth can be enhanced this October with 'homemade' fertilizer, expert claims

Maintaining your lawn is a crucial gardening task in autumn to ensure the grass doesn't become brittle or disease-prone as the weather cools. As we approach October, it's vital to fertilize lawns.

This helps the grass develop a robust root system , enabling it to absorb necessary nutrients and withstand harsh winter conditions.

Kellie, a gardening expert from the Sustainable Living Association, suggests an affordable and natural way to feed lawns is by using a homemade fertilizer made from Epsom salts.

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She shared: "Have you heard that Epsom salts are some of the best DIY autumn lawn fertilizers? They contain sulfur and magnesium, both of which are compounds that grass and many other plants favor.

"These are some of the many benefits of using Epsom salts as best lawn fertilizer and it's no wonder people have been using these salts for many year," reports the Express .

Why should you consider Epsom salts as a homemade feed for your lawn?

Epsom salts, often used in bath soaks for relaxation and as a natural skincare product due to their gentle exfoliating properties, can also be highly effective in the garden. They contain the essential plant growth nutrients, magnesium, and sulfur.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, enhancing a plant's ability to store energy and improving its nutrient intake, helping it survive through the winter.

A deficiency in magnesium can cause your grass to turn yellow, become patchy, and thin out. However, Epsom salts are a quick fix for any nutrient deficiencies in the soil, helping to maintain the health of your lawn as the weather cools.

Feeding your lawn with magnesium before winter sets in can help prevent cold damage and ensure that it has enough energy stored to produce thicker grass once spring arrives.

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Here's how you can apply Epsom salts to your lawn in autumn:

A simple method is to create a homemade fertilizer by adding one tablespoon of Epsom salts to a gallon of water. You can then evenly distribute this solution across your lawn.

The optimal time to apply Epsom salts is when the grass is still actively growing, ideally in early October. This gives your lawn ample time to absorb nutrients before winter.

In autumn, a single application of Epsom salt is usually sufficient to keep your lawn healthy. There's no need to fertilize your grass once the first frost hits.

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Once temperatures drop to a certain level, your grass will enter dormancy and won't be able to actively absorb nutrients, rendering any fertilizer ineffective.

However, if your lawn is yellowing or patchy after a harsh summer, you can apply a second dose of the homemade solution in late October or early November, four weeks after the first application.

Investing time now in proper lawn care will help it remain robust throughout the winter, resulting in a much more lush, green and thick grass during the next growth period in 2025.

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