Yes, it is safe to blend other fertilizers with Milorganite in a total lawn care schedule because Milorganite will not increase the chances of “burning” your lawn with Nitrogen overload. Both synthetic fertilizer and other types of organic fertilizer can be used in a lawn care schedule alongside Milorganite.
Milorganite is an organic fertilizer made in Milwaukee from recycled wastewater. It is a safe fertilizer that feeds lawn microbes to promote soil health. Because it is a slow-release fertilizer that provides lawn nutrients over 8–10 weeks, it is the ideal companion fertilizer for a hybrid fertilization program.
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How to Blend Milorganite and Other Fertilizers
In order to use Milorganite to boost your lawn’s performance, apply it to the grass at times when it would be harmful to use a strong synthetic fertilizer. This typically includes early spring, as well as peak summer months, especially after you’ve mowed the lawn and when rain is in the forecast. Milorganite helps grass root growth in spring and improves the look and overall health of grass at the height of summer.
- To promote grass root growth, apply Milorganite in early spring.
- Apply Milorganite during peak summer months.
- Apply synthetic fertilizer in late spring.
- Apply synthetic fertilizer in the fall.
Late spring and fall applications of synthetic fertilizer drive strong lawn growth at exactly the right time. At these times, you’ll get a bigger benefit from synthetic fertilizer than you will from Milorganite. This makes a hybrid fertilization program ideal to promote the best lawn possible.
Why Apply Milorganite in Early Spring?
In early spring, your grass is biologically driven to focus energy toward root growth. Milorganite is gentle enough that it can be applied during spring to feed grass, encourage natural root growth, and lead to a strong spring green-up.
If you apply a synthetic high-nitrogen fertilizer in early spring, you encourage grass to shift its focus toward blade growth. This weakens grass roots and causes an unhealthy lawn in the long term.
- Milorganite promotes grass root health.
- Applying synthetic fertilizers in early spring can hinder grass root development.
- Apply Milorganite in early spring (March–April) when the grass begins to green.
Why Apply Milorganite in Summer?
Synthetic high-nitrogen fertilizers flood the soil with nitrogen. This overabundance of nitrogen draws moisture out of the grass, drying it out, causing yellowing and even death. The chances of this harmful impact increase as temperatures rise.
Milorganite won’t damage your grass, even when daytime temperatures are at their highest. You can use it during the summer months to boost your lawn’s growth without running the risk of harming the grass.
- Milorganite feeds grass without risk of “burning” it
- Synthetic fertilizers can dry out the grass in peak temperatures.
- Apply Milorganite in July and/or August.
What Fertilizer Should You Mix with Milorganite?
One great fertilizer to use alongside Milorganite is Scotts Green Max Lawn Food. This fertilizer delivers nitrogen and iron, which promote green lawn color and healthy growth. Nitrogen is the nutrient that gives grass its green color and fuels grass blade growth and, and Scotts Green Max has a very high Nitrogen percentage, at 27%. It will green up your lawn quickly.
Choose a high-nitrogen fertilizer to pair with Milorganite. By pairing the incredible growth boost of a high-nitrogen synthetic with Milorganite, you can promote a thick, lush lawn throughout the growing season, all without the risk of harming your lawn.
Fertilization Schedule: Milorganite with High-Nitrogen Fertilizer
In order to protect your lawn and fuel the best growth, use a high-nitrogen fertilizer in late spring and fall, while applying Milorganite during the early spring and peak summer months. Below is a sample schedule for lawn fertilization with Milorganite and a synthetic fertilizer:
- March–April: Milorganite
- Late-May (Memorial Day): High-Nitrogen fertilizer
- Early July (4th of July): Milorganite
- Early August: Milorganite
- Early September (Labor Day): High-Nitrogen fertilizer
By applying fertilizer according to this schedule, you will promote the best grass growth with the lowest risk of damaging your lawn. If your lawn is already performing well, feel free to reduce the number of yearly fertilizations. The first (early spring) and last (fall) are the most essential.
Can You Use Too Much Milorganite?
It is extremely difficult to harm your lawn with too much Milorganite. This is because Milorganite feeds soil microbes and only releases nutrients to plants as they need them. This is not the case with most fertilizers, which can overload the soil and cause harm.
- Too much Milorganite will not “burn” your lawn.
- An excess of Milorganite may invite fungal grass disease.
- Excess Milorganite can wash out of the soil.
- Use the manufacturer-recommended volume of Milorganite.
- Apply Milorganite no more than once per 30 days.
However, overapplying Milorganite is not advised. Excess Milorganite (and the nutrients it carries) may be washed out of the soil well before your lawn needs it, or may cause a fungal outbreak in your grass. In order to save yourself money and make the best use of Milorganite, spread it at the recommended volume. Additionally, apply Milorganite only once per 30-day period.
Can You Apply Milorganite in Hot Weather?
Milorganite is an organic fertilizer that can be safely spread on lawns in hot weather. It will not overload the soil with nitrogen and dry out your grass, as other fertilizers can.
Feel free to use Milorganite when daytime temperatures are very high and/or during drought conditions. Do not use synthetic fertilizers during these conditions.
Can You Burn Your Lawn with Milorganite?
Although it is difficult to burn your lawn with Milorganite, it is possible to cause harm to your grass by applying too much of this organic fertilizer. An overabundance of nutrients caused by too much Milorganite can result in a bloom of fungal growth, which can lead to grass disease.
Although it takes a very large amount of Milorganite to cause a fungal outbreak or burn your grass, the best practice is to use Milorganite as directed in manufacturer instructions, to keep your lawn safe.
How Long Before You See Results from Milorganite with Other Fertilizers?
Milorganite can begin to deliver results in 1–2 weeks but provides complete benefits over an 8–10 week span. Unlike some synthetic fertilizers that show results in days, Milorganite takes a little more time to provide visible results in the form of thicker, greener grass. When in doubt, remain patient. Milorganite will feed your lawn if given time.
Can You Mix Milorganite with Other Fertilizers?
Mixing Milorganite with other fertilizers is safe and beneficial to your lawn. Milorganite is a gentle fertilizer that is great when used at times when your grass is vulnerable, while a high-nitrogen fertilizer is best used to give a massive benefit to grass during peak growing periods (late spring and fall).
- Use Milorganite in early spring and peak summer months.
- Use high-nitrogen fertilizers in late spring and fall.
By following these simple rules for when to apply Milorganite vs. high-nitrogen fertilizer, you can encourage your lawn to grow thicker and more beautifully than ever before.
