If you haven't done so already, there's still time to fertilize your lawn. But this year, an organic fertilizer with less nitrogen may be the better choice.

Thanks to recent rains, area lawns have perked up and are now nicely green in many neighborhoods. Ground that was bare three weeks ago is now covered with Bermuda grass, and shade-covered zoysia and St. Augustine look especially nice.

If you haven't done so already, there's still time to fertilize your lawn. In past years the recommendation was always a slow release fertilizer with a high percentage of nitrogen, such as 19-5-9 or 29-2-4.  But this year, an organic fertilizer with less nitrogen — such as a 7-1-1 or 4-1-2 formula — may be the better choice, especially since lawn grasses respond to high levels of nitrogen only when enough water is available.

Although we've had some rain, we're still in drought restrictions and might be all summer. To balance root growth and encourage healthy grass blades, the goal is to apply only as much nitrogen as can be used in a dry situation.

Another reason to consider an organic fertilizer is it's less salty. The nutrients in fertilizers, especially high nutrient blends, are provided as salts. The salts in slow release lawn fertilizers pose no challenges for healthy lawns, but are difficult for damaged lawns to utilize.
 
Lawn mowing is also an important part of lawn care, and even has an impact on water use. Let your grass grow taller and the roots will be longer and more capable of utilizing the entire soil reservoir.

Calvin R. Finch is the project director of regional initiatives and special projects for San Antonio Water System.