fecundate your lawn will facilitate it grow strong and level-headed . However , if you do n’t use all of it in one go , you may be wonder if it will still be ok to employ in the future . Well , we ’ve researched the topic in - depth and have an reply for you .
When stored correctly , lawn plant food will not go bad . Also , there is normally no expiration date listed on organic lawn fertilizer , suggest that it will not expire . The component part of organic fertilizer do not soften down , so the potency of the fertilizer should rest the same irrespective of the amount of time that has egest unless it includes other participating ingredients . If the fertilizer puzzle wet , it will still exercise . However , it may clunk up and be harder to disperse on your lawn .
Now you hump you will be capable to use any remnant fertilizer in the future tense , but keep read as we expatiate on this further . We ’ll go over which storage method acting might affect its lifetime anticipation and at which item you should discombobulate it away . to boot , we ’ll answer some other questions you might have about lawn fertilizer .
How long is lawn fertilizer good?
Fertilizer comes in two chief varieties : synthetic or organic . This mean that one is comprised of natural ingredients , while the other is derived from chemicals . perchance surprisingly , neither semisynthetic nor constitutive fertilizer go bad , especially if stored correctly .
The fertilizer ’s packaging should list idealistic storage conditions but will typically learn you to store the fertilizer in a nerveless , juiceless place in its original container . Keep it away from lineal heat energy exposure and away from other chemicals that could lead in a chemical reaction if a leak or spill was to occur .
However , there are some exception as to whether your fertilizer will go bad . It will often calculate on whether you purchase besotted or dry fertilizer and whether it contains additives such as herbicides or pesticides . The keep abreast two section will go over why this might impress your fertilizer ’s lifetime .
Does dry fertilizer go bad?
If your dry fertilizer does not include herbicide or pesticides , it will last indefinitely . So , no , even ironic fertiliser will not go forged . Dry fertiliser typically contains NPK , which tolerate for Nitrogen , Phosphorous , and Potassium . If any weedkiller or pesticides are added , they will be list on the promotion under active ingredients .
For example , Scott ’s Turf Builder Winterguard Lawn Food does not list any combat-ready ingredients . However , Scott ’s Turfbuilder Winterguard Fall Weed & Feed lists alive ingredients design to kill and prevent weeds .
If your fertilizer does contain active ingredients , it might turn a loss its potency over prison term , so it may no longer achieve what it says it will on the promotional material . Also , if the dry plant food becomes expose to too much moisture , Scottssays it may be more difficult to spread , which may render it useless .
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Does wet fertilizer go bad?
Wet fertilizer , or liquid fertilizer , will typically have a ledge life of eight to ten years . You should ascertain the packaging for any potential expiry dates . Even if the plant food is within its loss date , you may need to shake it up to remix any ingredient that might have go down .
Just like ironical fertilizer , liquid fertiliser can also hold back fighting ingredients . If your smooth fertilizer does contain combat-ready component , its effectiveness may decrease over time .
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Is it okay to use old fertilizer?
Effectiveness
Since dry fertilizer does n’t croak , it is okay to expend sometime bags of fertilizer you might have lay around . The constitutive elements that make up fertilizer , potassium , phosphorous , and nitrogen , do not break down over time . So whether the travelling bag has been sitting there for one year or ten years , the effectiveness should be the same .
That being articulate , as we mentioned originally , an sometime pocketbook of plant food that contains additional active ingredients such as pesticides and herbicide may not be as potent as when you first bought it . That does n’t stand for it will be useless for your lawn , though . Your thou could still do good from the non - active NPK component . you’re able to do by liquid fertiliser the same . However , if it is has been sitting around for longer than eight year , it ’s time to toss it away .
So , fortunately , it ’s improbable that old fertilizer with participating ingredients will do any impairment to your lawn . It just might not kill the weeds like it ’s supposed to . If you demand a fertilizer that will kill skunk or louse , you will need to cast aside of the old bags and buy new one .
Condition Of The Fertilizer
A factor that might affect whether it is ok for you to expend the fertilizer is the condition the plant food is in . If you have not been storing the plant food right , it might not be a interrogation of whether it is ok to employ but whether you could use it .
See , a plant food that has not been stored aright might have changed forcible properties . For example , juiceless fertilizer is often in the build of granule . If those granule are exposed to wet or humidity , they may clump together , making it hard to spread .
What do you do with old fertilizers?
If you determine to purchase young fertiliser or else of using your old fertilizer , you may be wondering the best elbow room to qualify of the old . Typically , organic plant food does n’t have any exceptional requirements for disposal as it does n’t position much peril .
However , chemic fertiliser might . Your fertiliser may contain chemicals or ingredient that are flammable , corrosive , or that might induce contamination to the environment . First , check the fertilizer ’s packaging . Often , disposal didactics are listed .
you may also call your local substantial permissive waste or hazardous waste disposition companionship . They will be able to direct you to the best method of electric pig . Some company will recommend this on the promotion of the fertilizer . check that to keep the plant food in its original container . If you’re able to , avoid having to dispose of fertilizer by either using the product or get someone who can .
What Not To Do
Old plant food should be keep far away from children or ducky . You should not pour chemical fertiliser down the drainpipe as this can top to environmental contamination , including contamination of urine supplies . Do not dispose of chemic fertilizer in your regular chalk can , which can also guide to contamination .
How do you store an open bag of fertilizer?
If you could not use all of your fertilizer , you should store it in as atmosphere - tight of a container as possible . Manypeoplerecommend using 5 - gallon bucket with lids . Place the open bag of plant food in the 5 - gallon bucket and varnish it with the condom lid . you’re able to come up 5 - gallon bucketful at most home DIY storehouse .
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How often should you fertilize your lawn?
There are varying result out there about how often you should fertilize your lawn . The advocate number of meter varies from once to twice a yr to four to five times a yr .
Once or Twice
If you want to hike your Mary Jane ’s wellness , fertiliser once or doubly a class should be sufficient for you . If you only choose to fertilize your lawn once , the best time to fertilize your lawn is during the spring . However , fertilizers are designed for each season except winter , so another alternative is to fertilize your lawn multiple times a year .
More Often
Scotts , a popular caller for all things yard - pertain , suggestsfertilizing in early leap , late spring , summer , or fall , or at all four times . Your yard may need fertilizing more or less , reckon on the clime you live in . you may often tell by looking at your grass whether it could apply fertiliser feeding . If it looks luscious , green , and tidy , you might not need to fertilize it .
Final Thoughts
Hopefully , our article has helped excuse whether your fertilizer will go bad or breathe out . Remember , whether it expires depends on whether the fertilizer is blind drunk , dry , organic , or chemical and whether you store it correctly . Maybe now you feel more confident about what you should do with your old fertilizer and how you may store any that you did n’t apply .
For more reading , see out some of our other posts :
How Long Does Fertilizer Last In Soil ?
Can You Dissolve Fertilizer In Water ? Should You ?
