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For warm season grasses such as St. Augustine and Bermuda, it will soon be time to apply the first feeding of the year. But how much fertilizer to apply? Measure the area you will be fertilizing. For each 1000 square feet of area, applying 3 -5 pounds of nitrogen per year is recommended. Divide this by the number of feedings you will be giving this year (3 -4 are recommended).
So, how much to purchase? Most bagged fertilizer products will have three numbers on the bag – 12-6-6, or 10-5-5, etc. The first number is the percentage of nitrogen in the product; for 50 pounds of 10-5-5, 10% of 50 pounds is 5 pounds of nitrogen.
Apply the first feeding as soon as grass starts growing. A good rule to follow is the "holiday" rule - fetilize your lawn around Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Using a product labeled "50% slow release nitrogen" will allow the continual availbility of nutrients to the lawn, rather than a quick burst of food.
For the math-impaired gardener, Texas Extension Service publications are available at the Grayson County Courthouse with charts detailing fertilizer application rates for various purposes in the home landscape, including lawns, vegetable and flower gardens, and fruit and nut trees. You may also find answers to your questions at http//aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, or by calling the Grayson County Master Gardeners at 903 813-4204.