As of: February 23, 2024, 7:03 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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A lush green, moss-free lawn is the dream of garden owners.
The use of iron fertilizer brings quick results, but it also has its downsides.
Is iron fertilizer the method of choice for a weed-free, healthy lawn?
The manufacturers promise “ideal against moss” and “super green” when advertising the products.
It is intended to give not only the lawn, but also ornamental plants and woody plants a strong green within three days and turn a brown, matted grass area into a showcase lawn by eliminating all deficiency symptoms.
In addition to iron, iron fertilizer also contains nitrogen, potassium and other important nutrients for plants.
But the use can also have serious side effects.
Protective clothing is recommended when applying iron fertilizer
When spreading iron fertilizer, a spreader is helpful - and protective clothing is strongly recommended.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
A yellowish-brown lawn can be a sign of iron deficiency chlorosis - a not uncommon problem in ornamental lawns.
Iron fertilizer supplements the missing nutrients, promotes new growth of the grass and also works against weeds and moss growth in the lawn.
The success seems to justify the sales of the product.
Iron deficiency is a popular starter for winter-weary lawns, especially in spring.
The product is well tolerated by the grass, but less so by the user.
Gardener Peter Rasch warns on
NDR television
that you should literally stay away from the product, because iron (II) sulfate can release toxic sulfuric acid: “The stuff is really very irritating.
Your grandchildren, your small children, the little rabbits, the dog - everything that runs across the lawn is essentially poisoned.
Even inhaling the dust can severely irritate the mucous membranes; direct contact with the skin or eyes is more or less corrosive.
When using iron fertilizer, you should wear a protective suit, breathing mask, glasses and acid-resistant shoes and gloves, advises Rasch.
Mein-schoener-garten.de
recommends keeping children and pets off the lawn after treatment and only stepping on the grass again after thorough watering or a downpour.
If the iron fertilizer accidentally gets onto stone slabs, for example by spreading it on footwear, the product can leave unsightly rust stains that cannot be removed.
The granules should therefore be swept dry immediately.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
Iron fertilizer can promote moss growth
According to Peter Rasch, the use of iron sulfate has another consequence: the pH value of the lawn is reduced in the long term, which slows down the growth of the lawn, promotes the undesirable formation of moss and, so to speak, has the opposite effect that one actually wanted to achieve.
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Before using the product, it makes sense to first find the causes of the dull lawn and moss growth - because it is often due to a lack of care, waterlogging or compacted soil.
If only nutrients are missing, a mineral or natural organic fertilizer is often sufficient; if the pH value is unsuitable, liming the lawn will bring it back into balance.
If the lawn is in the shade and is more susceptible to moss, a special shade grass mixture can also help.
Moss can also be removed by scarifying.
In any case, a soil analysis provides information in advance about how the grass is doing.