How to Make Your Own Lawn Fertilizer

So you want a nice looking yard, but you don't want to spend a fortune on a lawn service or pricey fertilizers. Or maybe you want to explore natural fertilizers that are good for your grass and even better for the environment. Well, did you know that you can make your own lawn fertilizer? It's really very easy, and all you'll need to get are a few ingredients, most of which you probably already have around the house. Here's how you can get green, lush grass without spending too much and harming the environment:

• Whip up a beer and ammonia concoction. All you need is two cups of water and one cup each of beer, ammonia, and Epsom salts. Mix the ingredients together, pour it in a watering can with a spray feature, and distribute evenly over your lawn as if you were watering it. The beer will work to feed the roots of your grass, the ammonia will kill any bacteria in the soil, and the Epsom salts will act as an aerator to the ground allowing your lawn to "breathe." You should notice a difference in a couple of weeks, but you can reapply the solution if you're not quite satisfied with the results. This amount will cover about 500 square feet, depending on the water pressure used through the watering can.
• Use coffee grounds. Did you know that your morning beverage can be used as a fertilizer? Coffee grounds contain nitrogen and potassium, which are two important components of achieving a green yard. Use your spent coffee grounds on the lawn and your yard will get a nutrient boost and should appear greener and healthier in just a couple of weeks. If you're not a coffee drinker, just head to your local coffee shop and ask them for their used grounds; most will give them to you for free or for a small price.
• Set up a compost site. Composting is easy - all you really need to do is create an area to store your organic waste, such as melon rinds, banana peels, tea bags, leaves, and other yard waste. While you're collecting this waste, you'll need to turn it occasionally, and eventually you'll have a nutrient-rich, soil-like material from your compost pile. To fertilize, simply load this into a wheelbarrow and distribute evenly throughout your yard using a shovel. You'll need to use a large broom to sweep the clumps off the grass blades and down to the turf level, and then use a sprinkler or watering can to help the composted soil absorb into the ground.

Beautifying your lawn with the help of homemade fertilizers is easy, and you'll save lots of money and help the environment too. Use these tips above to help you get started on your way to a greener, healthier lawn.