Last Updated on March 27, 2022 by Grow with Bovees
What is Ironite?
First of all, let’s talk about exactly what Ironite Mineral Supplement is.
There are two different types of Ironite for lawns; granular ironite and liquid ironite and, as you might guess from the name, iron is the predominant ingredient in both of the two forms of ironite fertilizer.
However, when it comes to the list of ingredients and mineral content of Ironite, not only is it high in iron but it contains other nutrients too; manganese, nitrogen, and potassium.
So, is Ironite a Fertilizer?
Strictly speaking, no it isn’t. Ironite fertilizer is just a name that has been adopted by people who use it.
Ironite formulas have been developed primarily as a lawn care product to complement, rather than substitute, regular fertilizer.
Other more general lawn fertilizers and garden fertilizers have additional active ingredients which encourage; growth, flower colour, pest resistance etc.
The unique selling point of Ironite is that the ingredient formula encourages a lovely, rich deep green color in grass blades and foliage, hence its popularity for use on lawns.
However, all the slow release ingredients and essential nutrients in Ironite are beneficial to lawns and promote the growth & development of plants in general.
So it’s not just ironite for lawns, its nutrients are a benefit to your other plants, from your veggie patch to your prized ornamental borders!
When Should I Apply Ironite To My Lawn?
If there is a deficiency of iron in the soil, applying Ironite is one of the best things to do, at any time of the year, not just during peak growth season.
For optimal results, applying ironite should be done all year round on a three monthly basis depending on the current condition of your grass.
If you are using the liquid ironite formula then rather check the forecast for expected weather conditions first, to make sure a deluge of rain isn’t going to wash it off the blades and straight down into the depths of the soil.
By the same token, if you have a dry lawn and you are using the granular ironite formula then it is best to give it a good soaking with the hose after you have applied the granules.
What Is the Application Rate of Ironite for Lawns?
If you are using granular Ironite, the application rate is three pounds per 1000 square feet (or one pound per 333 square feet) of established lawn.
To calculate this, you simply have to work out how many square feet you have in your yard and then divide the result by 1000.
This will give you the number of pounds of Ironite your lawn requires for a lush green lawn of a deep green color without burning.
The ideal method of application is to use a seed spreader for even coverage, and adjust the spreader settings accordingly.
For Liquid Ironite you just attach the bottle to your expandable hose and spray away!
The Ironite will be delivered to the surface of your lawn at the correct dilution.
Which Lawns Suit Granular Ironite?
If you have a normal lawn, a loam lawn, or you’re growing your lawn on clay, you’re better off using the Ironite granules for your lawn.
This product sits on the surface of the soil and the granular iron is gradually dissolved through rain or watering and seeps down to the roots of the grass.
It’s a great idea to apply Ironite at the same time as a granular slow release fertilizer to also promote growth.
This way, the minerals and nutrients from both are taken up by the grass slowly over time.
Which Lawns Suit Liquid Iron?
Pennington’s Liquid Ironite comes in a very easy-to-use liquid form.
Liquid Ironite is preferable for loose or sandy soils.
Granular fertilizers tend to drop between the grass blades, which is fine if the soil is good at holding moisture, but if your soil is very sandy, then granular Ironite tends to just wash away – a complete waste of your time & money.
Spraying a liquid allows the iron to be taken in at the grass blade level.
So, if you have loose soil with an iron deficiency and want a deep green lawn, you will be better pleased with the liquid variety.
Exactly How Is It Going to Help My Lawn?
The number one benefit of adding iron to your lawn is to achieve grass with a dark green color.
After all, isn’t green growth the feature that most of us are looking for in a lawn? And isn’t a lush green lawn what we spend hours and hard-earned money to get? Would you be content with anything else?
Interveinal chlorosis (yellowing of grass), is a condition caused by iron deficiency.
Iron is generally present in the soil, but not in a form that can be absorbed by the grass roots.
By putting down ironite, you give the roots a readily accessible source of iron in order to correct the deficiency and avoid interveinal chlorosis.
But there’s more. Iron is a metal that, along with zinc and copper, is vital to your soil. If your soil is deficient in iron and a pale color, adding iron can, in addition to boosting the green factor, can also promote speedy growth.
Nitrogen is actually the nutrient that makes grass green and is something you should definitely be adding to your soil four times a year. Most general fertilizers contain lots of nitrogen (which is why it is important to follow the dosage instructions carefully to avoid burning!)
However, if your soil is iron deficient, nitrogen can’t do its job.
What Else Will Ironite Do For My Lawn?
Soil pH Imbalance Correction
In addition to greening your lawn, Ironite can be used when you have a pH imbalance in your soil.
A sign of this imbalance is yellow or even, in extreme cases, white grass blades, with a slow growth rate.
Adding Ironite to your soil can reduce the pH level and give your grass a better chance at absorbing nutrients, stimulating proper growth and transforming into a lush green lawn.
Savings on Water
You will be content to know that it also has benefits for the environment.
Iron supplements boost the water penetration of your lawn. This means that it’s easier for water to enter your soil fully.
Ironite Mineral Supplements also improve water retention, i.e. once the water is there, it’s held there for a longer period.
So, if you’re watering your lawn less frequently, you’re saving water, and that’s a benefit to the environment.
Safe for Pets & Animals
As well as being pet friendly, there is very little lawn downtime with Ironite.
With the granular application there is no downtime at all.
With the liquid application you should just wait until it is dry.
Advanced Soil Technology
AST helps improve the soil in terms of physical characteristics, thereby ensuring the best possible performance for healthy grass or plant growth
It’s for More Than Just Grass
Ironite is not only useful to your lawn. As mentioned briefly above, it can make flowers, trees, vegetables, and shrubs healthier.
Trees growing in iron-deficient soil will struggle with stunted growth and, in extreme circumstances, become dwarfed.
Iron is an essential nutrient required for the manufacture of chlorophyll; chlorophyll being the green pigment that most trees, shrubs & plants use, to absorb the light required, to produce energy for the process of photosynthesis.
To use Ironite as a supplemental fertilizer throughout your garden, spread it evenly on the soil and allow a little time for the pH to balance. Better still mix some soluble nitrogen in with it as well, to increase the nitrogen presence.
You will soon see an improvement in the health of everything in your yard.
All Soil Types Will Benefit
There are different types of soil under your lawn. The most common are clay soil, loamy soil, and sandy soil. All soil types will benefit from an Ironite Mineral Supplement.
Your only decision is whether to use granular or liquid. As mentioned above, the liquid variety is for sandy soils and granular for clay and loam.
But how do you know which one you have?
Clay soils tend to clump up easily when wet. Loam will clump up but also fall apart easily. Sandy soils will not clump up, even when water is added.
Don’t Get Burned
Like a bad sunburn on your skin, lawn burn is both unattractive and unhealthy.
Generally it’s not the sun that burns a lawn; it’s fertilizer and chemicals.
For example, nitrogen is a great way to make your lawn green, but it does burn lawns, so that’s a risk if you overuse it.
Ironite fertilizer helps make your lawn green, but excessive ironite does not burn grass.
Having said that, a word of caution, because if it’s overused, it can result in a gray-like color to your grass which some people refer to as ironite burn.
However, this is not as catastrophic as nitrogen burning.
You just need to wait a bit for your lawn to go back to a nice deep green color.
Are There Any Drawbacks To Using Ironite?
Hmmmm, well, yes, there is one…… It does stain concrete.
If part of your backyard paradise involves a sidewalk or patio you need to be a bit careful and maybe stick to the central garden area.
Unfortunately, Ironite is no friend of concrete.
In fact, if you expose your concrete to too much Ironite, it can stain your concrete with rusty type marks.
And, annoyingly, this effect is permanent!
So…if you have a particularly nice sidewalk or patio near your lawn, you might want to try a different iron supplement.
Why Should I Choose Ironite?
Home gardeners opt to use Ironite for the following reasons;
- It’s easy to use to improve your soil quality, and it doesn’t burn your lawn.
- Many people want to avoid having to be too careful with their lawn, and Ironite is fairly forgiving.
- Ironite will not stain your skin or clothes. This again makes it an easy-to-use product.
- Availability; most garden centers or hardware stores offer it.
What’s a Good Alternative To Ironite?
While Ironite is acknowledged as a natural lawn supplement, Dr. Iron is a more environmentally friendly one.
Dr Iron is considered organic and, therefore, less harmful to the environment.
Another benefit of Dr Iron is that it won’t stain your concrete sidewalk or patio.
Is Ironite a Good Use of My Hard Earned Dollars?
When it comes down to it, we all want a deep green grass color. Whether Ironite is worth the price or not depends on how content you would be with a not-so-green lawn. Just take care to not add too much iron to your lawn.
If you’re not convinced that your budget can stretch to adding Ironite every time you fertilize, consider using it only when absolutely necessary.
It can be a quick summer green-up for your lawn when drought or hot weather has left you with yellow patches.
Ironite can even be used as a pre-backyard event pick-me-up.
You always vacuum the house before a party, but have you ever thought about greening up your lawn ready for an outdoor social gathering?
Simply apply Ironite to your entire lawn one week before your special outdoor event…. et voilà! A super green lawn to impress your guests!
