Most people think “nitrogen” when they think lawn fertilizer. But the third number on the bag—potassium, or “K”—quietly does a ton of work behind the scenes. Historically, many New Jersey soils run low on potassium, which means your grass could be missing a key nutrient and you’d never know it.
Greenstripe now offers seasonal potassium applications designed specifically for our local soils. Here’s why that matters.
What Potassium Actually Does for Your Lawn
Potassium doesn’t usually give you that instant surge of green the way nitrogen does. Instead, it acts more like a shield and support system for the plant:
- It helps grass tolerate heat, cold, and drought by improving water regulation inside the plant.
- It supports disease resistance, so turf recovers faster from stress and everyday wear.
- It strengthens roots and cell walls, which makes grass stand up better to foot traffic, pets, and play.
In short: nitrogen is color, potassium is staying power.
Why New Jersey Soils Tend to Be Low in Potassium
Across much of New Jersey, especially in developed neighborhoods, potassium quietly gets depleted over time. Mowing and bagging clippings, removing leaves every fall, and natural leaching all pull potassium out of the soil. Even lawns that are regularly fertilized can be running a deficit if potassium hasn’t been part of the plan.
That’s why two lawns in Cranford or Westfield can be cared for the same way, but the one with better potassium levels handles summer heat and winter cold noticeably better.
Seasonal Potassium Applications: When and How
Greenstripe offers seasonal potassium applications that are designed to build reserves before your lawn hits its toughest seasons.
- Fall is a prime time to apply potassium. While roots are still active, we can help the plant store up energy and resilience before winter.
- Those reserves then carry forward into spring and summer, when grass faces heat, traffic, and intermittent drought.
- Potassium applications are blended to work alongside your regular lawn program, not replace it—think of them as a reinforcement layer.
We use professional-grade products and calibrated equipment so coverage is even and you’re getting exactly what your soil needs, not a guess.
You Can’t See Potassium Levels—You Need a Soil Test
Here’s the catch: you can’t tell if your soil is low in potassium just by looking at it. A lawn can be green and still be working with a hidden deficiency that shows up as poor stress tolerance later in the season.
A soil test is the only way to know for sure. It tells us:
- Your current potassium levels
- Your soil pH and other nutrient trends
- Whether a potassium application (and at what rate) will genuinely help
From there, we can recommend a targeted plan instead of a generic “more fertilizer” approach.
Special Offer on Soil Testing
To make this easy to act on:
- New customers: Free soil test
- Existing customers: $10 off a soil test
- Regular soil test price: $65 retail
You’ll get a clear report and a simple explanation of what it means for your lawn, plus recommendations on potassium and any other adjustments that make sense.
Ready to See If Your Lawn Needs a K Boost?
If you’re in Cranford, Scotch Plains, Summit, Westfield, or nearby, this is the perfect time to find out whether your soil is low in potassium before another tough season hits.
Request a soil test with Greenstripe, and we’ll walk you through the results and build a smart, science-based plan to keep your lawn healthier, stronger, and more resilient year-round.
