When And How To Fertilize Your Lawn
In some ways, lawns are a lot like people. Operating at the peak of beauty and performance requires a good diet and proper care. Lush, thick, green lawns depend on properly timed, properly balanced nutrition to look and grow their best. Understanding when and how to fertilize your lawn can help you and your grass stand out from the rest.
Apply The Correct Summer Weed And Feed Product
If you are going to fertilize in the summer, use the correct product. Do not apply a fast release fertilizer. Always look at the three numbers on the bag. You want to look for something that says summer on the bag. Years ago, people used primarily fast-release agriculture-grade fertilizers on their lawns.
These products often applied too much nitrogen at one time, and the microbes in the soil couldnt break it all down. The excess nitrogen in the fertilizer in the soil caused the grass to dry out. This made the lawn look burned. But you can still apply a weed and feed fertilizer in June, July or August. Just use caution as the temps increase.
Most fertilizer today uses a slow-release product which means nutrients are released slowly to the lawn. Microbes in the soil break down the nitrogen in the particles over time, thereby releasing nutrients slowly and steadily over a 6-8 week period, which means no lawn burn.
Keep It Green: Tips To Save Your Summer Lawn
At the height of summer heat, P. Allen Smith joins the “Today” show to answer a question thats on the minds of homeowners everywhere: What can we do to save our lawns? Here are some of his tips:
According to Audubon.org, the average homeowner spends roughly 40 hours mowing their lawn each year, and we Americans spend $8.5 billion on lawn care products and equipment. Lawns are a major part of the gardening scene, with millions of acres in this country alone.
Keeping a lawn in tip-top shape can be a big job, but my approach to it is a little more relaxed than others. For example, here’s my approach to lawn fertilizing:
Fertilizing your lawnI only fertilize my lawn a couple of times a year, once in the spring and then again in midsummer with a food specially blended for lawns. You’ll find these blends higher in nitrogen than other elements . Nitrogen is what stimulates vigorous growth and deep green color.
I feed only a couple of times a year because I discovered that fertilizing more often meant too much growth I was working myself to death trying to keep it mowed and watered. So, by reducing the amount of fertilizer, I’ve saved myself time and energy. Also, by allowing my grass to grow longer, just by an inch or so more in summer, I’ve reduced my watering a bit more. The taller blades of grass cut down on water evaporation from the soil.
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Best Time To Fertilize Lawns
Fertilizer your lawn at the right time of the year
Fertilizing your lawn can keep it looking lush and green. Whether you have warm weather or cool weather grass, fertilization is almost always a must for maintaining a great lawn.
Fescue
Fescue lawn should never be fertilized in late spring or summer. For best results, fertilize your lawn before the end of April and then again in October.
Bermuda
Bermuda can be fertilized throughout the summer to keep in looking lush. Be sure to fertilize in June and August, and if needed, apply fertilizer in July as well.
Zoysia
Zoysia should be fertilized in the beginning of the summer and again in August for the best looking lawn.
St Augustine
St. Augustine should be fertilized in the summer. To keep you lawn green, fertilize in June and August, and if needed, apply fertilizer in July as well.
Centipede
Centipede lawns usually require only one summer application in July. If needed, the turf can be fertilized in May as well.
How Much To Fertilize
Apply between 2 and 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each year during the growing season. If you dont use Total Lawn Food, be sure to check to ensure the fertilizer is approved for use on Bermuda, Zoysia or Fescue. Look up our exact fertilizer recommendations per grass in our Lawn Maintenance Guides.
To do the math on specific fertilizer rates for your lawn, visit our blog post on How to Calculate Fertilizer Rates.
Follow the schedules below to ensure youre fertilizing during the appropriate months of growing season.
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Late Summer To Late Fall
Between August and November, grass slows down and prepares for the winter months. At the same time, broadleaf weeds start active growth again. With Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14, you can feed your northern or southern lawn nutrients essential to its winter prep and spring green-up and kill broadleaf weeds. As a general rule, allow six to eight weeks between fertilizing and your first expected frost.
As with all fertilizer products, check the label and follow instructions for your specific grass type. If you’re overseeding, wait until next year for weed & feed. Instead, turn to Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 for the year’s final feeding.
Always sweep excess fertilizer off sidewalks and patios to avoid runoff.
When Should You Fertilize
Early summer and fall are the best times to fertilize. Fall fertilization increases winter hardiness of the grass and provides nutrients, especially potassium, which makes turf stronger. The specific time of day you fertilize depends on weather conditions, and fertilizers shouldnt be applied if rain is forecast within the next 24 hours. Always read the directions on the bag carefully before applying any fertilizer.
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Applying A Summer Insect Control
A more common problem you will see in the summer months are insects.
If you see insects in your grass, use a feeding product that also contains insect control, such as Scotts Turf Builder with SummerGuard. It contains 0.086% Bifenthrin. Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid insecticide.
It will help control ants, armyworms, billbugs, chiggers, chinch bugs, crickets, fleas, grasshoppers, mole crickets, mealy bugs, sod webworms, lawn moth larvae, spiders, ticks and weevils.
Pyrethroids are synthetic compounds made to act like the natural organic pyrethrins that are found in chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethrin is used against a wide range of insects including ants, beetles, Colorado potato beetle, and Mexican bean beetle, cabbage loopers, caterpillars, fruit flies, leafhoppers, mosquitoes, ticks, whiteflies, & more.
For additional insect control try Ortho Bug B Gon granules or liquid around the perimeter of your home. Both contain Bifenthrin. For flying insects like mosquitoes and flies, I recommend Cutter or Deep Woods Off products.
Or try citronella plants or Tiki torches with citronella. One candle probably wont make much of a difference, but several citronella candles burning nearby keeps people safe from the pests when sitting, enjoying a picnic, or just being outdoors or in the garden.
For summer lawn care, I focus on maintaining my lawn. Remember, early spring is when you should apply weed and feed if you are trying to control many summer weeds.
How To Choose The Best Summer Fertilizer For Grass
Choosing the best summer fertilizer for grass isnt easy. But an important part of any lawn care program is fertilizer.
Many times you hear lawn care referred to as weed and feed, as we are working to remove the weeds and feed the grass. That fertilizer component is vital to keeping your turf tip-top, no matter the grass type. But is it the best summer fertilizer for grass?
Youll always want to make sure youre getting the best summer fertilizer for grass each year. But applying the wrong fertilizer in the warm season of summer could backfire. Thats why its important for your lawn program to include the best fertilizer for grass when the weather gets hot. You dont want to end up with a burned-out lawn.
This blog post will talk about the importance of applying low-nitrogen fertilizers throughout the summertime to cool-season grass and highlight the year-round fertilization services that Lush Lawn provides.
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Why Fertilize Your Lawn
Fertilizing your lawn gives it the chance to maintain density, enhances its green color, and encourages growth. Fertilizer can also encourage recovery from turf damage and seasonal turf stresses .
Unfertilized lawns will gradually lose density. When that happens, undesirable grasses and broadleaf weeds start to grow. The risk for soil erosion also increases.
And malnourished turfgrasses are more prone to damage from diseases and insects the damage is more noticeable and recovery takes longer.
Avoid Burning Your Lawn
When choosing lawn fertilizer, you must make sure you have the right mix. Years ago, people used primarily liquid, synthetic, fast-release, and agriculture-grade fertilizers on their lawns.
The idea behind quick-release fertilizer is to give your lawn a quick boost by releasing nutrients into the soil almost instantly . But these products often applied too much nitrogen at one time, and the microbes in the soil couldnt break it all down and the excess nitrogen often dried out grass blades and causes a burned look on the lawn.
For cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue turfgrasses commonly used in Michigan, the quick release will not be applied during the summer months. Thats because synthetic fertilizer thats not watered into the lawn completely will cause stress and often result in lawn burn.
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Add More Lawn Fertilizer
Feeding your grass in spring with lawn fertilizer provides a boost of nutrients to kick off the growing season. However, your grass requires a few more feedings throughout the year to keep it healthy, strong and looking good. Your grass will make quick work of the lawn fertilizer you give it in early spring, so give it another feeding six to eight weeks after that first feeding.
Because your grass takes a beating during summer thanks to heat, insects, foot traffic and possibly less water, you want to fertilize in June, July or August. To determine a more exact time, plan to add lawn fertilizer between six and eight weeks after your feeding in late spring.
As summer winds down, your grass will start preparing for its dormant season, so adding lawn fertilizer will help it make that transition. Again, wait six to eight weeks from your summer feeding and then apply a fertilizer specifically designed for fall feedings. Talk with your garden center expert to find out what works best for your grass type and location.
Lawn Care Month By Month
You can also view our Lawn Maintenance Guideline for more information.
Sharpen mower Cleanly cut grass is less susceptible to disease.Lime Pelletized lime is the easiest to use. Do not lime if ground is soggy. Now. OR
Clean up winter debris once the ground firms up.Start a new lawn Use a starter fertilizer. If you need to prevent crabgrass from seeding along with the grass, use an appropriate pre-emergent . Now through May.OR Wait until September.Mow weekly, 2½-3 high. Dont cut off more than 1/3 of the blade at any one mowing. Leave clippings if no disease is present and they wont smother the grass.Fertilize Use a maintenance fertilizer.OR Use a Step 1 product , before forsythia blooms drop, with a pre-emergent weed control if you need to control crabgrass and other annual weeds .
TROUBLESHOOTING Check for snow mold damage. Use a lawn fungicide if necessary.
Dethatch if more than ½ of thatch. Now.OR Wait until early October.Water 1 inch+ per week, including rainfall. Best time is from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. which allows blades to dry, minimizing disease potential. Watering once a week for a longer period is better than more frequently for short periods, enhancing drought tolerance by encouraging deeper roots.Fertilize Use a maintenance fertilizer.OR Use a Step 2 product in late May or by June 15 if broadleaf weeds are a problem.
Control broadleaf weeds. A liquid broadleaf herbicide is most effective.
GLOSSARY
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Water Deeply But Not Too Often
- Too much watering can lead to poor growing conditions and disease problems.
- Water only when your lawn needs it, usually no more than once a week when there is no rainfall.
- Apply at least 2.5 cm of water. Put a tuna or pet food can on your lawn to measure how much you’ve watered. Stop watering when it’s full.
- Consider the soil type and surface features. Grass growing on compacted, fine soil or on slopes needs lighter, more frequent watering.
How To Keep A Lawn Green In The Summer Heat
In the heat of a Texas summer, it can feel like keeping your grass green is a full-time jobwhich makes sense when you learn that even warm season species prefer temperatures in the 70s. It may seem like after you miss one day of watering, all of a sudden there are brown spots everywhere. Looking at what appears to be a dying lawn, you may realize youre not completely sure how to keep your lawn green in the summer heat.
As you might suspect, the most important thing you can do for your lawn during the hottest times of the year is to water. In most Texas lawns, watering between a half-inch to a full inch of water each week can keep grass species that are suited for our climate healthy even in high temperatures. Bermuda grass and buffalo grass can handle just a half-inch of water, as well as other types of grass that arent exposed to full sun throughout the day, while other species will require more moisture to thrive. Grass will need less water when in humid, cool and less windy conditions.
If you are certain that youre watering your grass the right amount, but your lawn is still not looking its best, your problem could be the time of day youre watering or how often you set your sprinklers to run. Water in the early morning, so that you lose less moisture to evaporation, and so that your plants arent wet for too long, since that can make them more vulnerable to disease.
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Is It Ok To Fertilize Lawn In July
fertilizingfertilizerlawnfertilizelawns
Yes!I typically use this type of fertilizer in a fall or late spring time frame. I typically do not recommend this type of application during the summer, because the temperatures in the midwest, are in the 90’s and the ground is usually very dry. Cool temperatures a wet May- time frame.
Beside above, what fertilizer do you put down in July? Try a slow-release fertilizer with reduced Nitrogen, but make sure your lawn is moist 1/2inch down.
Similarly, it is asked, is it too late to fertilize my lawn in July?
Fertilizing only in the spring or the summer will deprive your lawn of the extended benefits of fall fertilization. During the summer the grass plant produces energy from photosynthesis that it uses for top growth. As temperatures drop in the fall root growth is favored over plant growth.
How do I keep my grass green in the summer?
Keeping Your Grass Green during the Summer Months
The Best Times To Apply Fertilizer
Whether youre a seasoned turfgrass fanatic or a first-time lawn owner, fertilizer schedules arent always the easiest to track throughout the year. Have no fear! Were here to help you keep up with when to fertilize your lawn, what type of fertilizer to use, and even how to organically care for your lawn if conventional fertilizers arent your thing.
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Abc Can Keep Your Grass Healthy And Looking Great
Every lawn is different, and sometimes it takes a professionals help to keep your grass looking its best during the hot Texas summer. At ABC Home & Commercial Services, we can set up a maintenance schedule that keeps your lawn healthynot just through the summer, but year-round. We do everything from regular mowing, to fertilizing to ensuring your sprinklers are working as efficiently as possible. With ABCs help, you can enjoy a lawn thats the envy of the neighborhood without lifting a finger.
Apply Lawn Fertilizer With Care
Grass will benefit the most from lawn fertilizer when it’s applied correctly. First, do not fertilize right after you mow wait at least two days after mowing. Second, use a spreader to apply it evenly and make sure it reaches all areas of your yard. Close the spreader hopper when stopping and turning so fertilizer doesn’t leak out in piles. Clean sidewalks and paths of any excess fertilizer to prevent it from washing or blowing into grass, resulting in burn spots.
The best time to apply your lawn fertilizer is in the morning when the grass is wet with dew, and you’re not expected to have rain for one or two days. Once you apply the lawn fertilizer, add at least a half inch of water within 14 days per Pennington Seed. This can be from rainfall or watering with a sprinkler.
Feeding your grass a regular dose of lawn fertilizer helps it stay healthy, strong and green all summer long so you can enjoy it as much as possible.
References
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Top 3 Tips For A Lush Summer Lawn In Utah
Summer officially starts this weekend and, as promised, we’re delivering our quarterly blog on lawns. You can have a lush green yard in Utah by following just a few simple steps each season. Utah summers are typically hot and dry which means we have a focus on water. Many people think that because we live in a dry area that lawns must be impossible to keep green. But this is not true!
Green lawns in Utah are as simple as one, two, three in the summer. Here are our top 3 tips for keeping lawns green during the summer in Utah.
