How Often Can You Put Fertilizer On Your Lawn
Photo by pxhere
Overfertilization can be as harmful to the lawn as under fertilization.
Even though applying fertilizer to the growing grass has several benefits, you do not want to overdo it. Most lawns can do fine with two or three feedings per year, though some lawns might need to be fed five or six times a year.
However, in no case should you over-fertilize your lawn. Excess fertilizer in the lawn soil can create a plethora of lawn problems. For instance, it can cause grass burns and promote weed growth. The result is an unsightly lawn with poor grass health.
To understand how often you should fertilize your grass and avoid over-fertilization, you will need to understand the requirements of your lawn soil, the type of grass you have and the fertilizer you use. The following factors are most critical when it comes to determining the frequency of lawn fertilization:
- Fertilizer Application Time
- Type Of The Fertilizer Being Used
- How Do You Put Fertilizer On Grass
- How Often Do You Water Your Lawn
We will discuss these points one by one in some detail below.
Verdict: Best Grass Fertilizer For Fall
In my opinion, applying fall fertilizer to your lawn offers amazing benefits with minimal work. Choosing and learning how to apply a new fertilizer can be daunting at first. By this point, however, youve already done much of the hard work!
If your primary goal is to repair summer damage, I recommend Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food. It will help your lawn bounce back from heat and drought while also setting the stage for overwintering.
Report This Adwhen To Mow New Sod
You shouldnt mow your sod until it is fully rooted, which can take up to three weeks, although it may be less than that. You can check if its rooted by tugging on a piece of sod and seeing how easily it lifts.
Once the sod is well-rooted, you can mow the turf. Its best to use a very sharp blade for this, so you dont tear or stress the grass. Be careful to not cut more than a third off the grasss length, making sure you dont take the lawn down too short, or you may risk scalping it and ruining all your hard work.
You can read more about when to mow new sod in our article When to Mow New Sod.
Also Check: How To Change Oil In Craftsman Lawn Mower
Also Check: Where Can You Get Lawn Mower Blades Sharpened
How Soon You Can Fertilize After Seeding Your Lawn
Its not always after seeding that you should apply fertilizerthe best time to fertilize is right before or during the seeding process. Use a starter fertilizer with quick-release nitrogen since that will give the seeds a nutritional boost. When you make fertilizer a part of the seeding process, your grass will grow quicker and is more likely to end up healthy and lush.
Tips For Watering Your Lawn The Right Way13 Photos
Learn the ins and outs of lawn irrigation, including expert tips for efficient watering.
A day or two before applying fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly. After grass dries, apply fertilizer. Then lightly water again. This second watering is vitally important, because it washes fertilizer off grass blades and into soil. You can also time fertilizer application between rainfalls to let rain wash fertilizer into soil. Just be sure you don’t fertilize before a downpour, or you may wind up with fertilizer washing away, especially if your lawn slopes. Avoid applying fertilizer during a drought when a lawn has browned or withered from lack of moisture.
Recommended Reading: Do Not Poop On Lawn Signs
When To Apply Popular Uk Fertilizers
Below is a table detailing how often to apply popular U.K. lawn fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro Evergreen and Westland. Please note that some of the fertilizers below contain weedkiller. These can be applied to any type of grass.
Please note that the table below includes Amazon Affiliate links.
*NPK = Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
What Type Of Fertilizer To Use On Your Lawn
When picking fertilizers for your lawn, you have the option of liquid or granular, and synthetic or organic.
- Liquid: Fast and effective, but tough to spread and used mostly by professionals, may require the use of a backpack sprayer for large areas.
- Granular: Easiest to spread, the best option for home gardening.
- Synthetic: Made out of synthetic components, release their nutrition fast.
- Organic: Organic fertilizers are made from plants and animals, and are usually of the slow-release type. This means their effect will last longer.
Read Also: Permethrin For Ticks In Yard
Also Check: What Kind Of Fertilizer For My Lawn
Can I Apply Fertilizer When Grass Is Growing
There is no better time to fertilize your lawn than when the turf is in an active growing phase. This is why it is important to know what type of grass you are dealing with.
Your lawns growth is always at its best when it is fertilized while growing. This way, the nutrients are intact and the lawn is kept healthy and dark green.
When Is It Best To Fertilize The Lawn
A lot will depend on the climate you live in, but most gardeners agree that spring and autumn are the best seasons for lawn care. Grass stops growing in the winter and goes into a dormant state.
Summers can be hot and dry: any treatment could stress a lawn already dealing with high temperatures and a lack of moisture.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Grubs In Lawn Naturally
Types Of Grass Grown In Florida
The most common lawn grasses cultivated in Florida are St. Augustine and varieties of Bahia. Bahia grass is the most drought-tolerant and should be cultivated in regions subject to dry spells. St. Augustine is known for its salt tolerance, doing well in coastal areas. The denser soils of northern Florida support centipede grass, which spreads like St. Augustine. Bermuda and zoysia grasses are similar to the fine-bladed examples seen in northern areas of the United States.
Types Of Lawn Fertilizer
Turf fertilization contributes greatly to lawn color, density, uniformity and growth. Properly fertilized grass better competes with weeds, crowding them out. Well-maintained lawns also recover from damage caused by environmental stresses like drought much faster than neglected or improperly fertilized lawns.
Fertilizer comes in many blends of three important nutrientsNitrogen , Phosphorus and Potassium . These nutrients are usually listed on the fertilizer bag in N-P-K order.
Using the right blend of N-P-K for your lawn takes an understanding of the specific needs of your turf, as well as your soil. Testing the soil can be a great first step in knowing what nutrients your lawn needs and what your turf fertilization program should include. Lawn Buddies can do this for you or you can send a soil sample to a local university extension service for testing.
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Craftsman Lawn Mower
Spring: March Through May
Mowing
Mowing is all about a routine, like much else in life. Begina routine mowing program as soon as the grass begins to turn green in thespring. You dont want to remove any more than a third of the leaf areawith any one mowing. This usually implies a Set the mowing height of two and ahalf to three inches, adding a half inch for shady areas if you have a professionallawn mowing service then theyll know what to do.
Frequent mowing at a lower height produces higher qualityturfgrass. You dont need to worry about bagging the grass clippings, as theyquickly decompose which can return important nutrients back to the soil.Otherwise, you can use clippings for compose elsewhere.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing is a critical step to keep your lawn looking itsbest. Youll want to start fertilizing about three weeks after the grass turnsgreen, basically when theres no further chance of a late frost. Apply one poundof soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn every eight weeks, or elevenand a half pounds of slow-release nitrogen every ten weeks.
Youll definitely want to have your soil tested to determinewhat added nutrients your lawn may need. For information on soil testingprocedures, contact your lawn professional. Youll likely need a completefertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Watering
Followthese steps to determine how long to water to apply the right amount.
2. Turn on the sprinklers or irrigation system for 30minutes.
What Happens If You Over
Whatever you do, dont throw caution to wind and fertilize your lawn just because you can. When using synthetic fertilizers, over-fertilization can actually do more damage than if you didnt fertilize at all. Greensphere explains that too much fertilizer will cause a growth spurt which the root system of your lawn just cant keep up with that means your grass will struggle to take in the water and nutrients it requires.
Over-fertilization will also increase the nitrogen and salt levels in the soil to the point where it can kill the grass. The result is yellowing patches of dead grass across your lawn, aka fertilizer burn. If youre guilty of over-fertilizing and the damage is already done, you will need to give your lawn time for the soil levels to recover. But, there are steps you can take to help things along.
According to The Spruce , you should first remove any excess fertilizer as soon as possible and distribute what remains across your lawn. Then saturate your yard with water to dilute it apply about an inch a day for a week, or until you see your grass is recovering. Any areas of dead grass will also need reseeding once the soil has regained its levels you can use a soil test kit to keep an eye on its progress during this time. Check our guide on how to plant grass seed for more details on this.
Don’t Miss: When Is The Best Time To Water My Lawn
What After Your Lawn Fertilization
Once you carry out the lawn fertilization, make sure you check the following things:
- Watering your lawn after fertilizing the space is always a good idea. This helps the fertilizer stuck on the grass blades to seep into the ground. However, ensure you do not water it too heavily, making the fertilizer deep inside the soil.
- To reduce the excessive fertilization impact, you must leave the grass clippings on the turf once you mow. It helps put nitrogen back into the soil, naturally feeding the roots.
- You can easily find new grass on the lawn once you start planting it in your yard. To make this technique work, you can help make things more effective. It would help if you tried fitting a mulching blade over your lawnmower. It helps reduce the grass into small pieces, allowing the quick start of the decomposition process.
- If you find your soil having a heavy clay nature, or you have excessive traffic on your turf, then relying on some manual lawn aeration options regularly is a good idea. However, if your area is significant, you require your efforts behind the aerator, which you can easily pull using the garden tractor.
How To Apply Fertilizer
Slow-release granular: Spread around the base of a plant or tree AT THE DRIP LINE . This places the fertilizer at the area of feeder roots, and keeps it from burning surface roots.
Water in lightly to keep the granules in place. When fertilizing citrus, water the area under the tree first so surface roots dont get burned.
Controlled-release: Apply near the base of the plant and then water it in lightly.
Liquid: Water well and give your plants at least an hour to absorb the water. Then apply liquid as a leaf spray or as a small drench around the plants base.
You May Like: What Kills Wild Violets In The Lawn
Choose The Correct Type Of Fertilizer
No matter how often you fertilize your lawn, the quality of fertilizer matters the most. You would want to choose the kind of fertilizer that has a moderate amount of nutrients in it.
The most essential nutrient for the lawn is nitrogen as it plays an important role in the growth process of turf. Other vital nutrients needed are phosphorous and potassium. Phosphorous aids in the development of a healthier root system. So, try giving phosphorous-based treatment to the lawn when the grass has not matured yet. Potassium helps to build strong cells and provides the overall necessary nourishment.
The best thing you can do is to choose a fertilizer that has these nutrients in N20:P5: K10 proportion. You might be thinking what is n, p, and k along with the numbers? Let us make it simpler for you. It implies that you need to choose a fertilizer that contains 20% Nitrogen, 5% phosphorous, and 10% potassium. This will make it easier for you to choose a fertilizer without any complications.
The given proportion is the standard proportion. You can always use the fertilizer with some changes in the proportion according to your soil type, climatic conditions, and grass type.
But after a considerable amount of time, the lawn will slow down its process of growth, causing the growth of pale green or yellowish grass. Then there is no chance of it going back to the fresh and green grass again.
Applying Fertilizer To Your Lawn
When it comes to applying lawn fertilizer in your yard, you need to check the following points in your mind:
- Thorough watering At least two days before you intend to fertilize your lawn, make sure you put across a thorough watering and then allow it to dry. Avoid fertilizing when you find the grass is wet. Also, avoid doing it when you expect heavy rains in the coming 2-3 days.
- Choose the right spreader You can find three common types of spreaders for home gardening. These include rotary and drop spreaders. The former works very smoothly when you deal with significant areas to fertilize, while the latter is suitable for regulated fertilizer application. Check for more Fertilizer Application Equipment.
- Fill the spreader In this step, you need to fill your spreader from the fertilizer bag until you settle down with the process. Using split fertilizer can give you good ground.
- Start moving over the lawn Check the perimeter of your yard to cover the entire lawn. You can move the spreader over an orderly row over the lawn. You may find some rows overlapping, but ensure that you cover everything.
- Covering accidents If you find any spot in your lawn with too much fertilizer, make sure you spread them using a broom to move over a bigger spot. You can apply as much water as you want to ensure that the fertilizer gets ample ground and you do not burn the blades of the grass.
These steps help in effectively applying the fertilizer.
You May Like: What To Use To Get Rid Of Clover In Lawn
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.
Watering Your Lawn After Fertilizer Application
Its important to water your lawn regularly, though grasses need infrequent doses with high amounts of water.
Your fertilizer will specify whether you need to water before or after application. Typically, granular fertilizers require light watering after application to adhere the granules to the turf.
Make sure not to over water, though, because youll wash away nutrients before your grass can absorb them.
Recommended Reading: How To Dispose Of Old Riding Lawn Mower
The More You Know The More Your Grass Will Grow Here Are The Best Ways To Maximize Your Lawn Fertilization Schedule
Understanding when and how to fertilize your lawn is a major component to maintaining a healthy, lush yard. Fertilizers give your lawn a healthier root system while eating up unhealthy nutrients. With some simple steps, youll be on your way to having a lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood.
When Should I Fertilize My Lawn In Kentucky
thefertilizeTheshouldthe lawn
When should you fertilize lawn?
The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Youll know when the soil warms up to 55 because the lilacs begin to blossom and the grass starts growing. For most parts of the country, that means the first feeding should take place by about mid-April.
when should I fertilize my lawn in the Midwest?Fertilizinglawnlawnfertilizer
Contents
Also Check: How To Dig Weeds Out Of Lawn
When To Fertilize Lawns
When grass is actively growing, typically from March or April through June and September through October, fertilizer is best applied. It also depends on the grass species. You better plan to make three or four applications of fertilizer each year. Also, apply fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn with each application.
Remember, never apply more than 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn each year. You can apply it every four to six weeks while the grass is sharply growing if the fertilizer has nitrogen in a fast-release form. Slow-release fertilizers are applied again after six to nine weeks. The most important thing is that the last fertilizer application should be at least six to eight weeks before the anticipated first frost date.
Also Check: Who Makes Cub Cadet 159cc Engine
