Bermuda Zoysia & Centipede
Early Spring
Omit fertilizer for these months. Your grass will be dormant, and you dont want to promote growth during this time.
Pre-emergent exception: You may apply a low nitrogen fertilizer and pre-emergent combo from late February to early March to prevent weed seeds from germinating. An example of a low nitrogen ratio is 0-0-7 with pre-emergent.
Limestone: During early spring, conduct a soil test to determine if the pH of your soil is too acidic. If the results of your soil test pH are too low, apply lime to your lawn. We recommend Pelletized Dolomitic Limestone.
Spring
When all of your grass is green and completely out of dormancy, apply 16-4-8 + Iron to Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass.
Since Centipedegrass likes low nitrogen, apply 5-10-30 + Iron to it. Centipede fertility is a little different than other lawns so read our Fertilizer Tricks for your Centipede Lawn.
Organic Lawn Care Alternative: Instead of applying fertilizer, topdress your lawn with Soil3 organic humus compost. This will act as one application of fertilizer for the year and cut down on your chemical use.
Mid- Summer
Apply 16-4-8 + Iron as your final application of fertilizer for the year.
Fall and Winter:
When To Fertilize The Lawn In Spring
Kelly Burke is a professional turf manager for a manicured corporate campus in New England. He is accredited in organic land care and is a licensed pesticide applicator. He formerly managed the turfgrass as a golf course superintendent and has held several senior management positions at private country clubs overseeing high maintenance lawns.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Most people apply a dose of lawn fertilizer in the spring, followed by one or two more applications during the growing season. If you are going to fertilize your lawn, do not do it too early in the season. The best time for that first application is late spring, just as the green grass is beginning to grow eagerly. In early spring, the grass is putting energy into root development. If you apply fertilizer too early, it will divert the plant’s energy into leaf development too soon.
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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When Should I Fertilize My Lawn In Tennessee
For warm-season grasses, its recommended that a complete 2-1-1 fertilizer application is done in April, and once again in September with a pound of fertilizer each time. This is followed by a pound of nitrogen-only fertilizeronce in June and again in mid-July.
How To Fertilize Your Lawn In The Fall
Approach your fall fertilizer application just as you would any other. Follow the coverage recommendation for the chosen product. Its always a good idea to split the application in half and then make two passes in different directions. For example: if your fall fertilizer bag says it will cover 5,000 square feet, find the setting on your spreader for 10,000 square feet . This will close the spreader gate allowing only one-half the recommended rate to flow through. Then make two consecutive passes at this spreader setting. This will apply the total recommended amount using two passes instead of one. This ensures even, uniform coverage, reducing the risk of missing parts of your lawn.
After youve finished your fall fertilizer application, make sure you thoroughly wash your spreader. This removes any remaining fertilizer residue that can corrode spreader components over the winter. Refer to your owners manual for additional recommended maintenance before winter storage.
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Your Last Two Fertilizer Applications Should Take Place In The Fall
Fertilizing your lawn in fall helps restore damage that was caused by the stress of summer heat, promotes nutrient storage for use in the winter, and supports healthy root growth, which creates a healthier lawn in spring. It is best to plan for two fertilizer applications between late August and November. Leverage winters severe weather to help get rid of weeds by also scheduling a weed control application in the fall.
If you have questions about your lawn fertilization schedule or weed control applications, contact the lawn care experts at LawnMatters.
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What Month Should I Start Fertilizing My Lawn
Its best to fertilize your lawn in march and april. Its a good idea to water your yard a few days before applying thefertilizer, whether thats from a hose or a sprinkler.
If you dont have a lawn mower, you can use a garden hoe to mow the lawn, but be careful not to over-mow, as this can damage the grass.
If you do have an electric lawnmower and youre using it for the first time, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions on how to use it.
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How Do You Choose The Best Fertilizer
Choosing the best fertilizer for your lawn is essential to its growth and maintenance. There are many different types of fertilizer you can choose from. However, the biggest choice you will make is deciding whether to use organic or synthetic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer is best. It is natural and comes from plant or animal sources.
Organic fertilizers are generally slow-release. Synthetic fertilizers work faster, and you will often see your grass turn green faster. However, it might not be the best for your lawn for sustainability. Other choices you will need to make include using quick-release or slow-release fertilizer. You will need to know how to read the NPK ratio of the fertilizer. This is the fertilizers amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen helps keep your grass green, phosphorus assists with root growth, and potassium helps your grass withstand drought and disease. The combination of these nutrients you use will depend on your climate and the type of grass. You will need to research your specific grass type for the best balance of nutrients in your fertilizer.
When To Schedule Lawn Maintenance
It is important to schedule your lawn care maintenance during times that match the life cycle of the turfgrass.
- Do not add fertilizer too early in the spring. This may encourage the grass to grow during a time when it should be slow or dormant.
- Do not spray to control weeds when temperatures are warm. This increases the likelihood of damaging the lawn.
- Do not fertilize in hot mid-summer months. This can cause irreversible damage to your lawn.
- Crabgrass doesn’t develop until late spring or early summer, so don’t apply herbicide used to prevent pre-emerging crabgrass in the fall.
See Water-saving strategies for home lawns for information on how and when to water.
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A Schedule For Fertilizing Your Lawn
In general, fertilizing should start early in the year, in mid to late April. If you notice that your grass has started to grow in the spring, its a sign that the ground temperature is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit at least, which is ideal for the first application of fertilizer. A second round should occur four weeks after you initially fertilize your lawn, around the middle or end of May.
How often youll need to fertilize your lawn after the second application depends on various factors, such as the type of fertilizer you use. If you use a slow-release product, youll probably have to fertilize every six to eight weeks. People who use a regular fertilizer should plan to fertilize every four weeks or so.
The frequency with which you water your lawn will also influence how often youll need to fertilize your grass. If you have an irrigation system that waters your lawn every day, youll likely have to fertilize your grass every six weeks. If you dont have a sprinkler system installed for daily watering, you can generally wait an extra two weeks between applications.
Fall Lawn Fertilizer Application Tips
- Read the bag. Even if you have used the same product before, check out the bag for specific timing and application tips. Materials change to keep up with things like formulation technologies or laws, so its important to review the label before applying.
- Wait for rain. Its best to apply fertilizer to moist soil, so wait for a soaking rain and apply fertilizer the next day. Try to time it so theres no rain for 24 to 48 hours after fertilizing, or you risk having your lawn food wash away before it absorbs into soil.
- Choose a spreader. Rotary spreaders work well if youre feeding a larger lawn area. For smaller lawns or areas where you need a more targeted application, choose a drop spreader . A handheld spreader is a good choice for tiny lawns.
- Clear the lawn. Remove any leaves or other debris that would keep fertilizer from dropping between grass blades.
- Walk slowly. No matter what kind of spreader you use, walk evenly and slowly for the most even application.
- Sweep excess. If fertilizer lands on hard surfaces , sweep or blow it onto the lawn. Some lawn products can stain hardscape.
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Is It Too Late To Fertilize My Lawn In November
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Applying fertilizer too late can leave the grass less able to combat cold weather, and feeding it too early can cause the rapid growth of cool-season weeds a nightmare for a warm-season lawn.
Beside above, is it too late to put down winter fertilizer? Beware: fertilizing too late or too early can actually do harm to your lawn. By fertilizing to early, you are making your lawn more vulnerable to insect outbreaks.
Likewise, can I put fertilizer down in November?
When to FertilizeAlthough the exact timing can vary due to weather conditions and climate zone, the final fertilizer application should be made sometime in in most regions, at the point when the grass has stopped growing or has slowed down to the point of not needing to be mowed.
When should you fertilize lawn?
The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Youâll 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.
How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn In Early Spring
Over spring and autumn: For a conventional lawn mow once a week. Leave flower-rich and long-grassed lawns uncut in spring, unless growth is very vigorous. Over winter: Mowing is usually not necessary, unless the weather is mild and the grass is still growing. In this case, mow occasionally with a high cut setting.
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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.
Should You Fertilize Your Lawn In Early Spring
The green grass is beginning to grow and the best time to apply is late spring. The grass puts energy into root development in the early spring. Fertilizing too early will cause the plants energy to be diverted into leaf development, which is not the best thing for your lawn. The second application should be in late summer or early fall.
This is the time when the lawn is in its most vigorous growth phase, and it is also a good time to fertilize. Fertilizing late in the season means that you will have to apply more fertilizer than you would if you applied it during the spring and summer. You will also need to wait longer for the fertilizer to be absorbed by the soil, so you may want to use a fertilizer with a longer shelf life.
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More On How To Feed The Lawn
- How to Feed the Lawn
A once a year lawn feed is great for the grass and quick to apply. These long lasting fertiliser products feed for up to 6 months from spring to autumn.
- How to Feed the Lawn
A Spring and Autumn Fertiliser treatment is the standard for lawn care and provides optimum nutrients for healthy green grass all year
- How to Feed the Lawn
This lawn fertiliser programme creates beautiful green grass from spring to autumn and into winter using slow release granular and liquid feeds.
- How to Feed the Lawn
Ferrous or iron sulphate is the active ingredient in moss killer and as part of a Winter Feed produces deep green grass with only minimal growth
- How to Feed the Lawn
Ferrous Sulphate is great for grass. From greening in the summer to protecting in the winter and killing moss in spring it’s the perfect lawn treatment
- How to Feed the Lawn
Just getting the timing and conditions right for feeding the grass can turn a sad looking lawn into a dense green carpet of grass!
- How to Feed the Lawn
Too much lawn feed can burn the grass or cause rapid growth. Here is a simple guide for green grass without excessive mowing.
- How to Feed the Lawn
The soil in your lawn controls the amount of fertiliser, air and water to the grass roots, therefore sandy and poor soils should be fed more than clay soils
How Much Does It Cost
Depending where you live and the size of your yard will determine how much you will pay for lawn fertilization. On average, one lawn fertilization can cost you $50. The national average cost range for lawn fertilization is between $75 and $400. Most homeowners will pay $230 for their lawn fertilization service.
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Westland Child And Pet
If you need a child-friendly and pet-safe weed and feed, consider this organic weed and feed product from Westland. It prevents moss and weed growth whilst naturally feeding your lawn with long-lasting nutrients. This fast-acting formula contains friendly bacteria that break down moss and weed leaves.
Within just one week, expect to see a greener and healthier lawn thanks to the added lawn seed in the organic fertilizer. After application, the grass seed will germinate and fill those bald patches in the lawn. As the grass becomes thicker and stronger, it overtakes the moss and weed.
How to use: apply 35 grams of granules per square meter to ensure even lawn coverage. For the best results, you can double the application amount. Apply every once from February to September when the grass is actively growing.
Customer reviews: users were very pleased with the results of this weed and feed scoring it 4.4/5. Just 10 days after application, their grass started turning thicker and green. One small complaint was the strong odor of the fertilizer due to its organic nature. However, if you water the grass a day or two after application, the smell will soon disappear.
Pros
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What Month Are You Suppose To Fertilize The Grass
Related Articles
As the weather warms up, we all look forward to getting outside and enjoying time in our yards. Of course, we want our grass to be healthy and green, so applying lawn fertilizer at the right time is required. For most locations, that means giving your yard a good feeding between February and April followed by additional feedings in late spring, summer and fall to encourage healthy growth.
Tip
Apply lawn fertilizer in early spring when your grass starts to actively grow and follow up with additional fertilizer in late spring, summer and fall.
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Wait Until The Grass Is Green
The best time to fertilize your grass in Texas is in the early spring when new growth is starting to develop, and your grass has turned green. Picking the best time of year to plant grass in Texas is important too.
Its best not to apply fertilizers, especially those that are high nitrogen, until your grass has greened. Applying fertilizer in the spring will provide nutrient to your lawn that promotes healthy growth and development.
