First Application: Early Spring
Your lawn fertilizer schedule should begin with an application in March or April. In Michigan, its important to get the first fertilizer application down after the first frost is gone from the ground, but also before the soil temperature gets too warm and weed seeds begin to germinate. Infusing soil and root systems with nutrients helps your lawn recover from its dormancy in the winter and bounce back to good health.
Is It Too Late To Fertilize My Lawn In June
4.4/5lawnsfertilized tootoo latefertilizinglawnfertilizerfertilizerin-depth answer
Often many lawns are fertilized too early in the spring or too late into the fall. The focus to fertilizing a lawn in the summer is to add a fertilizer containing nitrogen to encourage green growth. Centipedegrass should only receive one fertilizer application in and the application should be low in nitrogen.
Also Know, 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.
Similarly one may ask, can I fertilize lawn in June?
Timing: Apply summer lawn fertilizer once between and August, 6 to 8 weeks after the late spring feeding. Apply the Summer product now to help make the most of each watering and encourage deep root growth.
What should I put on my lawn in June?
Tips. Use a broad-leaf weed killer to spot spray violets, wild strawberry, mimosa weed and prostrate spurge in your lawn. Raise the height of your mower by one notch. It will help your lawn grass withstand dry weather.
To Figure How Much Nitrogen Fertilizer To Apply To Lawns:
- Divide rate of nitrogen desired by percent nitrogen in bag
- Multiply answer found by square footage of lawn and divide by 1,000
EXAMPLE: 15-5-10 fertilizer, 7,000 sq ft, want to apply 1 lb. nitrogen/1,000 sq ft
- 1 pound divided by .15 = 6.66, round to 6.7
- 6.7 multiplied by 7,000 = 46,900 divided by 1,000 = 46.9, or 47 pounds
Therefore, need about 47 pounds of 15-5-10 fertilizer to cover entire lawn
After calculating how much to apply, when to apply is the other important decision. Early fall is a key time for fertilizing lawns in northern Illinois. The schedule below outlines when to apply based on how many applications are to be made annually and desired lawn quality. Use controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers in May and September and a fast-release source in late fall. Consider Mother’s Day, Labor Day and Halloween as reminders or favorable times to fertilize lawns in nothern Illinois.
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Apply A Late Season Fertilizer Application
To ensure good winter survival and early-spring green-up, make this fertilizer application when the turf has stopped growing but is still green, usually in mid- to late October. Timing is critical. Fertilizer applied too early will promote succulent growth in the fall that will make the lawn more susceptible to winter injury. Fertilizer applied too late will be of no benefit to the turf. If you make a late-fall fertilizer application, spring fertilization can be delayed until late May to early June. The application rate for this time of the year is the same as for the early fall application .
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Debating The Use Of Fertilizer On The Lawn
Whether or not you should use fertilizer on a lawn depends on where you stand on organic or low impact-to-chemical gardening practices. Organic gardeners bemoan the use of any chemicals as lawn fertilizers. The main concern is the fertilizer run-off can enter the local water supply. There is good evidence that shows phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and agricultural fertilizers are contaminating streams, rivers, and groundwater supplies, creating a pressing environmental problem.
There are a few organic methods of feeding a lawn safely. You can choose to use a mulching mower that chops up grass into fine particles that then break down on the lawn. Horticultural experts say that throughout the season, this technique provides a lawn with as much nitrogen as one complete application of lawn fertilizer. You can also use organic fertilizers made from natural materials instead of refined chemicals. Organic-labeled fertilizers will indeed feed your lawn, though they are usually less saturated with the essential nutrients than the industrially refined fertilizers.
Pre-emergent herbicides are a combination of fertilizer and crabgrass control herbicide applied in the early spring. This combination product does not have a full feeding of fertilizer. This small dose of fertilizer slightly boosts grass growth and keeps it alive, while the herbicide in the product restricts crabgrass seedling development.
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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.
Second Application: Late Spring
Performed in May, the second lawn fertilizer application is intended to make sure your lawn has the nutrients it needs to thrive during what is a very active part of its growing season. Because this is an active growing period for weeds as well, the second application should include a liquid blanket weed control to remove any newly germinated weeds.
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Leave The Lawn Cut At The Right Height
Raise the mowing height slightly in the fall. Rooting depth is proportional to mowing height â the longer the leaves, the deeper the roots. Longer grass blades provide some insulation for the crown of the grass plant. However, if the grass is too long going into the winter, it will become matted, which encourages winter diseases such as pink and grey snow mould.
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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Answers To The Most Commonly Asked Fall Fertilizing Questions:
During fall, best practices say that September is the best time to fertilize your lawn. So that means, right about now you should be taking steps to get your lawn ready for fall and winter. Even more important than the September fertilizer application is the second one that should take place at the end of October or early November.
This last application of fall lawn fertilizer before the winter can make all the difference in the health of your lawn next spring. Taking the time to fertilize in the fall will strengthen your plants and lawns roots, giving them a strong base on which to thrive next spring.
The team at Spring-Green is here to help you prep your lawn for fall and winter with fertilization services and so much more. Since 1977, weve helped our customers care for their residential and commercial lawn care with an unwavering dedication to quality. For any of your lawn care needs, contact one of our neighborhood lawn care professionals to get started.
Ask A Master Gardener: Fall Is The Ideal Time To Help Your Lawn Look Better Next Year
Q: I read somewhere that you should not fertilize your lawn in spring or during the hot months, so I didnt. Is now the right time, or am I too late now? Should I use plain fertilizer or a weed-and-feed fertilizer?
A: Yes, you can fertilize your lawn up until mid-October. Youre correct that fall is the best time to do this, after the hottest part of summer has passed. Fertilizing in spring can cause a flush of early growth that ultimately weakens the lawn. Fertilizing in the heat of summer can damage your lawn and the environment. The grass is typically dormant during hot weather, especially with conditions like the drought we had this year. Fertilizing when grass is dormant can burn the lawn. It wastes time and money and sends those nutrients into groundwater, rivers and lakes where they harm water quality and threaten aquatic creatures.
During fall, with the cool temperatures weve been having recently, lawn grasses put out new shoots and store nutrients in their roots. That makes this is a good time to fertilize.
How much to fertilize depends upon a number of factors. If you leave the grass clippings on your lawn, rather than bagging them up and removing them, you can get away with using less fertilizer. Extension provides a table showing you how much fertilizing to do depending on your watering and mowing habits: extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/fertilizing-lawns#when-and-how-much-to-fertilize.
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Follow This Lawn Fertilizer Schedule For Optimal Results
At the start of the new year, many homeowners take the time to map out their calendar with all the things that are in the pipeline for the year birthdays, appointments, vacation time. While doing so this year, its also worthwhile to mark down reminders for your lawn fertilizer schedule. This will help to ensure that your Southeast Michigan lawn is fed at the right times and that its health and beauty are preserved year-round.
With this in mind, weve created a lawn fertilizer schedule that you can consult for your calendar one that is assured to deliver the optimal results.
Third Application: Early Summer
Next up on the lawn fertilizer schedule is a June application. In preparation for the seasonal shift, the addition of nutrients in this application helps prepare your lawn for the summer and set the stage for healthy growth throughout the season. Liquid weed control should be utilized here as well to treat any weeds that remain on your lawn.
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When Should I Fertilize My Lawn In The Midwest
Fertilizing: If you only feed your lawn once a year, autumn is the best time to do it. In fact, your lawn could take a light application of fertilizer in early fall and again in late fall.
What is the best grass to grow in Missouri?
Ryegrass and bluegrass are two more cool season grasses that are used in Missouri. Along the southern region, you may find warm season grasses such as bermuda and zoysiagrass. Cool-Season Grasses: Tall fescueTurf Type Due to its heat and drought tolerance, it is a good general purpose turfgrass for Missouri.
St Augustine Yearly Fertilizer Schedule
St. Augustine grass requires 24 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually. Regions with clay soil or a shorter growing season can thrive on 2 pounds of nitrogen yearly. Lawns planted in sandy soil, as well as lawns with longer growing seasons, need 4 pounds of nitrogen per year.
The following schedule contains ideal application rates using 16-4-8 fertilizer and Milorganite, so you dont need to do any complex math. Simply measure your yard to find the square footage, and youre ready to go.
- : 3 weeks after spring green-up, apply 3 pounds of 16-4-8 fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn .
- : Apply 6.25 pounds of 16-4-8 fertilizer per 1,000 square feet . If your yard has clay soil, apply at a rate of 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
- : Apply 16 pounds of Milorganite per 1,000 square feet . On clay soil, apply 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet .
- : Apply 6.25 pounds of 16-4-8 fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. If your yard has clay soil, apply 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
- : If your St. Augustine goes dormant in winter, do not apply any fertilizer. If your lawn stays green year-round, apply at the same rates as August.
- : If your lawn goes dormant in winter, do not apply any fertilizer. If your lawn stays green year-round, apply fertilizer in October or November at the same rates as August. Do not apply in both months.
- : Do not apply any fertilizer.
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Perfect Timing For A Beautiful Lawn
A beautifully maintained lawn
Having a lawn thats healthy-looking can do a lot to enhance your propertys value, but in order to have a lawn that performs at this level requires fertilizing with the right fertilizers at the right time for the best results.
But before we touch on this topic what I want to emphasize here is a beautiful healthy lawn is dependent on more than just fertilizing. Proper water management, keeping your lawn mowed at the right height along with choosing a lawn that fits into your plan will work wonders, for example, St Augustine grass cannot withstand continual foot traffic which will cause this lawn type to die out.
Bermuda grass on the other hand can withstand foot traffic and still look just as beautiful and an example of Bermuda grass is the grass type that we see on gulf courses. So before installing a lawn know why you want that type of lawn and find out as much as you can about maintenance or care which will keep your lawn growing healthy and looking beautiful.
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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Best Time Of Day To Fertilize
The best time to fertilize is also the best time to mow: between 8 to 10 AM or 4 to 6 PM, although this will depend on weather and water factors. Here are a few guidelines to follow:
High heat and fertilizer dont mix, especially with cool-season grasses. Asking cool-season grasses to absorb high amounts of nitrogen while surviving heat or drought will not end well for your lawn.
Wait until the grass dries from morning dew or rain before applying fertilizer. Droplets will weigh grass blades down, preventing fertilizers from evenly reaching the soil.
While you can fertilize before a light rain if youre expecting a big rainstorm, wait. Synthetic fertilizers will wash away before they even have a chance to absorb.
Dont wait too long in the evening to fertilize, as grass needs time to dry out a bit before the cool nighttime temperatures. Wet grass is more susceptible to fungal diseases.
Only fertilize when the grass is growing, not when its gone dormant.
Find out about the ideal time of day for fertilizing plants:
Keeping Up With Fertilizing Schedules
You may love your lawn so much that you print out this blog post and hang it on your fridge. You could even set up reminders in your digital calendar to notify you when its time to fertilize for the season. But if you prefer an easier alternative, sign up for our Monthly Lawn Tips emails. Well send you an email each month with tips on fertilizing, mowing and dealing with pest or disease problems in your lawn.
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Dont Fertilize A Vulnerable Lawn
You should never apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to a dormant lawn. Applying fertilizer when it is too cold and your lawn is not yet growing will only encourage any weeds to grow and take over.
If there is a drought, you might want to avoid fertilizing your lawn until its over. This is because when you apply fertilizer youll need to water your lawn several times to make sure those nutrients get into the soil .
If the fertilizer is left sitting on top of the grass blades for too long, you could end up with burned grass blades.
Is It Ok To Fertilize In The Winter
Dont fertilize too early
During the winter months, grass is likely dormant if you havent been irrigating. When you fertilize too early in springmeaning its still winter youre providing nutrients before the grass has broken dormancy. Deeper, healthier roots support a healthier, weed-resistant lawn.
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Fertilizing Schedule For Home Lawns
This lawn is damaged as a result of excessive spring fertilizer applications.
Two important factors to consider when fertilizing lawns are how much and when to apply. About three pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per growing season is suggested for most full-sun lawns in northern Illinois . Split into two or three applications, with each single application of nitrogen being about one pound per 1,000 sq. ft. About half as much nitrogen is suggested for shade lawns. Percent nitrogen in the bag and size of the lawn are calculation variables as shown below.
