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What Is The Best Temperature To Fertilize Lawn

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When Is It Too Hot Or Too Cold To Apply Fertilizer To My Lawn

Fertilizing In Hot Weather [Will It BURN The Lawn?]

This depends upon whether you have cool-season grass or warm-season grass. The best time to fertilize your lawn is when the grass is actively growing, and for cool-season grasses, thats when temperatures are 60 to 70 degrees F. For warm-season grasses, active growth will usually happen when temperatures are between 75 and 85 degrees F. If you live in an area where grass goes brown during the summer, youll want to avoid fertilizing it while its dormant. As for the deepest winter months, theres no benefit to feeding your lawn at that time of the year in most areas of the country, as the grass is dormant from the cold weather.

How Long After Fertilizing Should I Wait To Water My Lawn

It depends on the fertilizer. Some lawn foods perform better when you water them in right after applying, while otherssuch as some weed-and-feed productsneed to be watered a day or two after fertilizing. It all comes down to this: Check the product directions on the bagtheyll tell you when to water.

Why Fertilize Your Lawn In Fall The Best Fall Month And Time Of Day To Fertilize

Summer heat is stressful on our lawns. Falls cooler temperatures provide the perfect setting for lawn to regain strength.

Fall is the best and most important time to fertilize your lawn because:

  • Falls morning dew delivers moisture to help turf absorb the fertilizer.
  • The grass has a chance to build stamina before a chilly winter.
  • Supporting root growth in fall leads to a healthier, greener lawn in spring.

While fall is naturally good for feeding our lawn, you can deliver an extra oomph by fertilizing as best as you can, too.

Also Check: How To Clear Lawn Of Weeds

Slow Release Vs Fast Release

Slow-release fertilizers will release nutrients over an extended period of time. In comparison, a quick release fertilizer is one that dissolves very quickly in the soil, making the nutrients readily available. -Kansas Healthy Yards

Consider the following situation: You have a headache, so you head to the drug store for medication. But youre faced with a dilemma when you arrive. You can purchase the fast acting Tylenol or the long lasting. Do you want to feel better now, or have a more permanently relief from the headache later on?

Slow-release fertilizer is designed for nutrients to slowly leech out of the beads into the lawn to create sustaining nourishment. Fast release fertilizer is designed to give your lawn a quick hit for faster results, but for a shorter period of time. If the fertilizer you purchased from the local hardware store doesnt mention either, that indicates its a standard blend which is a happy medium between the two.

Once the snow melts, to take advantage of a quick growth and green transition youll want to use a fast release fertilizer. Put down a slow-release fertilizer in the summer to soothe the grass through the dry season. Once fall arrives and temperatures start to cool, choose a standard fall fertilizer that focuses on growth and overall grass health. Neither fast- or slow-release is necessary during this season

When To Fertilize Your Lawn: Our Best Tips

Winter fertilizer helps your lawn survive the cold weather &  green up ...

Lawn fertilizer is like food for your grass, providing it with the nutrients it needs to grow and maintain its healthy, green glow. Each fertilizer uses a unique combination of nutrients, though most include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These ingredients create a vibrant, green lawn that resists weeds like crabgrass while creating an excellent growing environment.

While its important to fertilize your lawn, dont start throwing down these nutrients at any time of the season. Its important to consider your grass type and the environment you live in before deciding on a time to fertilize. This guide outlines the best time to fertilize your lawn, how often you should do it, and the factors that impact growth.

Read Also: How To Get Weeds Out Of Lawn Naturally

Can I Use Lawn Fertilizer In The Garden

While you technically could use lawn fertilizer in the garden, its not ideal. Thats because veggies and flowers have totally different needs from grass. Lawn fertilizer would still feed the garden plants, but they wouldnt achieve maximum growth and might grow more leaves at the expense of flowers and fruits since thats what lawn fertilizer is optimized for: growing lush, green leaves. Another reason to avoid using lawn fertilizer in the garden is that many lawn fertilizers also contain ingredients meant to kill weeds. Guess what happens when you use those in your garden? Thats right, both the weeds and the garden plants bite the dust. Your best bet? Keep lawn fertilizer in the lawn.

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:

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Different Types Of Grass

The type of grass you have in your lawn will also determine how cold is too cold when fertilizing your lawn.

There are two types of grass:

  • cool-season grass
  • and warm-season grass
  • Chances are if youre wondering what temperature is too cold to fertilize your lawn, you probably have cool-season grass.

    At What Temperature Is It Too Cold To Fertilize A Lawn

    Fertilizing Lawns in the Summer Heat

    There are a few things you can do to keep your lawn healthy during the winter months. First, you need to know what type of grass you have. Cool-season grasses like bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue are the most common in the US. Warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and St. Augustinegrass are common in the southern US.

    If you have a cool-season grass, as we have mentioned, they will go dormant in the late spring when the air temperature gets too warm. The root growth will stop, but the shoot growth will continue. This is why its important to fertilize your lawn in the early spring or late fall.

    On the other hand, warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass should be fertilized in late spring or early summer as they go dormant as the temperature drops in late summer and early fall.

    Most manufacturers list that soil temperature should be at least 60°F for fertilizer to be effective but usually it will work down to 50°F and below. The roots of your grass are growing and the grass is actively growing at this temperature, they stop growing at around 41°F. If the temperature drops below this point it is too cold, the fertilizer will not be absorbed by the roots and the grass will not benefit from the treatment.

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    You Shouldnt Fertilize Too Early In The Spring

    Fertilizing too early in the spring when the weather is still wintry will waste your fertilizer.

    Your grass will still be dormant and wont be able to use those nutrients before theyre washed away.

    Weeds, on the other hand, may be in your lawn waiting to be fertilized to get a jump start on your grass. Fertilizing too early will likely only benefit them.

    Fertilizing too early in the spring is also a problem is because it can make grass focus too much on shoot growth, not root growth. You need healthy and deep roots for a healthy lawn. Supporting healthy root systems with spring fertilization sets your lawn up for the stresses of a hot summer.

    The best time to fertilize in spring is when the daytime temperatures are in the 70s on a consistent basis.

    When this is the case, soil temperature should be in the 60s. This temperature range is essential for successful fertilization in the spring.

    Pay attention to the weather and time your fertilizer application accordingly. You dont want to fertilize your lawn early when its too cold, and especially not too late when its too hot.

    How Often To Fertilize Your Lawn

    Everyone wants to see their lawn green all over the year. By proper application of fertilizer, one can get that dream lawn. Fertilizer gives additional nutrients to the lawn and keeps it green and healthy. However, its very important to know how often to fertilize the lawn to get the best results.

    Not only how many times but also need to know the exact time to apply fertilizer for the positive results. The use of improper fertilizer can be caused to your grass damage and loss of money.

    The way to identify how often to fertilize lawns

    There are some important factors that help to know how often to fertilize lawns. These include:

    • Application times of lawn fertilizer
    • Used fertilizer type
    • How frequently you water your lawn

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    When To Apply Fertilizer

    As we have mentioned you should look to apply fertilizer before the first strong frost. In areas where there is no chance of freezing temperatures, you can adjust your application accordingly. For places that experience freezing temperatures, apply fertilizer just before the first heavy frost or as soon as the ground thaws out after the last snowfall.

    When the soil freezes, the nutrients become locked into the soil particles. It takes several weeks for these nutrients to break down and release back into the soil. By applying fertilizer before the first hard freeze, you ensure that all of the nutrients are available to the grass once the soil thaws again.

    If youre using a granular slow-release form of fertilizer, it will release the nutrients over a period of time and provide a more regulated source of nitrogen to the ground. If you feel the lawn needs a nitrogen boost, add grass clippings as an alternative option.

    Another factor that should be taken into consideration is foot traffic and soil compaction. The more traffic your lawn has during the summer months can lead to increased soil compaction making it more difficult for the nutrients in the fertilizer to travel down to the grass roots. This is why it is often a good time to fertilize after aerating, which is often carried out in the fall and before the ground freezes.

    Best Times To Fertilize Your Lawn Per Season

    Spring Lawn Fertilizer: 7 of Our Best Picks

    The kind of grass in your yard will determine when you should apply fertilizer to your lawn. Most of the United States has grass that grows during the cold or warm seasons. So, as a general rule, fertilizer should be sprayed during the spring seasons. This environment supports the growth of plants with leaves and flowers.

    In certain parts of the country, the new growth that was stimulated by fertilizing may be harmed if there is a severe cold period or even snowfall. To protect juvenile growth in these places, you should wait until after the latest frost date before applying fertilizers.

    It is most effective when fertilizer is provided during the peak of a plants development cycle. In this season, seasonal plants begin to leaf out, blossom, or develop new leaves.

    The beginning of spring is generally considered to be the optimal time to fertilize most plants. The following is a basic guide that will walk you through the best times of the year to fertilize your lawn based on the kind of grass that you have.

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    Apply Fertilize Based On Instructions

    Always carefully read the label and instructions on the lawn fertilizer that you buy. You need to know how long it will last, when you will need to re-apply fertilizer, and how much fertilizer to spread per square foot.

    If you go with a granular, slow-release fertilizer, it will slowly provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs over a period of time. Time periods can range from two to eight months. This kind of fertilizer does not need to be spread in your yard as often as a quick-release, synthetic fertilizer .

    Make sure you dont over-fertilize your lawn as you may do more harm than good.

    Does Scotts Offer A Money

    Absolutely. Every Scotts® fertilizer carries the Scotts® No-Quibble Guarantee: If for any reason you, the consumer, are not satisfied after using this product, you are entitled to get your money back. Simply send us evidence of purchase and we will mail you a refund check promptly. We believe in our products and want you to have that same confidence.

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    Best Time Of Day To Fertilize Lawn With Liquid Fertilizer

    If you want to be able to apply fertilizer to damp grass, you will need to go with a liquid fertilizer like those made by Simple Lawn Solutions . Make sure to read the product instructions before application, but you should be able to use it following light rain.

    In some cases, the moisture in the grass will actually help the liquid fertilizer disperse more effectively through your lawn. You still shouldnt apply this fertilizer after heavy rains, however. This is especially true if you have a soil type, such as clay, that takes a long time to drain.

    The fertilizer could end up staying on the surface of your lawn for too long. Damage can even result from this.

    When I apply liquid fertilizer I like to apply it, allow it to sit on the leaves of the grass for a bit, then follow with a light watering to wash it off the leaves and down into the soil.

    What Time Of The Day Is Best To Fertilize A Lawn

    What is the Best Time to Plant Grass Seed? – Fall Lawn Tips | DoMyOwn.com

    The best time of the day to fertilize a lawn is in the evening or late afternoon. The grass is dry enough at this time, so the fertilizer granules dont stick on the leaf blades. If the grass is wet, the grass blades will be burned if fast-release nitrogen fertilizer is applied. Also, in the evening, the sun has favorable light, not soo hot that it can scorch turfgrass if fertilizer is applied.

    Read Also: How Often To Put Down Lawn Fertilizer

    When Is The Best Time To Fertilize My Lawn

    Who doesnt love seeing the transition of winter to spring? The days are getting longer, and the weather is getting warmer. An area of dread or delight is the grass cropping up in your lawn. Some homeowners value the time they can spend outside in their yard sprucing it up and others wish they lived on a concrete slab. Fortunately for both types of homeowners, there are a variety of options but most prominently is the option to DIY or hire a contractor. In respect to hiring a lawn care provider, if you select a company that specializes in high quality fertilizer and weed control, they will take care of it for you. However, if you are the owner who prefers DIY, knowing when to fertilize your lawn is just as important as which fertilizer you choose and how you do it.

    We will cover when to fertilize your lawn and how many times you should do this each season. We are going to cover cool season grasses in this blog, which geographically covers all Provinces of Canada, and all the bordering states from Washington to North Dakota. To begin, there are three common myths when it comes to the time in which you should fertilize your lawn.

    How To Fertilize Your Lawn

    When considering fertilizers, choose a slow-release variety. This will feed your plants slowly over time instead of the short burst of nutrition that quick release fertilizer provides. Quality slow-release fertilizers will provide proper balanced nutrition over time to develop a healthier plant and root system that combats heat, cold, drought and other stresses. Organic fertilizers, like compost, also add naturally-occurring material to the soil, which is important for air circulation, good water retention and drainage.

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    Should You Fertilize A Lawn Before Or After Rains

    Apply fertilizers to the lawn a day or two after rains to prevent fertilizer runoffs caused by heavy rains. When fertilizers are washed away or leached, they are directed to water drainage systems and later into large water bodies. Fertilizers have harmful chemicals that cause death of aquatic plants and animals.

    Apply fertilizers to the lawn after rain because of the following advantages:

    Wondering Whens The Best Time To Fertilize Lawn Heres What You Need To Know

    Why Fertilizer is Important for Lawn Health

    The best time to fertilize lawn is when the ground is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This is usually between the months of March and April, but this obviously depends on where you live. Fertilizing is best done a couple of days after the ground has received some moisture.

    Think your lawn could do with some fertilizer but are not sure whether the time is right? This ones for you! The last thing you need is to splurge on good quality fertilizer just for it to not be effective because of poor timing, or even worse, for it to cause harm to your lawn.

    The question remains: should you fertilize before or after it has rained? The key to finding the best time is actually by checking the soil temperature.

    If youre a lawn care fanatic, keep reading for everything you need to know about whens the best time to fertilize for a healthy, green lawn!

    Contents

  • 5 Now You Know Whens The Best Time To Fertilize Lawn
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