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What Months Do You Fertilize Your Lawn

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Choosing The Right Mixture

How Often Should I Fertilize The Lawn – Quick Tips

A complete fertilizer with a high ratio of both nitrogen and potassium is essential for enhanced rooting, cold hardiness, disease resistance, and wear tolerance. An ideal fall fertilizer blend has a nitrogen to phosphorus to potassium ratio of 24-4-12 with isobutylidene diurea . In this formulation, a small amount of nitrogen is immediately available to the plant, while the rest is in slow-release form, allowing it to slowly break down and provide an extended feeding to the grass. Be wary of applying a fertilizer with too much phosphorus , as the run-off can damage to rivers and streams.

For flower and vegetable gardens, a mild fertilizer feeding in the fall will replenish the soil and prepare it for a quicker green-up when planting begins the following spring. Gardens do better with this approach than with a heavy dose of fertilizer in the early spring.

Start Going Over The Lawn

Go over the perimeters of your turf to cover everything. Then, move the spreader along in orderly rows across the turf. The rows can overlap slightly to make sure everything gets covered.

If you use a drop spreader, close the hopper at the end of each pass so you dont dump fertilizer at the edges of your 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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What Month Are You Suppose To Fertilize The Grass

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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.

The Best Time To Fertilize And When To Avoid It

When to Fertilize Your Lawn

If you’re wondering the best time to fertilize, remember it’s just as important to know when not to do it.

In the Florida panhandle, grasses tend to be more dormant in the winter months. During winter, the grass isnt as able to take in the needed nutrients, so it make sense to avoid applying fertilizers at this time.

Hold off on fertilizing if your area is expecting heavy rains of two or more inches, or a tropical storm is expected in the next 24 hours. You want to make sure the fertilizer has a chance to get into the soil and root systems, not get washed away.

Also, if you just planted new turfgrass, the University of Florida Extension recommends waiting 30 to 60 days before using nitrogen fertilizer. The young roots arent deep enough to really absorb the nutrients, and the soil from the sod farm may already have nutrients in place.

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When To Fertilize Your Lawn: The Best Lawn Fertilizer Schedule For Idaho Lawns

Its easy to forget about lawn fertilizer.Your calendar is already jammed. Life moves fast. Next thing you know, its July, your grass looks crappy and you think, I was supposed to fertilize by now, right?Fertilizer is your lawns food, and timing is everything.Are you wondering when to fertilize your lawn in Idaho or how often you should fertilize? Weve got you. Here is a helpful lawn fertilization schedule for Idaho lawns.

How To Apply Fertilizer

It is estimated that 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is adequate for good growth on woody plants. That number may be adjusted to half that rate for some ornamental plants. Perennials benefit from only 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 feet .

The time of day to fertilize is important as well. If you are applying repeated applications to vegetables, for example, apply during the coolest part of the day. For plant spikes and granular formulas, the best time of day to fertilize is when you are watering so the nutrients can start to break down and get to the plantâs roots. This also prevents root burn.

In any fertilizer application, itâs a good idea to water thoroughly to get the plant food to where it will do the most good. Avoid excessive fertilizer and preferably perform a soil test to see what nutrients your garden is deficient in. Over-fertilizing can be as bad as no fertilizing and a soil test can point out what, if any, is needed for a bountiful harvest and vigorous plant growth.

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Substantial Late Fall Application

A slow release material or organic fertilizer is helpful in the fall months before the winter comes on to give the lawn what it needs to stay as healthy as possible through winter months. In very snowy winters, this wont be possible, but the fertilizer will slowly release, ensuring some will be left for the early Spring, starting the cycle again!

Apply Lawn Fertilizer With Care

How and when do I fertilize my lawn?

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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How Long Does It Take For Fertilizer To Turn Grass Green

Just like over-applying fertilizer will yield negative results quickly, you will also know right away if you have done a good job fertilizing your lawn. If youve fertilized properly, you should start to see results anywhere from 1 to 5 days afterward, depending upon the type of fertilizer you used.

How To Avoid Over

Lawns are a significant investment, not only do they require regular mowing and fertilizing, but they must be properly taken care of with the right tools and/or machinery.

The best way to avoid over-fertilizing your lawn is by using granular fertilizers instead of liquids. Liquid fertilizers are easier for homeowners to apply because it is less time consuming than spreading granules. However, liquid fertilizers provide an easy way for homeowners to overspray, or overapply the fertilizer which could lead to excess nutrients that could be washed into rain.

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What Fertilizer Should I Use In The Spring

In the spring, apply a 20-5-10 fertilizer mix. Be careful not to apply to early as fertilizer can easily burn vulnerable grass. Keep in mind that there are other things you can do before its time to fertilize. In late May or early June, before the heat of the summer arrives, apply some slow release nitrogen.

Fertilize Kansas City Cool Season Lawns In September

Feed Your Grass Regularly with Fertilizer

September is the best time of the year to fertilize cool season lawns such as tall fescue and bluegrass. If you could only fertilize your cool-season grasses once per year, this would be the best time to do it.

These grasses are entering their fall growth cycle as days shorten and temperatures moderate . The stress of summer depletes the turf of the nutrients needed for proper growth during the more ideal temperatures and moisture levels of fall.

Cool-season grasses naturally thicken up in the fall by tillering and, for bluegrass, spreading by underground stems called rhizomes. Consequently, September is the most important time to fertilize these grasses.

Lawns need nitrogenNitrogen , the first number listed on a bag of fertilizer, helps thicken the stand and encourage development of a healthy root system. Apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The settings recommended on lawn fertilizer bags usually result in about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

A strong root system is the foundation of a nice lawn. Cooler temperatures, fall rains and the addition of the nutrients help the lawn to recover from stressful summer conditions. The food is converted into new roots, crowns and shoots. This application helps to thicken up thin areas. A dense healthy lawn is our best defense against weeds and that prevention starts with this application of fertilizer.

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Fall Fertilizer Tips To Set Your Calendar By

Fall is right around the corner. That means its time to play football, pick out pumpkins and prep our lawns for the cold winter months ahead. Fall fertilizing can set your lawn up for success year-round, but timing does matter. Drill down on the best practices for fall fertilizer with the experts from Spring-Green, your neighborhood lawn care professionals since 1977. The dates of the first frost in your area will vary by region, but heres what you generally need to know for fall lawn care.

How Do I Calculate How Much Fertilizer I Need

Fertilizer recommendations for lawns can be confusing to the average homeowner. These instructions are usually given in pounds of nitrogen to be applied per 1,000 square feet. Home gardeners often have difficulty converting these recommendations to the amounts needed for their selected grade of nitrogen fertilizer and their homes lawn size. Luckily, you can use online fertilizer calculators to simplify things.

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How Often You Should Apply Fertilizer To Your Lawn

Though fertilizer has its benefits, you dont want to overdo it. A full feeding is recommended at least 5-6 times per year. You want to feed your lawn when its growing most rapidly. However, you should base the frequency on your climate and the type of grass you have. For example, cool season grasses can be fertilized in late spring, but only if necessary.

Warm season grasses, like Bermuda grass, St. Augustine, zoysia, centipede and buffalo grass, should be fertilized in spring. Depending on the amount of water your grass gets, aim to reapply your fertilizer every 6-8 weeks. Keep a watchful eye on your grass. If it looks thick and green, you can probably skip the feeding. If its starting to look brown or black, give your lawn some TLC.

When To Use Compost

WHEN and HOW to FERTILIZE your lawn

Compost does more than feed grass it also builds and feeds soil. Compost contains microorganisms, micronutrients and organic matter items that nourish soil and foster a healthy underground environment in your lawn. When should you use compost? Spread a thin layer over lawns in early spring to fuel strong growth. Any time you plan to aerate, spread compost after aerating to improve soil and give roots a boost. It’s also a good idea to apply compost before overseeding thin turf. Add compost to a lawn by the shovelful in several places.

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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 .

When Should I Fertilize My Lawn In The Fall

The best time to fertilize can depend on the climate, but typically September and October are usually the best months to apply fall fertilizer. Make sure to complete your fall fertilization 2-3 weeks before the ground freezes to ensure that your lawn reaps the full benefits of the fertilizer and avoids winter damage.

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Water Your Lawn Regularly

One quick way to tell if your lawn is receiving too many nutrients or not enough is by checking the moisture levels. If your grass is too dry, provide it with more water through natural rainfall or sprinkler system. If your grass appears wet at any time during the day, reduce watering to once a week instead of every other day.You should make sure to water your lawn regularly so it will take up the nutrients from the fertilizers you apply throughout the year instead of letting them wash away into lakes or ponds.

What Is The Best Lawn Fertilizer For Early Spring

Can You Put Compost In A Spreader?

A longer-lasting fertilizer is typically healthier for your lawn in the spring, since it requires fewer applications. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient, but keep in mind that there are fast-release and controlled-release nitrogen sources. To check what the fertilizer contains, just look in the guaranteed analysis section on the back of the bag. Key terms to look for include controlled-release, slow-release, slowly-available, or water-insoluble nitrogen. Some specific types that may be listed include ureaform, sulfur-coated urea, polymer-coated urea, and IBDU . Several organic nitrogen sources are controlled-release if you prefer a more natural, less artificial choice. Most quality lawn fertilizers offer a balance of fast and controlled release sources to offer a fertilizer that will provide some quick color and some long-lasting nitrogen.

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How Much Should I Water My Lawn After Fertilizing

How much fertilizer you need is directly impacted by your watering schedule. The more you water your lawn, the more fertilizer it will need. As the grass grows, it uses more nutrients. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you should fertilize your lawn about every six weeks. You dont want the watering to outpace the fertilizing as that could negatively impact the lawns growth cycle. If you dont have a sprinkler system, you can wait an additional two weeks between applications. Also, be sure to carefully read the fertilizer label to learn whether you should water the lawn before or after applying the product. Granulated fertilizers need moisture to break down after application, while other fertilizers require you to soak the lawn beforehand.

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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Give Your Lawn A Period Of Rest

A common mistake made by home gardeners is to treat their lawns like they would any other garden bed: constantly adding nutrients and water in an effort to keep whatever grass has managed to survive alive and growing. This will result in excessive amounts of fertilizer building up in your soil and eventually moving into the water supply. If youre worried about your grass dying, treat it like any other plant and give it a period of rest between fertilization.

How Soon You Can Fertilize After Seeding Your Lawn

How To Fertilize The Lawn | Apply Lawn Fertilizer

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.

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How Often Should You Put Epsom Salt On Your Lawn

Some homeowners like to use Epsom salt as a natural lawn fertilizer in the spring to facilitate lush green growth. Epsom salt contains magnesium, which is key to seed germination, chlorophyll production, and improving the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.

To try this method, add 2 tablespoons to each gallon of water used on the lawn. If you have a sprinkler system, lightly sprinkle the salt directly atop the grass and then allow the system to water it into the sod.

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