When Should You Fertilize Your Lawn
Essentially, the perfect time to fertilize your lawn is just as it is running out of food from its last feeding which, with Jonathan Green fertilizer, means about three months after the last fertilization.
Early Spring In March or April, apply our Green-Up with Crabgrass Preventer to the lawn. This will gently feed it while helping it recover from winter and also control crabgrass before and after it germinates.
Late Spring In May or June, apply Green Up Weed and Feed. It provides your lawn with everything it needs to grow green and strong, and controls dandelion, clover, chick weed and over 250 other kinds of broadleaf weeds.
Summer In July or August, loosen up hard soil and balance the pH level to make it optimal for grass growth. MAG-I-CAL Plus soil food is specially formulated to activate the microbial life in your soil to make the nutrients easier for grass roots to absorb.
Fall In September or October, its time to get your lawn ready to survive the winter. Winter Survival will keep your lawn fed through the winter and fend off late winter/early spring turf diseases, such as pink or gray snow mold.
If you have questions about the best time to fertilize a lawn, before or after rain, visit Jonathan Green online or contact your nearest independent hardware or home and garden store where you will always get valuable lawn care advice.
Examples To Understand Fertilizer Application Rates
Lets look at an example to figure out how we answer how much of this stuff do I put down, to get me 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet?:
If you have a balanced fertilizer with numbers 10-10-10, that means that bag of fertilizer contains 10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus, and 10% Potassium. Thats right, those numbers on the bag of fertilizer are percentages of macro nutrients N, P, K.
Check out this link for a full explanation of N P K.
But for now, all you need to know is Nitrogen is going to help us answer our question: How much of this stuff do I put down, to get me 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet?
It comes down to this simple equation:
Preferred pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet / Percent of Nitrogen in the bag = Pounds per 1000 square feet of application.
We know that our preferred pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet is 1.
We know that the numbers 10-10-10 are referring to percentages, therefor this bag contains 10% nitrogen .
In this case the numbers look like this:
1 pound / .10 = 10
In this example we need to put down 10 pounds of product per 1000 square feet and that satisfies our 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square foot rule.
Lets look at another example: In this case lets take a bag that is made up of 15-6-0. This means there is 15% nitrogen.
1/.15= 6.6
You need to apply 6.6 pounds of this product per 1000 square feet. Make it simple and just call it 6 pounds.
Its finally time to open your bag of fertilizer and get ready to pour.
When And How To Fertilize Your Lawn
In some ways, lawns are a lot like people. Operating at the peak of beauty and performance requires a good diet and proper care. Lush, thick, green lawns depend on properly timed, properly balanced nutrition to look and grow their best. Understanding when and how to fertilize your lawn can help you and your grass stand out from the rest.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Cheatgrass
Itll Make Your Lawn Grow Faster And Stronger
The easiest way to understand how big of a difference fertilizer makes is by looking at the backyards around your block. Youll probably guess which ones are using fertilizer by how their lawn looks.
That is not to say fertilizer is your magic one-cure-fix-all, but its close enough. Its like using steroids legal steroids! your lawn is bound to boom with it.
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.
Recommended Reading: Expert Gardener Weed And Feed Directions
What Is The Best Fertilizer For Winterizing
While Ill try to be very careful not to mention any brand name right now, Ill share a few specifications you should check out when youre shopping for a winterizing fertilizer.
If youve been winterizing for some years now, then I guess youve probably heard that that the best winter fertilizers should have low Nitrogen and high Phosphorus and Sulphur. Although this used to do the job for us, recent research shows otherwise. An ideal winterizer should contain mostly Nitrogen, and the Nitrogen should be a quick-releasing water-soluble Nitrogen instead of as opposed to slow-releasing water-insoluble Nitrogen.
For the few of us that prefer organic fertilizers, well be very limited in option if were seeking a fertilizer that is made of mostly quick-release Nitrogen. You might want to consider fast-acting liquid fish fertilizers that are 80% water-soluble but with an odor.
Iron In Granular Form
Apply granular iron supplements directly on the lawn soil with a broadcast or drop spreader. This type of iron supplement for lawns will take longer to have an effect since the structure of its molecules needs to be broken down, which happens over time.
You wont have to use this kind of iron supplement as often as you would a spray form, though, and the effect on the color of your grass tends to be more enduring.
Recommended Reading: Violet Killer
Is Spring The Time To Fertilize
With cool season grass, we want to fertilize in the early spring, but not too early. Once the outside temperature reaches fifty-five degrees fahrenheit, the lawn should no longer be dormant and it will be ready for a spring feeding.
Keep in mind, if you fertilize in the fall , there will still be some fertilizer left working while the lawn is waking up. Since there may still be some slow release fertilizer left, treating the lawn with nutrients too early will be a waste of fertilizer and time.
Here in Ohio, the temperature could hit fifty-five degrees in March, or it may not reach fifty-five until late April, we just never know! With our crazy temperatures, it makes it a little bit harder to make a lawn fertilizing schedule with a specific timeline, but you have to be prepared just in case we have an early spring this year! If there is an early spring, you may need to fertilize twice, once in the early spring and once in late spring. Ideally we want to get in a few fertilizer treatments before it gets too hot outside.
How Often Do You Have To Wait Between Fertilizer Applications
Fertilizers with a higher nutrient content will mean that you need to wait longer between applications in comparison to lawn fertilizer with a lower nutrient content. Some fertilizers can be applied once every four weeks whereas some you will need to wait as long as twelve weeks before you feed your lawn.
Knowing how long you will need to wait between applications will differ between the specific lawn fertilizer you have purchased.
A good tip to ensure that you dont over-fertilize your lawn is to make a note on a calendar the date you applied the lawn food. Read the instructions on your chosen fertilizer to see when the manufacturer recommends reapplying the feed. Then workout when the feed should be reapplied and add this date to your calendar.
Alternatively, set a reminder on your smartphone to prevent over-feeding.
The recommended frequencies of fertilizer application can be found in the tables further down in this article.
Also Check: How To Bring Back A Dead Lawn
Knowing When To Fertilize New Sod Matters
Many people think of fertilization as something that happens after plants are already in the groundor after turf is installed. In reality, however, waiting this long is a bad idea.
The best times to fertilize your new sod are either:
Fertilizing earlier will provide your grass seeds with a nutritional boost that can help as they try to take root and establish themselves.
Heres how you do it.
Before installing your new turf, till the starter fertilizer into the ground with a hoe.
Be sure that none of the fertilizer goes deeper than four inches. This is incredibly important, because when fertilizer goes too deep, it can burn the roots of your grass.
Once youre done, level out the soil and you can install your new sod.
When Should I Put Lime On My Lawn In The Northeast
yourcanlimelimelimespread limelawnlawnlime
. Also know, can you apply lime and fertilizer at the same time?
When It’s Okay to Apply Lime and Fertilizer at the Same TimeIf your lawn or crop field’s pH level is already sufficiently neutral, there’s no need to apply fertilizer and lime at separate times. To save you time , it’s okay to apply lime and fertilizer at the same time.
Secondly, how does lime help your lawn? Lawns need lime when low soil pH starts inhibiting the availability of nutrients. Lime restores balance in overly acidic soil to bring pH back to optimal growing levels. Poor grass growth and lawn moss are signs that lawns may need lime.
Also to know is, can you put too much lime on your lawn?
At the same time, too much lime can also be a dangerous thing. The grass can suffer from magnesium or aluminum toxicity. Just as soil that’s too acidic will inhibit your lawn’s ability to absorb nutrients, one that’s too alkaline will prevent your grass from getting enough nitrogen, potassium and iron.
Does lime need to be watered in?
Don’t apply lime when your lawn is frost-covered or wilted. And always water the lawn after applying the lime to wash the lime off the grass blades and allow it to make contact with the soil.
Also Check: How To Price Mowing Jobs
How Often Should I Fertilize A New Lawn
Dont fertilize a new lawn until the grass is actively growing and you have mowed the lawn at least three times. Then use a fertilizer that will promote strong roots without a surge in grass growth while keeping the lawn weeds at bay.
For U.S. based gardeners, fertilize your lawn with Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass Plus Weed Preventer .
U.K. gardeners should use a lawn fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro EverGreen Premium Plus Weed Control Lawn .
These fertilizers will slowly release nutrients into the lawn. You will only need to apply these once every 12 weeks while the lawn becomes established.
Its also worth mentioning that if you apply a crabgrass preemergent fertilizer or a regular weed and feed, ensure that you have waited four weeks before sowing your new grass seed.
Seasonal Plant Growth Cycle
In early spring, roots are long and full of nutrients stored from the fall. Shoots, the part of grass visible above ground, use this stored energy for growth.
In warm summer temperatures, leaf and root growth slow down. Plants rest during times of heat and drought. Roots can be damaged when soil temperatures are above 85°F.
In the fall months shoots start to grow again and nutrients are stored in the long roots for the winter. Optimal shoot growth occurs with air temperatures of 55 to 75°F.
Cool-season root growth is stimulated by soil temperatures above 32°F, and is optimal with soil temperatures between 50 and 65°F.
Recommended Reading: How To Revive Brown Lawn
Read Also: Depression In Yard
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.
Choose The Right Mixture
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 rivers and streams.
Read Also: Reviving Brown Grass
How Often Should I Fertilize My Lawn
Adding fertilizer to your lawn is one of the main ways to ensure that your grass is as healthy as possible. Throughout each growing season, your grass will slowly deplete its nutrient levels and these should be replenished manually. The trick in performing this task is to know how often you should fertilize your lawn.
Knowing how regularly to apply fertilizer to your lawn depends on the time of year. During late spring and early summer, your lawn will need to fertilize your lawn more frequently than during the late summer and early fall/autumn. This is because your lawn is more active during the spring and early summer and will be able to withstand more frequent applications of feed.
The rate of grass growth will slow during the late summer and early fall/autumn so, therefore, the lawn will require fewer nutrients.
This article contains two tables, one for U.S. gardeners and the other for U.K. gardeners, that list the most popular fertilizers. The tables refer to fertilizers that are designed to be applied at different times of the year.
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 .
Also Check: Rent An Aerator Lowes
Using A Broadcast Or Rotary Spreader
A broadcast or rotary spreader works well when you’re fertilizing larger lawn areas. Before filling the hopper, make sure it’s closed. It’s a good idea to fill it on a tarp, so you can easily gather any spilled fertilizer. Apply fertilizer around the perimeter of the lawn first, and then start to move back and forth across turf in an orderly pattern. Overlap application strips slightly to ensure that you cover the whole lawn evenly with fertilizer.
Fertilizers Summer And Your Lawn
When growing turfgrass, its important that you follow it closely through seasonal changes. Summer is usually the warmest season. And hot weather can be as stressful for your lawn as it is for humans.
For your lawn, summer usually implies drought, heat and excess traffic due to use. Lawn owners are usually tempted to fertilize at this point in order to correct whatever adverse effect this might cause.
Fertilizers ordinarily should promote the growth and development of your turfgrass, but you might want to reconsider that idea during summer.
You May Like: Husqvarna 725ex Reviews
Using A Handheld Broadcast Spreader
A handheld broadcast spreader works well for fertilizing small lawn areas. Walk evenly and slowly, and be sure to overlap distribution patterns slightly with each pass. A small spreader like this also works really well when you have shady areas in your lawn that require a different fertilizer rate than the sunny sections. Some fertilizers combine an herbicide with the lawn food. These products are sold as weed-and-feed lawn care products and are applied using a lawn spreader.
Apply Fertilizer Based On The Grass Type
As you determine how often you should fertilize your lawn, you should also consider the type of climate in your area and the type of grass growing around your property. If, for instance, your lawn has cool-season grasses, you should fertilize it in late spring and early summer. You can fertilize warm-season grasses such as St. Augustine or buffalo grass in spring and then in late summer. Pay close attention to the grass. If, for instance, it looks green and thick, consider skipping feeding.
You May Like: Murray Push Mower Parts
Fertilizer : The Why What How And When To Fertilize Your Lawn
Few words strike fear into the heart of the average homeowner more than fertilizer. With complex terminology and numerous options, it is easy to see how someone can get overwhelmed. Learning the answers to some of the most common fertilizer questions will arm you with the knowledge you need to fertilize your lawn like a pro.
Why should I fertilize my lawn?There are several reasons why you would need to fertilize your lawn. Over time, many lawns will leech nutrients out of their soil. Most nutrients for your lawn are water-soluble. Over time, whether through rain or irrigation, the water will carry these nutrients out of your lawn. This will leave your lawn nutrient deficient, which will leave you with an unhealthy lawn susceptible to disease. In some instances, the soil that the grass is growing in does not have the naturally occurring nutrients that turf needs to grow. If this is the case, fertilizer will be needed in order to maintain a healthy lawn. To determine whether or not your soil is nutrient deficient, you can purchase a soil test kit to learn more about the soil composition. The results of this test will help you determine exactly what type of fertilizer that your lawn needs.
Nitrogen promotes healthy leaf growth by encouraging the production of chlorophyll, which is a chemical vital to photosynthesis.
Phosphorus helps your lawn develop healthy roots and stems.
Potassium gives your lawn strength, helping it to resist drought and disease.
