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When Should Lawns Be Fertilized

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Apply Your Fertilizer When Grass Is Growing

Welcome to the Lawn: How to Fertilize Your Lawn

No matter how frequently you fertilize your lawn, the rule of thumb you should follow is that you should apply fertilizer while your grass is growing the fastest.

Over applying fertilizer runs a big risk to your yard:

  • Its bad for the environment, since runoff pollutes local streams.
  • It runs the risk of burning your grass, which is when you sap grass of natural nutrients causing it to brown.
  • Lastly, youre wasting money by buying too much fertilizer.

State Laws About Fertilizing Lawns

Maryland protects the Chesapeake Bay from pollution by setting a cutoff date for fertilizing lawns: There is no lawn fertilizing allowed between November 16 and March 1. Many states limit phosphorus in lawn fertilizers, to cut down on the phosphorus algae bloom that pollutes streams, rivers and lakes.

Best Times To Fertilize A Lawn

The right time to fertilize your lawn is influenced by the type of grass you have. Much of the country has either cool-season or warm-season grass, with some areas combining the two types for a more versatile lawn. Its important to identify your grass type and plan your lawn care schedule around its needs. Below is a quick overview of which seasons are best for fertilization based on your lawn type.

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What Month Should I Fertilize My Lawn

Most lawn care companies recommend that you apply lawn fertilizer in the spring, between February and April. This is when your grass will start to green up as it begins to actively grow. Basically, if it looks like your grass is ready for its first mowing of the season, then it should also be ready for lawn fertilizer.

While most people know to fertilize their lawns in the spring, it is important to remember that fall feeding is critical, too. In the fall, grass roots are going down into the soil and need fertilizer to stay healthy. This is the most important application of fertilizer for the whole year since it will protect your lawn as it goes dormant over winter. However, if the fall you should use a specific fall fertilizer that is slightly higher in phosphorous and potassium, as it will promote better root growth. To ensure optimal lawn health, fertilize heavily in the fall and lightly in early spring.

How Often Is Too Often

Organic Lawn Fertilizer

The last thing your lawn needs is constant overfeeding. It does nothing to benefit your turf grass, and can be damaging to the environment. For most lawns, applying fertilizer once or twice a year is enough to keep your grass green and healthy. Precisely when you apply fertilizer depends partly on your climate, but mostly on the type of grass you have. The key is to fertilize during the season when your grass is doing the most growing.

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When To Fertilize Warm

The best time to fertilize warm-season grasses is between late-spring to late-summer, when these grasses are growing most vibrantly.

apply any amendments as required by soil test results and/or compost tea.

Last-spring: fertilize in June. If using synthetic fertilizer, start your 4-to-6 week fertilizer schedule. If using compost, use a lighter top-up, if you choose. Warm-season grass will begin growing actively when soil temperatures reach 65F, which is usually around April.

Late-summer: give one final fertilizer in August while the grass is still growing vibrantly to prepare the winter dormancy grass.

If youve overseeded with cool-season grasses, you may need to fertilize once more in November, when they grow more vigorously. If youve given your lawn a good compost feeding, though, this might not be necessary.

And if you have centipede grass, youre in luck! Centipede grass doesnt like extra nitrogen, so you dont have to fertilize.

When To Put Fertilizer On Lawns

All lawns need fertilizer in early spring when the grass begins to green up. Your fertilization schedule for the rest of the season depends on the type of grass in your lawn, the type of fertilizer you use, and your climate. Most lawn seed is a mixture of several different types of grasses, and both spring and fall fertilization are appropriate.

The label on a bag of lawn fertilizer will recommend a schedule based on the type of fertilizer it contains. The label is your best guide to how often to apply the product and how much to use. As long as you dont overdo it and avoid fertilizing in the hottest part of summer, your lawn should thrive.

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How Weather Impacts Fertilizer Application

No matter what type of fertilizer you use, its important not to apply it during periods of drought or heavy rainfall. Many fertilizers need multiple waterings to soak into the soil, so applying them during a drought leaves your grass vulnerable to surface burns and slow growth. Additionally, many areas have watering restrictions during seasonal drought periods, so youll be unable to water your grass manually.

Periods of heavy rainfall can cause your lawn to become waterlogged, eroding soil and harming your grass. Applying fertilizer wont be effective during this time, as water runoff can carry the fertilizer away and prevent it from receiving the proper nutrients.

Benefits Of Fertilizing Lawn In Fall

When to Fertilize Grass

There are lots of reasons why fertilizing in the fall is such a good idea. Whether youâre fertilizing in early or late fall, here are some of the benefits that come from feeding your lawn at this time of year:

  • Helps prepare the lawn for winter
  • Improves shoot density
  • Promotes deep roots in the late fall
  • Prolongs the dark green turf color right into the early winter
  • Provides storage of carbohydrates

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Water Your Garden Properly

Ensure you water before and after applying the fertilizer this will ensure that the nutrients are absorbed optimally into the soil. You should water two days before you fertilize, make sure the grass is dry, and then apply the fertilizer. You can then water the grass again this is the most important when using granular fertilizer as it washes the fertilizer off the top of the grass and into the soil.

Why Fertilize The Lawn In Fall

Like the rest of us, your lawn gets tired by the time summer ends.

Your lawn has struggled through a long, hot relentless summer. Its endured excessive heat, humidity and drought. Its been trampled by kids, dogs and overuse. Weeds, insects and diseases have taken their toll. Your lawn is hungry and tired. It wants a good meal before it settles in for a long, well-deserved winter slumber.

So why fertilize your lawn in the fall?

  • This is your lawns last chance to thicken up, restoring turf density back to its early summer form.
  • Fall fertilizer helps regenerate roots lost by hot, humid or dry summer weather.
  • Fall fertilizing fortifies your lawn so it can better combat severe winter conditions that lie ahead.
  • A good feeding fills up your lawns gas tank before going dormant. That way it has plenty of energy stored for a healthy start next spring.

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Understanding Whats In Your Lawn Fertilizer

When choosing a fertilizer, youll need a basic understanding of the fertilizers NPK rating.

NPK rating is the fertilizers levels of:

  • Phosphorous, and

For a standard lawn, a good choice for your first application of the season is around a 20-5-10 NPK rating.

That means the fertilizer is comprised of 20% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous, and 10% potassium. Those three are the primary nutrients for grass, similar to how people need a proper balance of macro nutrients to thrive.

  • Nitrogen makes your lawn grow and green quickly, and its essential throughout the season.
  • Phosphorous promotes healthy root development. Thats why its recommended to apply high phosphorous fertilizers early in the season to help your grass develop strong roots early. If you water regularly and well, your lawns roots will be able to withstand drought and dryness in the hottest part of summer. However, Phosphorous in high concentrations is bad for the environment, so more places are regulating the allowed amounts or banning it altogether.
  • Potassium promotes overall grass growth for a healthy, balanced lawn.

Synthetic fertilizers are more potent and have higher NPK ratings, while organic fertilizers have lower ratings.

The higher potency of synthetic fertilizers is why they have more immediate results in making your grass green. However, thats also why they are unsustainable.

Synthetic fertilizers inhibit your lawns ability to fend for itself, since the fertilizer replaces its natural processes.

Why Lawn Fertilization Is Important

Spring Lawn Care: Which Fertilizer Is Best?

Lawn fertilizers are made of the three major nutrients nitrogen , phosphorous , and potassium in various combinations and concentrations. Because nitrogen is the key nutrient for leaf growth, the ratio of nitrogen in lawn fertilizer is always the highest. Phosphorus is important for root growth, and potassium helps with water and nutrient absorption, but their numbers are always lower because most soils already contain enough or most of those two nutrients.

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Best Fertilizer For Cool

Nitrogen is probably all your lawn needs. N-P-K are the letters you’ll see on fertilizer labels and they stand for the key nutrients: Nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium . Odds are your soil has plenty of phosphorus and potassium. In fact, in some states it isn’t even legal to buy lawn fertilizer with all those ingredients unless you have a soil test to prove you need them.

Excess phosphorous can cause major problems in waterways by encouraging algae, which throws off the balance of the ecosystem that keeps the water clear and fish and other aquatic life healthy. Dose your lawn with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer the fertilizer bag display of N-P-K should have a bigger number in the first place and either zeros or smaller numbers for the other two nutrients, like 32-0-10.

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.

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When To Apply Popular Uk Fertilizers

Below is a table detailing how often to apply popular U.K. lawn fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro Evergreen and Westland. Please note that some of the fertilizers below contain weedkiller. These can be applied to any type of grass.

Please note that the table below includes Amazon Affiliate links.

*NPK = Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium

How Often You Should Apply Fertilizer To Your Lawn

Should I Apply Lawn Fertilizer In The Summer?

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.

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How To Fertilize A Lawn Before Rain

How to Fertilize a Lawn Before Rain

How to Fertilize a Lawn Before Rain Home Guides| Garden| Soil CareLawns need fertilizing about four to five times a year once the grass is well-established, according to Dawn West of All About Lawns. If it is going to rain within the next 24 hours, it is a good time to fertilizer your lawn.

You want to have enough time to fertilize your lawn before the rain starts. Do not use more than is recommended for your lawn type and size.

4 Water your lawn if it does not rain within 12 hours of applying the granulated fertilizer. .

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A day or two before applying fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly. After grass dries, apply fertilizer. Then lightly water again. This second watering is vitally important, because it washes fertilizer off grass blades and into soil. You can also time fertilizer application between rainfalls to let rain wash fertilizer into soil. Just be sure you don’t fertilize before a downpour, or you may wind up with fertilizer washing away, especially if your lawn slopes. Avoid applying fertilizer during a drought when a lawn has browned or withered from lack of moisture.

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Use Of Fertilizer Good Immediately After Heavy Rain

USE OF FERTILIZER GOOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER HEAVY RAIN

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How Regularly Should You Fertilize Your Lawn

How to Fertilize Your Lawn

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There’s no doubt that lawns need fertilizer, but it’s easy to make mistakes, like applying the wrong nutrients or fertilizing at the wrong time. If you fertilize your lawn when it doesn’t need it, you’re essentially throwing money away, so it’s essential to apply fertilizers at the right time, and use no more than necessary.

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Prepare The Lawn For Fertilizing

It’s best to fertilize a lawn when it’s been prepped in advance. This means taking the lawn mower to it three or four days before you are planning to fertilize it. Once mown, it pays to aerate the lawn, remove any weeds . This is a good time to dethatch a lawn if necessary, too. The night before you plan to fertilize it, give the lawn a light watering, too, as you don’t want to soil to be too dry, or the grass will not absorb the nutrients you are adding to it.

Can I Fertilize My Lawn Every 2 Weeks

Applying a fertilizer every two weeks isnt recommended as this will likely lead to problems such as lawn burn, excessive grass growth, and pollution to waterways.

A natural way of feeding your lawn every two weeks would be to leave the grass clippings on the lawn surface when mowing your grass. The grass clippings contain low nutrient levels that will slowly be absorbed by the soil as they naturally decompose and get eaten by earthworms. These wont burn the lawn or cause excessive growth. You might have to scarify your lawn more often due to this additional organic material being present, however, its recommended that you should do this every late summer or early fall/autumn anyway.

Most synthetic fertilizers are not recommended to be applied every 2 weeks, due to their night nutrient content.

For U.S. based gardeners, we have found that Extreme Grass Growth Booster *, is the only popular lawn feed on the market that can be applied once every 4 weeks to a lawn.

For U.K. gardeners, we have found that Empathy Supreme Green* , is the only popular fertilizer on the market that can be applied once every 4 weeks to a lawn.

*Make sure to follow the instructions on the packet to ensure application frequency before spreading this on your grass.

The recommended frequencies of fertilizer application can be found in the tables further down in this article.

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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.

Is It Best To Mow Your Lawn Before Fertilizing It

How To Fertilize Your Lawn | The Home Depot

It is best to mow your lawn before fertilizing it this is because by mowing, you remove excessive grass growth and debris lying on your lawn, such as leaves and sticks. By mowing, you expose the soil more, which helps the nutrients from the fertilizer to reach and get into the soil much quicker.

Remember the 1/3 rule when mowing your lawn for fertilization, you want to mow your lawn to be a height of 1 to 1 ½ inch. It is not necessarily detrimental to your lawn to mow it after fertilization, although fertilization results may not be as great as mowing it before.

Although if this is done every time you fertilize, there can be long-term effects, your lawn may not grow as desired because the fertilizer cannot perform its best. If you didnt realize or forgot to mow your lawn before fertilizing, it is important to find out when its best to mow after fertilization this depends on the type of fertilizer used.

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