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.
What happens if you fertilize your lawn too much?
But if you fertilize at the wrong time or over-treat your lawn, you could encourage weed growth or possibly burn the grass. To avoid damaging your lawn, consider this rule of thumb: The best time to fertilize is when your grass is actively growing—and this, in turn, is determined by where you live and what type of grass you have.
When is the best time to fertilize the lawn?
Even though warmer temperatures cause people to look for things to do outside, fertilizing the lawn too early is a mistake many make. The goal with fertilizing the lawn is to fertilize when the grass is actively growing.
Should I fertilize my lawn when it’s Dormant?
Avoid applying nitrogen-rich fertilizer when your lawn is dormant. Nitrogen, a key component of fertilizer, contains a growth stimulant that could increase unwanted weed growth if applied during dormancy. If you’ve endured a long winter and the grass is not yet growing, don’t be afraid to delay your scheduled fertilizing treatment.
Should I fertilize my lawn during a drought?
Avoid fertilizing your lawn during periods of drought. Most fertilizers need several waterings to soak into the soil, and allowing the fertilizer to sit on top of the lawn could burn the grass.
What happens if you fertilize your lawn too soon?
The young, tender grass roots that are beginning to grow in early spring are easily burned by the fertilizer. Fertilizing too soon can result in tender top growth which is easily injured by a late frost.
How early can you fertilize?
Timing: Apply early spring lawn fertilizer once between February and April, when your grass is starting to green up and begin to actively grow (around the time your lawn first needs to be mowed).
At what temperature can I fertilize my lawn?
around 55 degrees FahrenheitIdeally, the ground should be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on where you live, March to April is the best time to fertilize your lawn. It's also best if your yard is watered a few days before you want to apply the fertilizer, whether that's from rain or a sprinkler.
When should I put fertilizer down in the spring?
The very best time for lawn fertilization is in the spring, when the soil temperature—not the air temperature—reaches 55º Fahrenheit. You'll know when the soil warms up to 55º because the lilacs will begin to blossom and the grass will start growing. Or, buy a soil thermometer and check the temperature at any time.
Should I fertilize my lawn before it rains?
Using Fertilizer Before Rain It's fine to spread your fertilizer before it rains as long as it's more mild or light conditions. Of course, water is important for plant growth and is similarly important to helping the fertilizer's nutrients break down and get absorbed through the roots.
Should I fertilize before mowing or after?
When fertilizing a lawn, it is best to apply fertilizer after the lawn has been mowed so it has a few days to absorb the fertilizer.Wait until late summer, fall or early spring to fertilize the lawn. ... Mow the lawn and leave a small bit of grass clippings on the lawn.More items...
When should you not fertilize your lawn?
Do not apply fertilizer on an abnormally hot day, not even in the morning. Wait until the weather cools back down to a normal temperature. You can mow anytime after fertilizing with a granular treatment. With a liquid treatment, wait a day or two.
Should you water after fertilizing?
If your lawn gets liquid fertilizer, wait until it dries before watering, about 2-4 hours. If it's granular fertilizer, water right away. One exception: if you also got spot weed treatments at the same time, wait for that to dry before watering, or the water will wash off the weed killer before it can work.
Can I apply fertilizer to wet grass?
Yes, you can apply fertilizer to wet grass and this may even improve the effectiveness of the fertilizer. That is, provided that the grass is not waterlogged and that you are using granular or liquid fertilizers that are meant to be diluted.
How do you make grass thicker?
Improve Your Soil. To get the most out of every step to a thicker lawn, take a tip from lawn pros and test your soil. ... Overseed. Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick—or keep them from getting thin. ... Fertilize. ... Boost Your Lawn. ... Irrigate. ... Mow Properly. ... Control Weeds.
What is the best lawn fertilizer to use in early spring?
We Recommend Holganix. This product helps make your lawn resistant to traffic, diseases, insects, and weather; it also helps to grow deeper root systems which will give longevity to your lawn. We believe Holganix is the best lawn fertilizer for early spring.
Is it too cold to fertilize lawn?
Temperatures below 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit are too cold to fertilize your lawn. At these temperatures, your lawn enters a dormant state to protect itself from the cold. If you fertilize your lawn below these temperatures, you'll feed the weeds instead, and the root growth of your lawn will be stunted.
What month Should I fertilize lawn?
According to Scotts, you should apply lawn fertilizer between February and April when your grass starts to green up and begins to actively grow. Essentially, if it looks like your grass is ready for its first mowing of the season, then it's ready for lawn fertilizer.
How do I fertilize my lawn in the spring?
How to Use Lawn FertilizerWater your lawn. A few days before you feed your lawn, give it a good watering. ... Pick the best spreader for your lawn. Spreaders fall into two main categories: broadcast and drop. ... Apply grass fertilizer around the perimeter. ... Fill in the middle. ... Properly handle remaining product.
How Long Should fertilizer be down before it rains?
Typically, you should fertilize when no rainfall is expected for two days. If rainfall is expected to be light, though, you might have options. You need to add ¼ to ½ inch of water to your lawn in the 24 hours immediately following fertilizer application.
What is the best lawn fertilizer for early spring?
Miracle Gro All Purpose Lawn Food (Synthetic) Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food (Synthetic) Safer Brand 9333 Ringer Lawn Fertilizer (Organic) Milorganite 0636 Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer (Organic)
What happens when you fertilize your lawn?
You’ve seen the most obvious thing that happens when you fertilize the grass: it greens up and grows. But you might not realize that when you feed the grass there’s always more happening than meets the eye. The roots are growing deep into the soil to help the plant withstand heat and drought. The blades are growing and making sugars for the plants to use alongside the fertilizer you apply. Depending on the season, the lawn could be "waking up" or getting ready for winter, but either way, regular feeding is a crucial part of lawn care.
Why do lawns need to be fed in summer?
A summer lawn feeding helps give the grass what it needs to keep growing when temperatures drop slightly. Summer is also a time when insects emerge and damage the surface of the lawn. Summer feedings in the North are as much about insect control as they are about grass growth.
What is the peak of grass growth in the South?
Warm-season grasses in the South are at the peak of their growing during the warm days of summer. Many of these grasses grow by sending out runners (called rhizomes) that form dense mats that help make it hard for weeds to break through.
What is the best time to grow grass in the North?
Northern Lawns. The fall is another time of fast growth for cool-season grasses in the North. Lower temperatures cause grass blades that might have gone dormant and turned brown over the summer to green up again while roots continue to grow deeper.
What are the new grass shoots that emerge from plants in the spring called?
The new grass shoots that emerge from plants in the spring are called “tillers, ” and they are what give grass that fresh green look.
Can weeds grow in the summer?
Too much top growth, though, and plants will be left without the strong root system they especially need for the heat of the summer. On the other hand, not enough top growth and plants can’ t store enough sugars to draw upon for nutrition between feedings. What’s more, all of this is happening as summer weeds are starting to grow.
Does bluegrass go dormant in winter?
During winter months, cool-season grasses such as fescues and bluegrass don’t go dormant (they actually remain green) but growth slows to almost a complete halt. In Northern areas, Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food will help the lawn re-establish roots and top growth in the right balance while preventing weeds (like crabgrass) from sprouting.
What happens if you fertilize your lawn at the wrong time?
But if you fertilize at the wrong time or over-treat your lawn, you could encourage weed growth or possibly burn the grass. To avoid damaging your lawn, consider this rule of thumb: The best time to fertilize is when your grass is actively growing—and this, in turn, is determined by where you live and what type of grass you have.
How long does lawn fertilizer last?
Some time-released brands will slowly distribute nutrients over a two- to eight-month period, so leave sufficient time between applications to avoid over fertilization, which could damage your lawn.
When do grasses go dormant?
Cool-season grasses prefer lower temperatures and have two peak growing periods: one in the early spring, just after winter dormancy, and another in the early fall. High summer temperatures and lack of water may cause cool-weather grasses to go dormant until chilly temps arrive and water is more readily available.
Is fertilizer good for a green lawn?
A: As the saying goes, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” But if this year you want that green lawn on your side, fertilizer can be an effective ally.
Does nitrogen help with grass growth?
Nitrogen, a key component of fertilizer, contains a growth stimulant that could increase unwanted weed growth if applied during dormancy. If you’ve endured a long winter and the grass is not yet growing, don’t be afraid to delay your scheduled fertilizing treatment.
Do grasses turn brown in the summer?
Warm-season grasses will turn brown after the first frost, while cool-season grasses will generally stay green all year long in the cool and transitional zones. They will not, however, survive the summer months if the temperatures become excessively high.
Can you use slow release fertilizer on grass?
You can choose between slow- or quick-release fertilizer types, but be sure the application is fully absorbed before the onset of high temperatures. After applying the fertilizer, water the grass thoroughly, washing the grains off the blades of grass and into the soil to be sure that the soil fully absorbs the treatment.
How Does Cold Affect the Lawn?
All things green and growing need warmer springtime weather to promote growth and plant health. Plant growth slows down in cooler weather. That’s a good thing, especially during the dog days of summer when many plants, including lawn grasses, are simply trying to survive the heat. But in the spring, it can be frustrating when you’re anxious to get going on your yard work and everything is sluggish to grow.
How hot does it have to be for a lawn to wake up?
Your lawn wakes up once soil temperatures reach about 55 degrees F. How quickly this happens depends on ambient temperatures, soil moisture content, your lawn’s proximity to direct sunlight and soil type. Sandy, lighter soils will warm up quicker than heavy, clay soils. Get yourself a soil thermometer.
When Does Grass Begin Growing?
As simple as it may sound, the first indicator your grass has awakened is when it starts to green up again. Some grasses are slower to green than others, so be patient. Most lawn work shouldn’t be done until you mow the first time. That’s your signal that it’s okay to start fertilizing, applying weed killers and possibly sowing some grass seed.
What Is the Best Time to Start Planting Grass Seed?
Like other lawn care tasks, patience is a virtue when planting grass seed. Reseeding your lawn too early will not get you faster results.
How to predict weed seed germination?
Green Industry researchers have found daytime temperatures offer a more precise way to predict weed seed germination. The accumulation of Growing Degree Day (GDD) units can predict the likelihood of weed germination and even some insect development.
When to apply pre-emergent herbicide?
Once soil temperatures remain in the upper 50s, it’s time to apply pre-emergent herbicides. Reliable meteorological indicators will help you time these crabgrass control applications. Watch for lilacs or forsythias beginning to bloom, or three consecutive days with highs reaching 70 F. Then it’s game on!
Can cold weather delay crabgrass growth?
Cold weather will delay weed growth in your lawn, too. It’s difficult to predict crabgrass germination with calendar dates, since spring’s arrival varies from year-to-year and location-to-location. Green Industry researchers have found daytime temperatures offer a more precise way to predict weed seed germination.
