What is the best time of day to fertilize a lawn?
The best time of day to fertilize a lawn is morning because that's when the temperature is cooler and the grass is moist with dew. Heat and dryness are your enemies when fertilizing your lawn. Even without hot temperatures, applying chemical fertilizers to grass exposes it to the danger of burning.
How much fertilizer should I Feed my lawn in the spring?
As growth may begin below or above this temperature range, keep an eye on your lawn and apply the fertilizer just as the grass starts turning green in the spring. Warm-season grasses should be fed three to four pounds of nitrogen-rich fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn per year.
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.
How often should I fertilize my lawn in Texas?
Fertilizing helps protect and strengthen it. Apply summer lawn fertilizer once between June and August, 6 to 8 weeks after the late spring feeding. Following the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program ? Apply the Summer product now to help make the most of each watering and encourage deep root growth.
What month Should I fertilize my lawn in California?
Fertilize your lawn: Warm-season lawns do best when temperatures are more than 80°F. Start feeding when the weather warms in late April or early May.
What month should I start fertilizing my lawn?
Ideally, 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.
How often should you fertilize your lawn in Southern California?
Fertilize three times during the summer unless your soil is composed of heavy clay. The best fertilizer to use will be an all-purpose or complete product formulated for use on a warm-season grass type, which is what your St.
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 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...
Do I fertilize my lawn before or after rain?
It is best to wait a day or so after a rain before applying fertilizer. At this time, any pools of water will be gone, but the ground will still have moisture in it. Do not apply fertilizer on grass blades that are still wet. Check the forecast and make sure some sunshine is in order.
How do I keep my grass green in Southern California?
An inch of water a week will help keep your lawn green and your garden lush during the summer. Watering frequently and for shorter durations will create a shallow root system which can cause your lawn and garden to stress out during droughts. Be sure to water as early as possible to help reduce wasteful evaporation.
How do I make my grass green in Southern California?
Choose the right turf About 90% of SoCal lawns are planted with deep-green fescue grass, Baird said, but warm-season grasses like Bermuda or buffalograss need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions. Think three days of watering each week for Bermuda grasses, versus four days for fescue.
How do I prepare my lawn for fertilizer?
Here's how to do it.Water 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 do I know if my lawn needs fertilizer?
Signs Your Lawn Needs FertilizationNitrogen Deficiency. When lawns lack nitrogen, they can be susceptible to a weed invasion and a much lower number of grass clippings than usual after you mow the lawn. ... Fairy Rings. ... Rust. ... Phosphorous Deficiency.
HOW LONG CAN fertilizer sit on lawn before watering?
When to Water a Lawn After Fertilizing? At Master Lawn, we typically say to wait 24 hours before watering your lawn after fertilizing. But it is important to make sure that it does receive a good watering session soon after that 24 hour waiting period.
What if it rains after I fertilize my lawn?
Rain After Fertilizer -- Granular Applications If you have a lawn care professional apply granular fertilizer or granular insecticide to your lawn, there's no need to panic if it starts raining afterward. Granular fertilizer and insecticide applications need to be watered in. This activates the product.
When should I fertilize my lawn in the spring?
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).
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 lawn fertilizer should I use in the spring?
By the way, a 20-5-10 lawn fertilizer is a good basic mix to use in spring. Slow-release lawn fertilizers break down their nutrients over a longer period of time, so you can wait longer between applications.
How do I fertilize my lawn in the spring?
Fertilize lightly in early spring with either slow-release or quick-release fertilizer. Time your fertilization schedule to use up all the fertilizer before the onset of hot summer weather, when cool-season grasses often go dormant.
Should You Fertilize Your Lawn?
There are many things to consider before answering this question. Not everyone's goals and circumstances are the same. So the answer will vary from individual to individual.
When Not to Fertilize Your Lawn
Don't apply fertilizer when a heavy rainstorm is in the forecast. A downpour may wash the fertilizer away. But if you're expecting a moderate amount of rain to come and to fall steadily upon the earth, this is an ideal time to fertilize: It will save you from having to water the fertilizer in, yourself.
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.
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.
What is the best grass to grow in the summer?
These grasses are tough, and they form a thick lawn cover that becomes denser over time. The four major types of warm-season grasses are Bermuda grass, centipede grass, St. Augustine grass, kikuyu grass, and zoysia grass.
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.
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. It’s important to identify your grass type and plan your lawn care schedule around its needs.
How Often to Fertilize
The frequency in which you fertilize depends on your climate and the type of grass you have. In general, you’ll want to fertilize your grass during its peak growing season, which is during the fall for cool-season grasses and spring for warm-season grasses.
How Weather Impacts Fertilizer Application
No matter what type of fertilizer you use, it’s 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.
Our Conclusion
Fertilizing your grass is an important step in your lawn care routine, as it promotes healthy root growth and keeps your lawn lush and green. However, it’s important to pick the right fertilizer for the job and apply it at the right time.
Local Lawn Experts
Many homeowners have heard of national brands like Sunday or TruGreen, but would prefer to use a service that’s based out of a local branch. Others would simply like to be contacted by a highly-rated lawn care service provider, rather than going to the trouble of researching companies on their own.
Why Lawn Fertilization Is Important
Lawn fertilizers are made of the three major nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) 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.
How Much and Which Fertilizer to Use
Lawn fertilizers fall into three categories: granular slow-release, liquid water-soluble, organic, and synthetic. In most cases, granular slow-release fertilizer is the best to use because it slowly feeds and releases nitrogen into the grass over a period of months.
Fertilization of Warm-Season vs. Cool-Season Grasses
The frequency and timing of fertilization depends on the type of grass.
When Is the Best Time to Fertilize
Besides the season when you fertilize, the time of the day is also important. Fertilize in the morning when it is still cool and the grass is slightly damp from the dew but not wet.
Setting a Tentative Lawn Fertilizing Schedule
Creating a lawn fertilizing schedule is a good idea to keep track of when you fertilize and how much. It also helps you to get everything lined up in time for fertilization.
When to apply ryegrass herbicide?
Prevent winter weeds: Stop pesky winter weeds just like you do their summer counterparts: Apply a pre-emergence herbicide from mid-October to mid-November.
When to use pre-emergence herbicide?
Use a pre-emergence herbicide to stop them from growing. Spread the pre-emergence product from mid-February to early March for best results. Begin mowing: Start mowing your lawn as it begins to grow in late spring.
How to get rid of grubs in the summer?
Feed according to the fertilizer package instructions throughout the summer. Get rid of grubs: If grubs have been a problem in your neighborhood, use a long-acting grub killer to stop them in early May. Start a new lawn: Use seed, sprigs, or plugs to start lawns in the summer.
Why is fertilizing grass important?
Summer is tough on grass, thanks to heat, drought, foot traffic, and insects. Fertilizing helps protect and strengthen it.
Why do you feed your lawn in the fall?
Doing your fall lawn fertilization now will strengthen roots and increase nitrogen storage for a healthy, green lawn next spring.
When does a lawn wake up hungry?
Your lawn wakes up hungry in the spring! Fertlizing it strengthens roots and gets it off to a good start.
What Time of Year Should You Fertilize Your Lawn?
Now that you know how to fertilize and water in your lawn correctly, you’ll need to know how to stay on the proper fertilization schedule.
Should Fertilizer Be Applied to Wet Grass?
Knowing how important it is for fertilizer to be watered in doesn’t necessarily answer the question of whether or not you can fertilize your lawn when it’s wet.
Do You Need To Water Your Lawn After Fertilizing It When Grasscycling?
Another, more natural, type of fertilizing is grasscycling. Grasscycling is when you leave grass trimmings where they are as you mow your lawn.
Do You Need To Water Your Lawn After Fertilizing It When Using Liquid Fertilizer?
Now that you know all about fertilizing your lawn with granular fertilizer, you may wonder if the same rules apply when using liquid fertilizer.