Fertilizing your plants in hot weather (2024)

FAQs

Fertilizing your plants in hot weather? ›

General tips. Avoid applying fertilizers when plants are dormant or under heat and drought stress. Fertilizers should be incorporated into the soil to prevent losses. If you cannot physically incorporate a fertilizer at this point in the season, it may be best to stick with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Don't fertilize plants or trees during hot summer months

An increase in growth means an increase in water and nutrient needs. During hot spells, it is especially hard to keep up with plant water and nutrient needs as soils dry out quickly and water may not be readily available.

Whether or not your lawn is dormant, applying fertilizer right now, with the high temperatures we've been having, is not a good idea. Applying either fertilizer or weed killer when it's hot out can damage your lawn.

Apply Low-Nitrogen Fertilizer

Whereas nitrogen-rich fertilizers are appropriate for the early springtime green-up and growth, as we just mentioned, they can cause further stress to lawns in the summer and even cause burns. That's why low-nitrogen fertilizer is a great option for summer lawns.

Late afternoon or early evening (when there's still light, of course) is the best time of day to apply lawn fertilizer. Applying it in the heat of a scorching afternoon can cause the sun's rays to burn your grass—and when your goal is "lush and green," burned grass blades simply won't cut it.

Heat doesn't really make fertilizer more “volatile” or make it more “potent,” so have no fear. Now, I will say, if you are using a fertilizer like CarbonX (CX DIY) that has high amounts of straight urea nitrogen, you should not apply that to a wet or damp lawn. But that is a recommendation we have ANY time of year.

Don't fertilize when it's winter or early spring

The ideal temperature to fertilize your lawn is 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Any lower than this, your lawn will struggle to maintain nutrients. In most cases, you'll want to fertilize your lawn from April to May (spring) when temperatures get warmer.

You should take a break from feeding your plants during a heat wave or drought. However, to prepare them for conditions that could cause heat stress, regularly give them Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food (following all label directions) so they're nice and strong before the unfortunate weather arrives.

During extremely hot weather (daytime temperatures above 90F and nighttime temperatures above 70F), try to water daily or every other day. In a 10x10-foot garden, this would mean giving your plants 8 to 9 gallons of water each day.

Scotts® TurfBuilder® UltraFeed™is an excellent choice for fertilizing lawns that tend to get stressed in the summer. It holds onto nutrients until your lawn needs them, then releases them. Because of this, a single feeding can last up to 6 months.

Can I feed plants in summer? ›

Feed Regularly (Even in Summer)

Many plant types also have growth spurts in the early or mid-summer, so it's important to replenish nutrients throughout the growing season. After all, you're looking to coax your plants into growing their best and producing the biggest blooms and harvest, right?

Typical summer grass fertilizer numbers include: 6-0-0. 15-0-8. 10-0-4.

Fertilization. Fertilize your Endless Summer Hydrangeas in the spring with Holly-tone for blue flowers or Plant-tone and granulated lime for purple to pink flowers. For best flowering we recommend fertilizing in April, May and June with 1 cup of fertilizer for each foot of branch spread.

It is wise to be wary of fertilizing your lawn during hot weather. The best time is when temperatures remain below 85 degrees Fahrenheit with overcast conditions, using a slow-release formula.

Don't fertilize any plant during a heat wave. The roots will be damaged. Don't spray any plant during a heat wave.

Avoid Fertilizing

Fertilizing during very hot weather can stress your plants further. Excess growth, lots of stems and leaves will outgrow the root system and create stress as the roots try to maintain the plants roots. It's best to fertilize when the temperatures are cooler.

In general, fertilize plants when you start to see new growth - leaves, buds, roots, etc. - and when planting transplants. Don't fertilize when plants are very dry or drought-stressed. Water the root area before fertilizing.

Avoid temperature extremes.

While extreme heat can degrade fertilizers, freezing temperatures can also cause separation in liquid fertilizers and decrease their usefulness.

The heat of summer can be a death sentence for your plants, but over watering can as well. The best thing you can do is keep the soil moist by watering when the top 1 inch (tip of your finger) feels dry to the touch and to be aware of the symptoms listed above.