When to Fertilize the Lawn - GreenView (2024)

FAQs

When to Fertilize the Lawn - GreenView? ›

The best time to apply fertilizer in spring is when soil temperatures have warmed, and the grass plant is actively growing. A general rule of thumb is after the first three mowings.

If you choose to fertilize only one time during the year, the fall is the most important fertilizer application for cool season grasses. Warm season grasses require regular fertilization during the periods of heaviest growth - which is during the summer months.

Cool-season turf's growing period is during the cooler seasons of fall and spring. As a general guideline, Californian homeowners should fertilize their cool-season lawns in early spring (March), then again in May, then from September to October.

Seed in early spring or early fall. Fertilize in early spring (after a mild winter) or late spring (after a cold winter), late summer and fall.

Well, the answer to that question will depend on what type of fertilizer you plan on using. If you are using a fast-release fertilizer, it will typically start working in just a day or two. If you use a slow-release fertilizer, it will take a little bit longer for them to start working, typically between 2-7 days.

Timing: Apply fall lawn fertilizer once between August and November, right before winter hits, 6 to 8 weeks after the summer feeding. Apply the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program Fall product now if you've been following that regimen.

In general, best fertiliser results are achieved by feeding three times a year – early spring, early summer (before it gets too hot) and mid to late autumn. If you are going to only fertilise once a year, do it in late spring to early summer.

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. Watering helps the fertilizer to activate and to break down and begin feeding nutrients to the lawn.

Ideally, you want to apply fertilizer treatments to your lawn after it rains. However, you'll want to wait for the puddles on your lawn to sink into the soil and the grass blades to dry.

You can usually apply most non-liquid granular fertilizers to wet grass, but not saturated ground. If there are ponds or heavy rain, it's best to wait until the ground processes the water before applying any type of fertilizer. If there's light rain, it's okay to spread dry granular fertilizer.

Can I fertilize my lawn every 2 weeks? ›

Is every two weeks too often to fertilize my lawn? While you could fertilize this often, it will lead to over-fertilization in most cases, so we don't recommend it. You could put a small amount of fertilizer down more often, but there's no benefit to doing this, and it just causes unnecessary work.

Enriched Fertilizers. Lawn Doctor technicians use nutrient-enriched materials that are packed with vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micro-nutrients. Slow-Release Fertilization. Our fertilizers slow-release nutrients to ensure your lawn is sustained for weeks after treatment.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium take time to absorb into your soil. Doing anything too drastic on your lawn, such as cutting your grass, will disrupt this process. We always suggest to our clients that they wait 24 to 48 hours before mowing their lawn after fertilization.

Nutrient Absorption and Grass Health

Fertilizing your lawn when the temperature is too low (below 50°F for cool-season grasses and below 70°F for warm-season grasses) can lead to poor nutrient absorption.

Before applying fertilizer to the lawn, it's important to mow it first to clear away any thatch. This allows the fertilizer to make better contact with the soil.

Fertilizer and Water

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.

Although some fertilizers benefit from slightly moist grass, if your lawn is too wet, it will fail to properly absorb the nutrients. This includes both granular and liquid fertilizer products. You should avoid applying foliar fertilizer to wet grass because it could lead to nutrient burn.

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.

For seed or plugs, apply fertilizer with a regular lawn spreader before you plant. If you're starting a lawn with sod, fertilize after your sod is in place. With any new lawn area, avoid using crabgrass preventer fertilizers or weed & feed fertilizers within four weeks before planting time.