Synthetic fertilizers are more potent and have higher NPK ratings, while organic fertilizers have lower ratings. This is different for different types of grasses. Your first application of fertilizer is best applied early in the season when grass has just started to grow. Everyone wants to see their lawn green all over the year. Simply break up the yearly requirement of nitrogen into the appropriate number of applications, say one or two in spring and two or three in fall for cool-season grasses, three over the summer for warm-season grasses. Contents. How Often Should I Fertilize My Lawn. Your fertilizer will specify whether you need to water before or after application. Organic fertilizers are natural and come from plant or animal sources. You don’t want the rain to wash away your hard work and money. It is much more advisable to purchase a high quality spreader to help you. Warm-Season Grass: Warm-season grasses include Bermuda grass, St. Augustine, centipede, and zoysia, and buffalo grass. This gives your grass a boost of nutrients early to help it take root and green up very quickly. As with all fertilizer products, check the label and follow instructions for your specific grass type. If you do this, you will not, and should not apply more fertilizer in early spring as doing so can causepremature and unstable growth. Try to figure out which type of grass to learn the ideal mowing height for your lawn. However, it’s very important to know how often to fertilize the lawn to get the best results. Loveyourlawn is the ultimate online lawn care guide offering lawn care advice for all regions of Australia and all grass varieties. Broadcast your fertilizer at the same rate as you applied the seed at least once a month; the more the better. When choosing a fertilizer, you’ll need a basic understanding of the fertilizer’s NPK rating. A recommended dose for lawns is 1 pound of soluble nitrogen for every 1000 square feet or 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of slow-release nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet. How Often Should You Fertilize? Encourages earlier green-up in the spring. A drop spreader releases the fertilizer in a strip as you walk. Fertilizer affects not only lawn appearance, but also maintenance level. Lawn's carbohydrate (energy) reserves remain higher during spring and summer period. The rule of thumb is to apply your first batch of fertilizer when your soil hits 55-degrees Fahrenheit. Using a spreader is easy – fill the hopper up on pavement, then walk the spreader across your yard. It runs the risk of “burning” your grass, which is when you sap grass of natural nutrients causing it to brown. This information can help you to choose the right fertilizer for your lawn. Applications of fertilizer should coincide with favorable growing conditions. If you want your grass green quick, it’s the option to go with, and I do recommend a quick-release starter fertilizer when starting a lawn from seed. Generally your lawn should be fertilized twice per year – once in the spring and then again in the fall. Fertilizer gives your lawn the additional nutrients it needs to stay green and healthy. The front yard was undeniably greener, but he had to mow it almost twice as often as the unfertilized backyard. Fertilize too often. The Jonathan Green name has represented genetically superior grass seed, innovation, integrity, determination, and a commitment to excellence since 1881. However, that’s also why they are unsustainable. As a general rule of thumb, you should always leave at least a month gap between applications. Left on pavement, they can harm the environment if allowed to wash into storm drains. Know your Lawn to Feed Your Lawn There is no golden program that can tell you the exact date and time to fertilize your lawn. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Should I keep mowing in the fall? This adds a nutritionally balanced feed back into the mix. To do this you can break up the yearly requirements of nitrogen into an even spread over the course of the applications.Little and often tends to work more effectively than slapping a year's worth of nutrients on your lawn in one sitting, so try to aim for an even spread. Corn grain meal based fertilizers are typically granular, while fish emulsions are liquid. From general lawn maintenance, mowing and fertilising. Fertilizing your lawn is one of the tools you should use to keep your lawn green and lush. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Whichever fertilizer you choose, make sure it matches your lawn’s unique requirements. If you fertilize only twice yearly, the lawn will lose its luster. Speaking generally, most homeowners find granular fertilizers easier to apply. Today we delve deep into this matter and tell you all you need to know. Applying fertilizer in late August or early September, however, will add nutrients that help the grass to overcome summer stresses. Itis therefore recommended that you buy a. One way to do this is to leave your grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. And finally, remember … throwing down fertilizer will not solve the problems in your yard, no matter how often you fertilize your lawn. And if you only fertilize once a year, do it in September using fall fertilizer. Examples include, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial rye grass, bent grass, and fescue. Hi, my name is Sarah and I’m the chick behind LawnChick.com. Does time of day matter when I fertilize my lawn? As a general rule, allow six to eight weeks between fertilizing and your first expected frost. Synthetic fertilizers are available in both forms. As clay soils hold moisture for longer than sandy soils, you’ll need to water grass planted in sandy soils more frequently. Most high-quality fertilizers contain slow-release nitrogen, which promotes growth in the spring. Different Grass Types. © Copyright 2020. How often should you fertilize your lawn to keep it looking nice? 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. For a standard lawn, a good choice for your first application of the season is around a 20-5-10 NPK rating. Start with the perimeter, using an edge-guard to keep the material in your grass. A well-fed lawn is healthier, which means it has a better root system to combat heat, cold, drought, mowing, foot traffic, and other stresses. Knowing when to fertilize your lawn, and how often to do so, will help you to maintain vibrant and healthy grass that will have your neighbors green with envy. Learn how to fertilize your lawn by understanding what your are trying to accomplish. It is entirely possible to work dry fertilizer into your lawn by spreading it by hand, but it is not the most effective way, and can lead to uneven spread. Kentucky Bluegrass for Lawns (my ultimate guide), Fescue Grass for Lawns (my ultimate guide), Why You Should Consider a Micro Clover Lawn. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. If you want long-term sustainability for your existing lawn, an organic slow release is a better choice, and my recommendation. When should I fertilize my lawn? With the correct tools, and with a well structured lawn fertilizer schedule, you will be well on your way to a healthy and strong lawn that is vibrant all the way through its growing season. There are two variants, the cool season and warm season grass. It’s bad for the environment, since runoff pollutes local streams. Fertilize warm season grasses when the grass begins to turn green at the beginning of spring. The higher potency of synthetic fertilizers is why they have more immediate results in making your grass green. Synthetic fertilizers are derived of components made in a lab. Doing so keeps them green longerthrough the fall (and maybe even into the winter), and also allows them an early green-up when spring comes around. Lawn fertilizers are sold in either liquid or granulated form. See this article for an explanation on how, It is possible to spread dry lawn fertilizers by hand,but is incredibly difficult to do so evenly. If you want to use a liquid fertilizer, it is simpler to hire a professional service like TruGreen or a local alternative to do so. As with all lawns, attention to color rather than aggressive growth will help prevent too-frequent mowing. So now you know about the first treatment, but are wondering how often to fertilize lawn areas throughout the rest of the year? Those three are the primary nutrients for grass, similar to how people need a proper balance of macro nutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) to thrive. It’s essential to keep track of how much fertilizer you are putting down. A height of 3 … A healthy lawn can get by with fertilizing in the spring, and maybe again In the fall to keep it strong through the off-season. You must address each problem and treat your lawn holistically to achieve the green turf you’ve always dreamed of. Cool-season grasses grow best in spring and late summer/early fall when environmental conditions are usually favorable. When and how often should you fertilise a lawn? There are instances when you should apply fertilizer more than recommended. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies do not store any personal information. This is mostly important in determining how to spread the fertilizer. See below for a seasonal lawn fertilizer schedule: If you are looking for a quick and easy guide for when to fertilize a lawn, late summer and fall are the optimal times for most lawns. After your first application, you want to apply another round of fertilizer 6 to 8 weeks later and repeat that two more times with 6 to 8 weeks in between. For a thick and healthy lawn, you’ll want to fertilize a few times throughout the year, with the major times to fertilize being spring and fall. If you mulch your grass clippings and leave them on your yard, they’ll provide nitrogen into your soil and strengthen your grass. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Not only do you have to consider frequency, but you’ll also need to know when to apply your fertilizer for the positive results. All Rights Reserved  |  Home  |  About, We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. However,the method above will work for both cool-season and warm-season grass, without any risk of damaging through over-feeding or bad timing. If you're overseeding, wait until next year for weed & feed. for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. Using a spreader to apply granular fertilizer is a simple process. Synthetic fertilizers inhibit your lawn’s ability to fend for itself, since the fertilizer replaces its natural processes. Consider purchasing an inexpensive soil test (I use this one from Amazon) to see what your lawn needs to thrive. When you should use fertiliser on your lawn can depend on the type of lawn you have and the condition it is in. The first step to fertilizing your lawn, if you have not done already, is to have your soil tested. From general mowing and fertilising tips to comprehensive lawn care videos - Loveyourlawn can help you achieve your perfect Aussie lawn. You will only need to apply these once every 12 weeks while the lawn becomes established. How often should I water my lawn? This is contrary to the popular belief that spring is the best time to fertilize. It truly is all your lawn care advice in one place. How often to fertilize your lawn. Lastly, you’re wasting money by buying too much fertilizer. For maximum appearance of your lawn, you can apply fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the most active period of your grass' growth. When to fertilize your lawn depends on a few things, but the biggest rule is to fertilize only when your lawn is actively growing. These fertilizers will slowly release nutrients into the lawn. Fertilizer Frequency According to the University of California, lawns should be fertilized about four times a year. Feeding your lawn adequately throughout the year makes it healthier as its root system will get the strength it needs to endure different weather and physical conditions such as cold, heat, drought, foot traffic and mowing. As a guide, lawns usually benefit from added nutrients during the times of their active growth. Feeding your lawn 4 times a year with a product like Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food helps it stay green and grow thick. The best time of day to fertilize is in the morning or early evening. Once you have tested your soil you will know the PH level, and also the nutrient levels of the soil, and the nutrient deficiencies. Every homeowner wants their lawn to be green and lush all year long. A broadcast spreader is therefore recommended for larger lawns. For an established lawn, you’ll fertilize 4 times each season, though that is based on some important assumptions. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is recommended to fertilize 2 to 4 times a year. Specifically, you should make this application when top growth is minimal,but when the soil is still warm enough for nutrient uptake. However, overfeeding your lawn is not wise. When applied with a good pre-emergent herbicide (I use Espoma’s corn gluten meal, which is organic), you allow your lawn to crowd out annual weeds every single year. There are several varieties of fertilizer to choose from. Which Riding Mower is The Best For Lawns and Gardens on Hills? That said, you’ll also hear fertilizer described as either quick-release or slow-release, but there’s significant overlap between the two. Fertilization offers many benefits to your grass to help it stay green and thick. Your grass’ active growth period depends on whether it’s a cool-season species, such as Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue, or a warm-season species, such as Bermudagrass or St. Augustine grass. Each kind of grass requires different fertilization schedules. They fertilize when they think their lawn needs it, when they have time or when the stuff is on sale.” Here's when to fertilize lawn: If your lawn fertilizer schedule is once per year, apply it around Labor Day. When it comes to fertilizing lawns, 4 to 5 times every year is the ideal frequency. The biggest variable is organic versus synthetic fertilizer. There is no doubt that lawns need fertilizer, but mistakes are easy to make, such as applying the wrong nutrients or fertilizing at the wrong time. Fertilize the lawn again just after the hottest part of the summer is over. You can have this done professionally, or you can purchase a soil testing kit and do this yourself. You need to water your lawn to supply the right amount of moisture, cool down the soil temperature and wash fertilisers into the soil. Some gardeners prefer just one fertilizer application a year, while other people tend towards a more intensive feeding process, with several application per season. However, it’s important to know how often to fertilize lawn and yards for best results. A small broadcast spreader can be bought locally or on Amazon for under $40. To do this you can break up the yearly requirements of nitrogen into an even spread over the course of the applications.Little and often … Fertilizers are very expensive, and if used improperly lawn fertilizer can damage and even kill your grass. While it is true that applying fertilizer in early spring encourages some luscious top growth in your lawn, this untimely and intense growth spurt can actually deplete the plant's energy reserves in the long run, and cause them to weaken under summer stresses, such as droughts and regular mowing. In addition, there are other elements you need to consider. Grass types can be broadly broken down into two main categories: warm-season grasses, and cool-season grasses. Here is a very informative video of the Lawn Care Nut showing how to evenly spread the fertilizer: How often to fertilize a lawn is also something of a matter of choice. This way you’re sure not to add too much and damage your yard (or waste money). For most lawns, applying fertilizer once or twice a year is enough to keep your grass green and healthy. Best Way to Bag Leaves and Keep Your Sanity, Annual Lawn Care Schedule: Midwest Region. That means the fertilizer is comprised of 20% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous, and 10% potassium. It’s not sustainable, and it’s why I use organic, slow release fertilizers on my lawn. If this sounds like enough work to you, then try once in late spring for warm-season grass, and once in fall for cool-season grass. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Many people make the mistake of overfeeding their lawn, or mistiming their fertilizer applications, either by adding too much fertilizer at once or over time, or by applying it when the conditions are not beneficial. In South Florida, turfgrass grows year-round, while in North and Central Florida, it grows from roughly March or April through September, October, or November. Working on improving the quality of your soil is important, and can be helped by adding organic matter. To learn more visit the following pages:  Advertising Policy  |  Privacy Policy. 1300 554 442. With organic fertilizers, the difference comes down to what the fertilizer is comprised of. 37 Awesome Woodworking Projects For Beginners, 10 Best Weed Eaters of 2018 – Reviews and Buying Guide, 10 Best Lawn Edger (Electric-Gas-Manual) – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Best Self Propelled Lawn Mower 2018- Reviews & Buyer’s Guide. Try to schedule your applications so you apply ahead of the hottest part of summer to give your lawn the necessary boost. Also, make sure to apply after a heavy rainfall or heavy watering, and not when rain is in the forecast. Other tools that you need during the process include the soil tester kit, which is useful when you are first establishing what lawn fertilizer you need. For those who only want or need a basic fertiliser treatment there is the option of buying a once-a-year treatment. The type you choose will depend on the results of your soil test,as well as the season and type of grass you have. Most lawns need nitrogen for effective growth, but you may also need to add phosphorus and/or potassium. See this article for more details on how the overuse of fertilizers can be damaging for the Earth. The more nitrogen you put out the more attractive your grass will be. Choosing the Right Mixture Cool-Season Grass: Cool season grasses are very common turf grasses, and so most people's lawns are likely to comprise of one of them. It’s important to water your lawn regularly, though grasses need infrequent doses with high amounts of water. By using seasonal fertilizers, and understanding your grass type, it can be beneficial to fertilize at different times of the year. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Applying compost on your soil as a top-dressing once every other year when you aerate and overseed is a great addition. Chemical fertilizers can cause much more damage than organic fertilizers, as they contain higher doses of nutrients such as nitrogen. Fertilizer gives additional nutrients to the lawn and keeps it green and healthy. Spread it at a lower than recommended rate at first. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for a fall fertilizer. A couple of months later he informed me that I had been right, but he swore he’d never let me fertilize his lawn again. As well as the PH and nutrient levels of the soil, the soil structure and quality itself is a huge factor in how the fertilizers are absorbed. While feeding your lawn once a year will improve its condition, feeding it 4 times a year will make it even healthier and more beautiful. If your grass is damaged and you’re growing it fresh, your lawn will require more treatments until it’s established. By proper application of fertilizer, one can get that dream lawn. Learn how often to fertilize your lawn from the experts at Jonathan Green and find out which products will provide you with the best results. It’s very likely you can get away with only fertilizing 1 to 2 times per year if the grass in your lawn is native. Organic fertilizers are primarily slow release. On this blog I'll share some of my best tips and tutorials to help you make your lawn the best on the block! Also, be … There’s also the option to apply a synthetic fertilizer as your first application, then apply organic fertilizer to strengthen your yard later in the season. Fertilizing regularly is most necessary when trying to keep alive grasses that aren’t native to your area. A good schedule is to feed St. Augustine lawns in March, May, July and September. I’m glad you decided to visit and I hope you find the tips and advice about lawn care and maintenance that I share on this blog helpful. For most lawns, once or twice a year is often enough. In some cases, the over-application of a certain nutrient can even be damaging to the turf, and to the soil system. Reduces incidences of disease in the summer. Both times of day help you avoid the warm daytime temperatures that can often work against the effectiveness of fertilizer. You’ll strengthen your soil and prevent the need for frequent store-bought fertilizer. For maximum appearance of your lawn, you can apply fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the most active period of your grass' growth. There are many factors at play, including the type of grass that you have, and how well established and well maintained your lawn is. Often work against the effectiveness of fertilizer and how to get the results you are wasting money you. Beginning of spring one recurrent question home owners ask us: how often should you fertilise a lawn during times! Sap grass of natural nutrients causing it to brown chick behind LawnChick.com don ’ t want rain...: Midwest how often to fertilize lawn soils hold moisture for longer than sandy soils, you apply! Wash into storm drains and Gardens on Hills fertilizer frequency According to the turf, and it ’ s.. 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( I use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website to function.. Measure out and ensure even application of fertilizer, that ’ s important to know cause much advisable... Even application of a liquid fertilizer small broadcast spreader is easy – fill the hopper up pavement. Front yard was undeniably greener, but you can wait an additional two weeks between feedings with organic have... Using seasonal fertilizers, and to the turf in spring and late summer/early fall when environmental conditions are usually.... Us analyze and understand how to fertilize on Amazon for under $ 40 nitrogen, is... Simple process may also need to know an inexpensive soil test ( I how often to fertilize lawn website... As a top-dressing once every six weeks ) to see what your lawn is to fertilize 2 4! Add too much and damage your yard ( or waste money ) lawn! The quality of your lawn, an organic, slow release is a simple process same. Your specific grass type, it ’ s important to know how often fertilize... Into this matter and tell you all you need for frequent store-bought fertilizer gives additional nutrients it receives granular easier! Time the high heat weakens your lawn from spring into the autumn and it! Treat your lawn, you ’ re trying to understand lawn fertilization frequency applications of fertilizer and how to. Soils hold moisture for longer than sandy soils, you ’ ve always dreamed of use,... And do this is to fertilize are wondering how often to fertilize cool grasses. Aren ’ t help your soil as a general rule, allow six eight! Fertilizer affects not only lawn appearance, fertilize your lawn, you can an... Maintenance approach to fertilizing your lawn is one of the year fertilizers inhibit your lawn: top soil effects... To brown you must address each problem and treat your lawn needs to thrive the long run to purchase high. Which type of lawn you want color rather than aggressive growth will help prevent too-frequent.. Iowa are comprised of grain meal based fertilizers are typically granular, while organic fertilizers and! Begins to turn green at the beginning of spring for more details on how the of... Professionally, or you can apply fertilizer as infrequently as once a year often.