The kids are back to school, your vacation days are used up, and the evenings are cooler, so this means summer is heading out and fall is on its way. This is the season to make sure your lawn is ready to endure the upcoming winter months to ensure it’s green and lush again come spring. Applying fall fertilizer is essential in achieving this goal.
The Importance of Fertilizing in the Fall
Fertilizing in the fall is crucial to help your lawn recover from any damage suffered from the summer while providing protection and strength to withstand the winter weather and emerge healthy, lush, and green when spring arrives. Grass sprout growth slows in September and October while the cooler temperatures allow for stronger root development.
How to Prepare and Fertilize Your Lawn for Winter
It is critical to apply fall fertilization at the right time to fully reap its benefits. The ideal time is when the temperature has cooled but before frost starts forming on the ground. Applying between mid-September and mid-October will provide the necessary nutrients to strengthen the roots and store the energy through the winter.
There are also a few additional things you must do to prepare your lawn for fertilization:
Soil test. You want to determine the levels of phosphorus and potassium in your soil before choosing the fertilizer. This will help you determine how much and what type of fertilizer you will need. Here is what each nutrient in a lawn fertilizer provides for your lawn.
- Phosphorus (P) – Promotes root growth, structural strength, blooming, and seed production.
- Potassium (K) – Integral in supporting the growth and development of the grass.
- Nitrogen (N) – This will not show up in soil tests, but is a crucial chemical in your fertilizer. It is essential for plant growth and assisting storage and usage of energy.
Remove thatch and leaves. Thatch is the accumulation of dead grass and various debris, removing it will allow for better absorption of the nutrients. You must also either rake or mulch your leaves to make the fertilizer more effective in ensuring better growth and health for your lawn.
Aerate your lawn. This process will alleviate compacted soil and provide air, water, and nutrients better access to the roots. This optimizes the fertilizer’s effect on the roots.
Overseed. If you have some bare patches or dead grass, overseeding will promote healthier, thicker, and stronger grass growth along with the application of the fertilizer.
Mow your lawn. Yes, you still need to cut the grass in the fall, and the ideal height is around 6.5 cm (2.5 in) before applying the fertilizer to maximize its effectiveness. This is also the length you want the grass before it stops growing and your lawn starts to freeze.
Choose the Best Day. The ideal time to apply fertilizer is the day after rainfall and a few days before the next rain while the weather is relatively mild. You can’t control the clouds, but you want to plan the activity around projected forecasts.
Use a Spreader. Now, you're ready to actually fertilize the lawn. Never handle the fertilizer with your hands, Apply the fertilizer using a broadcast or drop spreader to distribute the nutrients evenly across your lawn.
Time to Fertilize
The summer months were fun, but they also took a toll on your lawn. You worked hard to make it look as great as possible. This is why the smart next step is to apply fall fertilizer. If you need more guidance then please contact Mountainview to speak with our knowledgeable staff for tips and assistance, or you can hire one of our trained professionals to apply the fertilizer for you. We are here for you to make sure your lawn can endure the tough winter and be ready to amaze all over again in the spring.
