Wondering When to Fertilize the Lawn? Here’s Our Guide
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When it comes to home care, knowing when to fertilize your lawn is as important to the health and wellness of your property as any part of your home maintenance checklist. That beautiful green grass does much more than simply up your home’s curb appeal. Healthy lawns help improve air quality by keeping dirt and particulates on the ground where they should be, cool down your outdoor space in hot weather, lower noise pollution, and reduce runoff and erosion.
Before you find the best fertilizer for you, it’s important to understand the basics: When to fertilize your lawn, tips on the best way to do it, the difference between organic and conventional fertilizer, and answers to other common questions you might have. Below, we answer all of this and more, so you can come prepared with knowledge on proper grass maintenance. Keep reading for our advice about fertilizing, what types of fertilizer to use, and how to choose the best lawn fertilizer for your needs. We even offer recommendations for our top picks, whether you’re searching for organic lawn fertilizer, spring lawn fertilizer, or fall lawn fertilizer.
When should I fertilize the lawn? Is there a best month?
The best time to fertilize a lawn depends on whether you have warm-season or cool-season grass. The most common types of warm-season grasses include bahia grass, bermuda grass, centipede grass, St. Augustine grass, and zoysia grass. For a lush lawn, fertilize warm-season grasses in late spring and through the summer into early fall.
Cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue, thrive in cooler climates. If you’re caring for a cool-season lawn, the best time to fertilize is in early spring and early fall right around the first frost, which varies depending on where you live.
And how do you fertilize the lawn?
Similar to knowing when to fertilize the lawn, learning how to fertilize the lawn is just as important.
First, Find Your Fertilizer
- Identify Your Grass Type: Depending on where you live in the USA, you’ll either have warm-season grasses or cool-season grasses, as we mentioned before. Southernmost zones have warm-season grasses, northern zones have cool-season grasses, and the smaller zone in between (the transitional region) sees a mix of both warm- and cool-season grasses.
- Do a Soil Test: Your best lawn fertilizer will heavily depend on your lawn’s pH level, as how alkaline or acidic your soil is directly determines how it’ll absorb the fertilizer.
- Measure Your Yard: This might go without saying, but how much fertilizer you need will depend on the size of the lawn your fertilizing. You’ll find this number by measuring the length of your lawn by the width, in feet.
- Time to Fertilize: Once you’ve done a soil test, measured your yard, and determined the best fertilizer for you, it’s time for the application.
How to Apply Granule Fertilizer
- Prior to anything, be sure the spreader and the fertilizer are both dry.
- Then, fill the spreader. You can determine the rate of flow according to the setting listed on your fertilizer bag.
- Start the spreader. Begin by going around the perimeter of your lawn, and be sure the vent stays open. Go back and forth across the rest of the lawn until it’s fully coated. Note: Your fertilizer bag might provide a recommended pattern. Adhere to those directions if so.
- Clean the spreader—as well as any other areas it might have spread debris, such as your patio or driveway—thoroughly after you’ve finished your application.
How to Apply Liquid Fertilizer
- Prior to application, be sure your hose is off. For hose-end sprayer bottles, simply attach the liquid fertilizer bottle to your hose. For fertilizers with separate sprayers, read package instructions for prepping your liquid.
- Turn on the hose (or activate the fertilizer), and move at a slow and steady pace as you cover your lawn in a back and forth motion for even application.
- Clean the sprayer thoroughly before storing it in a cool, dry place.
What are the best fall fertilizers and tips?
While hot summer days and cold winter nights can stress your grass, more moderate fall temperatures offer your flora a chance to regain strength and vibrancy. That’s why fall is the perfect time to give your lawn some love.
Fall lawn fertilizers are formulated to prep plants to survive cold winters. Look for a fertilizer that’s potassium-rich to strengthen roots, and apply it in the morning; the dew will help your plants absorb all the nutrients they need. These highly rated picks should get you off to a strong start.
Shop the Best Fall Fertilizers
Should I consider spring fertilizer, too?
Yes! Fertilizing in the spring helps jumpstart growth after the cold weather has passed. We’ve done the research and have recommendations for spring lawn fertilizer, too.
Shop the Best Spring Fertilizers
Do I need to fertilize my lawn in the summer and winter?
There’s no need to fertilize your lawn in the winter, since grass is typically dormant at that time of year. Warm-season grasses can usually benefit from a mid-summer application, while cool-season grasses don’t need another round of fertilizer until the fall.
Is it better to fertilize grass before or after rain?
Unless the weather calls for a downpour, which can cause runoff, it’s better to fertilize before it rains. The water will help your lawn absorb the fertilizer.
What should I know about organic lawn fertilizer? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Organic lawn fertilizer balances the soil ecosystem naturally, with no foreign chemicals or leftover residue from artificial compounds that are often found in conventional fertilizers. They also deliver nutrients to the grass slowly, which avoids shocking the plant with a dose of fertilizer that’s too strong.
Like most organic products, organic fertilizer is typically more expensive than conventional options. It can also take longer to show results, so if you are looking for rapid growth, organic fertilizer isn’t the best choice. But if you’re ok with being patient and would prefer the organic route, take a look at our organic fertilizer recommendations below.
Shop the Best Organic Fertilizers
Milorganite Organic Slow-Release Nitrogen Lawn and Garden Dry Lawn Fertilizer
Is it worth it to use a lawn fertilizer service?
Hiring an expert saves you time, effort, and guesswork. If you can afford it, a professional lawn fertilizer service is a fantastic, hands-off way to ensure that your lawn thrives while you’re free to focus on other things. The price will depend on factors like where you live and the size of your lawn, but generally speaking the cost usually doesn’t surpass a few hundred dollars.
Amy Gordon
Amy Gordon is a freelance writer and editor who splits her time between New York, NY and Vieques, PR. When she’s not at her desk, you’ll probably find her on a plane with her nose in a book, in the Caribbean snorkeling through coral reefs, or on the couch watching true crime TV. Learn more and read her work at www.amygordonmedia.com.
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