When To Fertilizer Your Lawn in the Fall. The best time to apply your last fertilizer application is between August 15 and October 1. Ideally, your last lawn feeding should take place six to eight weeks before the average first frost in your area.
Fall Fertilizer Timing
For the majority of cool-season lawn owners, apply fertilizer anywhere from September through early November. The further north you garden, the sooner you'll feed your lawn. Fine-tune the timing for your locale by talking with your local extension service or garden center.
Caring for Your Lawn in Winter
Get your lawn ready for the winter with Jonathan Green's Winter Survival Fall Lawn Fertilizer. Spread it anytime from early September through mid-November when air temperatures are cooler and the soil is still warm enough for grass roots to grow deep.
While this fall lawn fertilizer dose is important, an application at the end of October or early November is essential. At that time, apply a fertilizer with a formula of 13-25-12. The push of phosphorus will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December.
Don't apply winterizer too late—Generally, winter fertilizer should be applied in November or earlier, depending on your climate. Try to avoid applying in early December, as the nutrients within the formula may not take hold in time to protect the grass from the harsh conditions.
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.
This means the temperature can't be below freezing, so the task is typically handled sometime in early November in most places in the north. If you live in a warmer area, however, December can be a great time to fertilize your lawn.
If done too early you could be inviting damage from the winter weather, such as snow mold. The best time to fertilize can depend on the climate, but typically September and October are usually the best months to apply fall fertilizer.
Make the last fertilizer application before July 1.
New growth also needs time to "harden off" before winter. Tender new growth is at risk of cold injury if it is forced late in the season, when plants and trees should be shutting down for winter.
“Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as 25-5-5, or something with a similar formula.” When applying the winterization fertilizer, one pound of nitrogen should be applied per 1,000 square feet.
Apply Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Weed & Feed3 on a calm day when weeds are actively growing and temperatures are consistently between 60°F and 90°F. Make sure your grass is moist from dew or sprinkling, as this helps particles adhere to weed leaves to produce the best results.
Jonathan Green Winter Survival is the best fall lawn fertilizer overall, and my top recommendation for fertilizing at this time of year. With a 10-0-20 NPK ratio, it has a generous serving of potassium which can aid in quickly repairing summer damage, and which will improve turf health going into the winter.
Can I put too much fertilizer on my lawn? There is the idea of “too much of a good thing,” and that definitely applies when it comes to fertilizing your lawn! Applying too much fertilizer to your lawn will cause the nitrogen and salt levels in the soil to increase rapidly, which can damage or even kill the grass.
Ideally, you'll want to mow and rake before fertilizing, so that excess lawn waste is removed and the fertilizer will have an easier time reaching the soil.
This is your lawn's last chance to thicken up, restoring turf density back to its early summer form. Fall fertilizer helps regenerate roots lost by hot, humid or dry summer weather. Fall fertilizing fortifies your lawn so it can better combat severe winter conditions that lie ahead.
Fall is the best and most important time to fertilize your lawn because: Fall's morning dew delivers moisture to help turf absorb the fertilizer. The grass has a chance to build stamina before a chilly winter. Supporting root growth in fall leads to a healthier, greener lawn in spring.
Late fall fertilization will provide better winter color of the stand, quicker green-up in the early spring, and an increase in root growth. Late fall applications of fertilizer are more important to the health of lawn grasses than spring applications more commonly practiced by most gardeners.
During the growing season from spring through fall, your lawn, whether established or newly seeded, will perform best when fed four times, with each feeding applied 2 to 3 months apart.
You should fertilize your lawn a day or so after a light rain or using a sprinkler. This prevents the application from being washed away. The moisture gets your soil damp and ready to receive nutrients. Do not apply fertilizer before or after heavy rains.
We recommend waiting 24 hours after fertilizing to water your lawn, which will give the fertilizer time to settle. After the 24 hours are up, it's important to give it a good soak—not just a quick spritz with your hose—to activate the fertilizer and help the critical nutrients absorb into the soil.
Contrary to popular opinion, fall is the best time of the year for lawn care. Fertilization, weed and thatch control, establishment of new lawns, and renovation of poor quality lawns should be done over the next few weeks. Your most successful seeding time is right around Labor Day.
“Once spring arrives, your lawn will quickly tap into these nutrients for a beautiful burst of green. In fact, a lawn fed twice in the fall will stay green longer into winter and be the first to green up in the spring.”
The good news about rain or snow is that both are very good for your fertilization treatment. Fertilizer needs to reach the root system and it needs to mix with water. The fertilizer breaks down with either rain or snow. Now the fertilizer will begin to feed the root system and green up the lawn.
Why Fall and Winter Fertilizing Is A Mistake. There are lower light levels in the colder months, which means naturally, houseplants will grow at a much slower rate and need less water and food as a result. If they're not expanding as much energy, they don't need extra nutrients.
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.