Avoid applying fertilizers when plants are dormant or under heat and drought stress. Fertilizers should be incorporated into the soil to prevent losses. If you cannot physically incorporate a fertilizer at this point in the season, it may be best to stick with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Whether or not your lawn is dormant, applying fertilizer right now, with the high temperatures we've been having, is not a good idea. Applying either fertilizer or weed killer when it's hot out can damage your lawn. You're better off waiting until later in summer to fertilize.
It is wise to be wary of fertilizing your lawn during hot weather. The best time is when temperatures remain below 85 degrees Fahrenheit with overcast conditions, using a slow-release formula. Extra fertilizer in the heat can burn the lawn and the extra flush of growth may have difficulties in the summer heat.
Don't fertilize plants or trees during hot summer months
An increase in growth means an increase in water and nutrient needs. During hot spells, it is especially hard to keep up with plant water and nutrient needs as soils dry out quickly and water may not be readily available.
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.
General tips. Avoid applying fertilizers when plants are dormant or under heat and drought stress. Fertilizers should be incorporated into the soil to prevent losses. If you cannot physically incorporate a fertilizer at this point in the season, it may be best to stick with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Feeding in the early summer helps strengthen the lawn so it can better withstand the heat and drought conditions that summer is famous for. Scotts® Turf Builder® releases its nutrients slowly over time, making it the go-to fertilizer for all grass types.
Apply summer lawn fertilizer once between June and August, 6 to 8 weeks after the late spring feeding.
*Don't fertilize in hot weather. Excess growth, lots of stems and leaves will outgrow the root system and create stress as the roots try to maintain the plant.
Applying fertilizer in the wrong season can cause increased tender new growth that can be damaged, especially if applied in cold weather in late fall or in winter. So it is best to stop fertilizing during dormant seasons. Additionally, in zones that can be in danger of a late freeze, it's best to wait until mid-spring.
And, it's true that, in hot, humid weather, this excess nitrogen, released rapidly into the turf, can create tip burn, the affect we call “burning”. Also, mis-applied or over-applied fertilizer, usually due to an improperly adjusted lawn spreader, can have the same affect. Still, the lawn is not “burned”.
Fertilizing your yard during summer may seem to be counterproductive. You don\'t want it to grow even faster, but by maintaining a fertilization regimen, you are improving the quality of your lawn and preventing weeds and other threats from getting a foothold.
Don't fertilize during a heat wave.
If you fertilize your plants while they're stressed, it may even damage them. Withhold the fertilizers (or apply a weaker diluted solution) until the weather cools off a bit and your plants have a chance to recover.
Apply Low-Nitrogen Fertilizer
Whereas nitrogen-rich fertilizers are appropriate for the early springtime green-up and growth, as we just mentioned, they can cause further stress to lawns in the summer and even cause burns. That's why low-nitrogen fertilizer is a great option for summer lawns.
Combatting Seasonal Heat
Even if your lawn is healthy, help it fight the heat by mowing frequently, taking only a little bit off at a time, no more than one-third of the grass blades' height. Avoid mowing during peak temperatures, and make sure your mower is equipped with a sharp lawn mower blade to ensure clean cuts.
Scotts® Turf Builder® SummerGuard® Lawn Food with Insect Control can be used on any grass type. Apply to a dry lawn in the summertime when insect activity or damage is first observed.
Don't fertilize during a drought.
Most fertilizers need a thorough watering or two to soak into the soil, and allowing the fertilizer to sit on top of the lawn without watering it in could burn the grass. You may want to delay the application until wet weather arrives.
Scotts® TurfBuilder® UltraFeed™is an excellent choice for fertilizing lawns that tend to get stressed in the summer. It holds onto nutrients until your lawn needs them, then releases them. Because of this, a single feeding can last up to 6 months.
Avoid applying summer fertilizers when lawn is dormant or under heat and drought stress. Temperatures consistently above 85 degrees Fahrenheit could risk fertilizer burn.
A little fertilization at the end of summer or the start of fall goes a long way for the next growing season.
Fertilize. Apply an application of Milorganite® around the 4th of July (northern grasses). A summer application of Milorganite will continue to give your lawn the nutrients it needs. Milorganite will not burn your lawn even in the hottest temperatures and driest conditions.
Beginning late summer and through September and into early October is a great time to fertilize many plants. This includes lawns, young trees, shrubs that need to grow more leaves and groundcovers that need to spread and cover. Pecan trees loaded with nuts can benefit from a fertilizing with nitrogen in August.
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.
Fertilizing your lawn in the morning enables you to take advantage of cooler temperatures and morning dew to reduce the risk of burning the grass. As you spread the fertilizer and water it in, the nutrients will have the best chance of reaching the roots and being absorbed quickly.