Timing: Apply fall lawn fertilizer once between August and November, right before winter hits, six to eight weeks after the summer feeding. Apply the Scotts® Lawn Care Program fall product now if you've been following that regimen.
As a general guideline, Californian homeowners should fertilize their cool-season lawns in early spring (March), then again in May, then from September to October.
In general, fertilize plants when you start to see new growth - leaves, buds, roots, etc. - and when planting transplants. Don't fertilize when plants are very dry or drought-stressed. Water the root area before fertilizing.
If you're not supposed to fertilize during heavy rains, you're also not supposed to fertilize on scorching days. During these days, lawns tend to lose their ability to retain moisture. When this happens, your lawn becomes drier and less able to absorb nutrients.
Cool-season grasses, or lawns that thrive in cooler temperatures, are best to fertilize in the fall when the growing season is at its peak. Of course, if you missed fertilizing last fall or if your lawn just doesn't seem to be doing too well, you can also add a small amount of slow-release fertilizer in the spring.
Best case scenario, this is the standard schedule your lawn needs: Mid to end of APRIL – spring fertilizer – 32-0-6 slow release (fast acting) Early to mid JUNE (6 weeks later) – early summer fertilizer – 25-0-5 – 50% slow release. Mid to late JULY (6 weeks later) – late summer fertilizer – 25-0-5 – 50% slow release.
Another indicator that it's likely time to schedule a fertilization service is if your grass is turning yellow or fading. Chlorophyll is produced when your grass has enough nitrogen in its system, which gives it that desirable green color. However, when it's yellowing, it could be a sign that it is lacking in nitrogen.
Yes, you should mow your lawn before fertilizing it. This is especially true if you're fertilizing it for the first time in the spring.
Ideally, you want to apply fertilizer treatments to your lawn after it rains. However, you'll want to wait for the puddles on your lawn to sink into the soil and the grass blades to dry. It's also a good idea to fertilize your grass if it is sunny for a few days after it rains.
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
Meanwhile, warm-season grasses should be fertilized between late March and early May, and again between late June and early August. If you're not sure what type of grass you have, a good rule of thumb to follow is warm-season grass tends to turn brown, while cool-season grass does not.
Perennials that require no fertilizer: Included are ornamental grasses, false indigo, ground covers, butterfly weed, bee balm, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sea holly, dianthus, asters and veronica.
Best Overall Lawn Fertilizer: Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer. The best fertilizer for grass, overall, is Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer. This grass fertilizer is wonderful for promoting healthy grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Timing: Apply fall lawn fertilizer once between August and November, right before winter hits, six to eight weeks after the summer feeding.
Late summer or early fall is the best time to overseed lawns. Soil and atmospheric temperatures are most favorable for optimum seed germination and growth. With adequate moisture, fertilizer and sunlight, the new seedlings will be well established before cooler fall weather sets in.
As far as the time of day goes, you want to avoid fertilization mid-day when your lawn is in direct contact with the sun. Direct sunlight will cause your fertilizer to burn your lawn. So, we recommend fertilizing in the late afternoon and early evening.
At Master Lawn, we typically say to wait 24 hours before watering your lawn after fertilizing. But it is important to make sure that it does receive a good watering session soon after that 24 hour waiting period. Watering helps the fertilizer to activate and to break down and begin feeding nutrients to the lawn.
Granular fertilizers are excellent for applying to wet grass, as they adhere better and dissolve gradually, providing a steady supply of nutrients to your lawn's root system. Opt for slow-release formulations to sustain nourishment over an extended period, especially during periods of drought or excessive heat.
If you're watering and fertilising properly but your lawn is still brown or patchy there may be other problems. One of the main causes of lawn not responding to fertiliser is the pH level or your soil being too high or too low.
Mid-morning mowing is the healthiest for your grass. It meets all the conditions we mentioned earlier: dry grass, cooler temperatures, and enough time to recover.
Clippings from lawns treated with a herbicide or herbicide/fertilizer combination should not be used immediately as a mulch. For example, clippings from a lawn treated with 2,4-D should not be used as a mulch until the chemical has broken down (Table 1).
Never apply fertilizer to dry soil. It's important that the soil is evenly moist before adding the fertilizing liquid. Water until water drips from the pot into the saucer. Be sure to discard any water left in the saucer after the pot is done dripping.
Your lawn can become weak if you don't fertilize it.
They contain essential nutrients that your lawn needs to thrive like nitrogen that gives your grass its green color, phosphorus that helps promote robust roots, and potassium that improves its resistance to stressors.
Nitrogen deficiency usually presents itself as a yellowing of the grass leaf. This is known as chlorosis and occurs when the roots are unable to find usable Nitrogen within the soil. This prevents optimal chlorophyll production which is what makes the grass green.
Apply grass fertilizer around the perimeter.
Feeding around the perimeter first will allow you to fertilize the rest of the lawn without worrying about missing any of the edges. Using the EdgeGuard® feature on a Scotts® broadcast spreader helps you avoid getting grass food in garden beds, on sidewalks, or on driveways.