Like it or not, your lawn needs more than sunshine and the occasional rain shower to look its best.
If you want your lawn to look lush, green, and full, you need to apply fertilizer regularly. Fertilizer gives your grass the nutrients it needs to grow into the thick, beautiful lawns you’re looking for.
How often to fertilize your lawn depends on a few important factors. Keep reading for a closer look at when you should apply fertilizer to your lawn.
Know Your Grass
Before you begin to apply fertilizer to your lawn, you must determine what type of grass you have.
In the US, there are dozens of different types of turf grass, each with its own unique growing characteristics. Most grasses can be broken down into warm season or cool season varieties.
Knowing when your grass most actively grows is crucial to determining how often to apply fertilizer.
Warm Season Grasses
As the name implies, warm season grasses are actively growing — and looking their best — in the warmer months of the year. In the southern US, the warm growing season for these grasses can stretch from early spring to late summer or early fall.
Some common warm season grasses include St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, and Buffalo grass. These grasses usually grow actively in the spring and summer months, before going dormant in late fall and winter.
These warm season grasses often do best when fertilizer is applied in the spring as they begin to come out of the dormant winter months, then periodically through the summer.
Cool Season Grasses
Cool season grasses are typically most active in the fall and winter months. Common cooler season grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescue.
These types of grasses also need to be fertilized during their active growing months. While many of this grasses will remain green in the summer months, it’s best to fertilize them early in the fall. Continue regular fertilizer applications through the winter and early spring.
The Best Time Of Day to Apply Fertilizer
Once you’ve figured out what type of grass you have, and the best time of year to fertilize, it’s time to plan your application.
Much like watering your lawn, it’s best not fertilize in the middle of a hot afternoon or right before or after a heavy rain. Take a look at the weather and pick a morning or evening when you can apply the fertilizer to your lawn.
How to Apply Fertilizer to Your Lawn
Most lawn fertilizer comes in either a solid or liquid form with solid fertilizers being the most common for homeowners to apply.
Solid lawn fertilizer usually comes in a bag and has a granular, pebble like texture. To apply solid fertilizer evenly, it’s best to use a spreader. Spreaders are usually on wheels and can be pushed around the lawn to apply fertilizer evenly. Inexpensive handheld models are available too if your on a budget or have limited storage space.
To use a spreader, simply fill the hopper to the desired level and walk around the yard. Start by pushing the spreader around the perimeter of the yard and work your way inward. Be sure to use the fertilizer container’s recommended spread.
Once you’ve covered the lawn, sweep any excess off the sidewalk or driveway and back into your yard.
If using a liquid fertilizer, you will need to use a special spray applicator and carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions. Liquid fertilizers are not commonly used by homeowners though and are typically applied by professionals.
Watering Your Lawn After Fertilizing
Watering your lawn after applying fertilizer is one of the most important steps.
Most solid fertilizers require a good watering after application, just be sure to follow the included instructions carefully.
If you don’t water after fertilizing, you probably just wasted your time and money. Fertilizer needs water to stick to the grass and begin to work its way into the soil.
On the other hand, too much water can actually wash the fertilizer away. This is why it’s important to watch the weather when fertilizing — a heavy rainstorm could wash your hard work right down the street.
How NOT to Fertilize Your Lawn
One thing to remember when fertilizing your lawn…
There is no benefit to applying too much fertilizer. Overfeeding your lawn will not make the grass grow faster or greener.
In fact, applying too much fertilizer can actually “burn” your grass — turning it brown or even killing it.
It’s important to remember that fertilizing your lawn is a long term investment that will make it look better over the course of weeks or months, not days or hours.
The right amount of fertilizer, applied a few times of year during the correct season for your grass will keep your lawn looking thick and green for years to come.