Lawn and Garden: When To Fertilize

The most important thing you can do for a lawn is to provide it with proper nutrition. A well-fed, healthy lawn has a better root system to combat heat, cold, drought and other stresses. A quality, granular, controlled-release fertilizer allows grass plants to grow evenly, without starvation periods or heavy growth spurts. Controlled, even growth also minimizes grass clippings.

Most lawns require 4-5 feedings per year. Basically, the first feeding should coincide with the first mowing; and the last feeding when the grass is done growing for the year. The following is an example of a typical lawn care program.

Early spring (February to April) - Lawns wake up hungry from the winter months. A spring feeding strengthens roots and gets lawns off to a good start before the heavy growing season.

Late spring/early summer (May to June) - At this time grass is actively growing and using up nutrients, therefore it is important to supply the lawn with a proper feeding designed for this time of year.

Late summer (Late August) - With cool nights, rainfall and morning dew, this is a great time to supply the lawn with the nutrients it needs to recover from and repair summer damage. A late summer feeding is one of the most important of the year.

Late fall/early winter (September - October) - A final feeding before the nasty winter months will strengthen roots and increase nitrogen stores for an early spring green up. At this time of year, roots remain active for just a couple of weeks when the top growth stops - the energy reserves are stored for the following spring.

The specific time of day you fertilize your lawn depends on weather conditions, and some fertilizers shouldn't be applied if rain is in the forecast for 24 hours. You should always read the directions on the back of the bag carefully before applying any fertilizer.