Why you should fertilize your lawn in the fall

Best Practices for Fertilizing Your Lawn in the Fall

When you think about lawn care, spring and summer are probably the first seasons that come to mind. Fertilizing your lawn in the spring is really important to prepare it for the warmer weather, right? Actually, when it comes to fertilizing, the fall is the key time of year. This doesn’t mean you should only fertilize in the fall, but it should be your main priority.

Fall is the perfect time to prepare your lawn for the cold temperatures to come in winter, and fertilizing is a big part of this. It helps your lawn to grow healthier and stronger during this season, mitigating the damage that frosts and snowfall can do to it. The season also supports the fertilizer’s action thanks to the morning dew that will cover your grass. This moisture helps your lawn absorb the fertilizer.

Tips for fertilizing in the fall

Now let’s get to how to fertilize your lawn properly in the fall. The first thing you should do is check your local weather forecast. You shouldn’t fertilize your lawn before rain is expected, as the rainfall causes the fertilizer to run off your lawn, meaning it won’t be absorbed properly. You should also pay attention to when the first frost is due in your area. Fertilizing your lawn two or three weeks before this date is the ideal time to do it.

When you’ve chosen the perfect day for fertilizing your lawn, it’s time to choose what time of day you’ll do it at. You should try to avoid warm temperatures as much as possible as the heat can make the process less effective (another reason why fall fertilizing can be preferable to spring!). So, early in the morning or early evening are the best times to schedule your fertilizing.

It is a good idea to mow your lawn before you fertilize, and laying the grass clippings across your lawn can help the process, too. You should evenly apply a layer of fertilizer across your lawn. In terms of the fertilizer you use, The Spruce recommends choosing one with high levels of potassium and nitrogen, so check the ratios on the packaging when choosing you fertilizer. They suggest 1 lb. of soluble nitrogen or 1.5 to 2 lb. of slow-release nitrogen for every 1000 square feet.

Go forth and fertilize your lawn this fall so that its roots are tough enough to survive the winter and then thrive when spring comes around. Get in touch if you need any more support or advice for lawn care this fall.