Give Your Lawn a Boost With Fall Fertilizing

Give Your Lawn a Boost With Fall Fertilizing

Heading into winter, your lawn may need a boost. Fall fertilizing is the answer. You want your yard to pop in the spring, and a well-timed application makes a big difference.

Let’s look at the benefits of fertilizing in the fall. We'll cover the following and more:

Why fertilizing in the fall is important

Choosing the right fertilizer for your grass type

The steps needed to do the job right

Nitrogen's role in fall fertilization

Why Fertilize in the Fall?

A lot of people are surprised at how much difference fertilizing lawns makes in the fall. So, how does it all work? Well, grass growth begins to taper off in the fall. Your lawn starts anticipating the winter — storing up nutrients. Fertilizer encourages this process.

It tells the lawn:

"Hey! Get some food in you before winter."

This wake-up call is especially important for storing nitrogen reserves. While the grass above the surface may slow down, the roots underneath are active. Fertilizing in the fall feeds the roots to allow them to grow deeper toward moisture and nutrients.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Fall

Choose a fall fertilizer high in nitrogen. The type of fertilizer you need depends on your grass type. Phosphorus in the fertilizer will help with root production, and potassium helps the lawn withstand cold and disease.

Ensure that any fertilizer you use is appropriate for the grass type and follow package directions for application. For warm-season grasses, you'll want to find something that leans more toward phosphorus and takes a balanced approach. Cool-season grasses typically need a fertilizer higher in nitrogen.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fall Fertilizing

The question of when you should fertilize in the fall comes down to where you live. Many Americans will need to fertilize in early fall. September is a month that works well. Those living in gulf-coast states and far south can expect to fertilize a little bit later in the season.

When does it get colder?

Six to eight weeks works well. Might be October, might be November. Reach out to a lawn care expert if you need help.

It's important to have enough time to fertilize before winter hits, as the grass should be able to absorb the nutrients and root itself.

Before applying, mow your lawn to a medium height (never below three inches) to make it easy for the fertilizer to sift down to the soil. Also, rake so that leaves and debris do not prevent the fertilizer from getting right to the grass, and ensure that the entire area receives a consistent fertilizer application.

Apply your fertilizer using a broadcast spreader and overlay it slightly onto your lawn to reduce waste. After you have spread the fertilizer, lightly water your lawn. This will help the fertilizer absorb into the soil. Don't water heavily, as too much water will wash away your application before the fertilizer has had a chance to take effect.

The Role of Nitrogen in Fall Fertilizers

For many homeowners, finding a fall fertilizer that is high in nitrogen is the best route to take. Nitrogen stimulates growth and helps heal damaged patches. It also increases carbohydrate production. Your lawn uses carbohydrates stored in the roots during winter as sustained energy to make it through dormancy. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium all produce positive results, but nitrogen is the macronutrient of all lawns.

It's important to know the main ingredients in fertilizer. Think NPK. These are the three elements included (think back to high school science for a bit and the periodic table. Or don't. Most of us are trying to forget those days).

The three letters show you the ratio of the active ingredients based on the content of nitrogen (N) first, then phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) last.

Nitrogen: Nitrogen is the key element for grass blade growth and promotes turf color, especially in fall, to help cool-season grasses recover from summer stress and maintain strength. Don't overdo it, though. It's a balance. You don't want to encourage too much growth and create a lawn that cannot keep appropriate nutrient levels through the winter months.

Phosphorus: Phosphorus plays a role in root development. For lawns with established root systems, a low to moderate amount of phosphorus might be just right to feed the roots, but for certain lawns, such as those with poor root development or new sod, more phosphorus will be needed.

Potassium (K): The third number represents potassium, which promotes overall lawn health, improves disease resistance, helps cold tolerance, and strengthens turf cell structure. It also helps grass manage stressors such as drought or frost.

A soil test is the only foolproof way to know your lawn needs. Understanding the fertilizer ratios ensures you're giving your lawn just what it needs, though — no more, no less.

Weed and Feed in Fall: Is It Necessary?

If you have clover, dandelions, and other broadleaf weeds in your lawn, fall is a great time to apply weed and feed. These products kill weeds and fertilize — hence the weed and feed name.

Applying a weed-and-feed ensures that when spring comes around, your grass isn't competing with weeds over nutrients. The thicker your grass, the less opportunity weeds will have for growth.

If you're choosing a weed and feed, you'll want to use it before the soil becomes too cold — limiting these product's effectiveness.

The Role of Slow-Release Fertilizers

Slow-release fertilizers are a great choice for fall. Rather than giving your turf a sudden hit of nutrients, they provide a steady supply over several weeks. Slow-release fertilizer keeps your lawn strong throughout the season.

And, of course, it reduces the chance of over-fertilization and the negative consequences that can bring, from the unsightly burning of your turf to a heavy build-up of growth that results in shallow roots.

Should You Fertilize or Seed First in the Fall?

Overseeding in the fall is a great way to clean up bare spots and patchy turf. When you prepare your lawn for the fall, getting the right steps down is important.

In most cases, you'll want to start with the grass seed. It's fragile as it's trying to set down roots. Fertilizer could make it harder to get going, so you'll want to give your seed enough time to establish before fertilizing.

Use a starter fertilizer to help with the process.

infographic - Give Your Lawn a Boost With Fall Fertilizing

Quick Summary

Fertilizing in the fall might be what your lawn needs. Ahead of the winter, a well-timed application can boost your lawn and have it looking great when spring rolls around.

Complete a soil test to see what exactly your lawn is lacking. The type of fertilizer you need depends on your grass type.

For warm-season grasses, you'll want to find something that leans more toward phosphorus and takes a balanced approach. Cool-season grasses typically need a fertilizer higher in nitrogen. Slow-release fertilizers are a great choice. They don't stress a yard too much.

If you're also looking to seed your yard, you'll want to do that first and give plenty of time for the grass to take root before applying fertilizer. It could bog down the roots and keep it from growing well.