How Often to Fertilize Lawn: How Often Should I Fertilize My Lawn for the Best Result?

For beautiful, lush lawns with healthy grass, proper fertilization is essential. But how often should I fertilize my lawn? This will depend on a number of factors, including the type of grass you have, your climate, and soil conditions. Here is an overview to help you determine a lawn fertilizer schedule that will work best for your lawn.

How Often to Fertilize Lawn by Seasons

When it comes to fertilizing your lawn, timing is everything! The lawn fertilizer schedule varies depending on the season and the type of grass you have in your yard. Here’s a breakdown of when to fertilize by season:

In Early Spring:

You should apply fertilizer in early spring to help your lawn green up after winter. It’s best to wait until your grass has had a chance to wake up from its winter dormancy and the soil temperature is above 50°F.

It is recommended to apply early spring lawn fertilizer once between February and April when your grass is starting to turn green and actively grow. This is usually around the time when you first need to mow your lawn.

In Late Spring:

You should apply fertilizer in late spring when the days start warming up and your lawn begins actively growing again. This will help promote strong root growth and green up your lawn.

To maintain a healthy lawn, apply fertilizer once in late spring between April and June. This should be done 6 to 8 weeks after the early spring feeding.

In Summer:

You should fertilize your lawn at least once during the summer, but it’s best to avoid over-fertilizing as this can burn the turf and cause disease problems.

To maintain a healthy lawn during summer, apply fertilizer once between June and August. Make sure to do this 6 to 8 weeks after the late spring feeding.

In Fall:

You should apply fertilizer in the fall when temperatures begin to cool off and your grass is actively growing again. This will help promote strong root growth and green up your lawn for the upcoming winter months.

It is recommended to apply fall lawn fertilizer once between August and November before winter arrives, which is around 6 to 8 weeks after the summer feeding.

In Winter:

You should not apply fertilizer in the winter as this can cause damage to your grass and lead to disease problems. However, you can use a calcium-based fertilizer in late winter when temperatures start warming up to help your lawn green up faster.

How Often to Fertilize Lawn by Grass Types

How often should I fertilize my lawn? When it comes to fertilizing your lawn, the frequency of application also depends on the type of grass you have in your yard. Here’s a breakdown of when to fertilize based on the type of grass: 

For Cool-Season Grasses:

Cool-season grasses for northern climates include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue. They grow the most during cool weather in spring and fall and are typically fertilized twice a year.

After the cool-season grasses break their winter dormancy, it’s best to wait until late spring for the grass to grow and build up its carbohydrate reserves. Then apply slow-release fertilizer before the summer heat arrives.

During summer, fertilizing cool-season grass is not advisable as it can harm and damage the grass. It is recommended to fertilize the grass in late summer or early to mid-fall to strengthen the root system instead of boosting leaf growth like in the spring. Make sure to fertilize early enough to allow the grass several weeks of active growth before the hard frost sets in for dormancy.

For Warm-Season Grasses:

The grasses that grow most actively in warm weather include bermudagrass, buffalograss, centipedegrass, St. Augustine grass, and zoysia grass. They are fertilized twice a year, like cool-season grasses, but the timing is slightly different.

To keep your grass healthy, apply fertilizer for the first time about six weeks after the last spring frost, when the grass has turned green and has been mowed at least twice.

Apply a second fertilization in late summer or early fall to replenish the energy reserves of the grass after surviving the summer and to help it grow denser for winter. This will also help prevent winter weeds from establishing themselves if you live in a warm climate.

For the second round of fertilization, it is often suggested to use a nitrogen fertilizer that can dissolve easily and is readily available. However, in areas with warmer climates and longer growing seasons, a third light nitrogen application may be necessary to ensure grass growth during fall and winter. Remember to wait at least 45 to 60 days before applying each round of fertilizer.

5 Reasons Why You Should Fertilize Your Lawn

It’s important to regularly fertilize your lawn to ensure it gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Here are five reasons why you should fertilize your lawn:

1. Fertilizer helps promote strong root growth, which leads to a thicker and lusher lawn.
2. Regularly fertilizing can help reduce weeds by making sure your grass is getting the nutrients it needs.
3. Fertilizing can help promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, which are important for a healthy soil ecosystem and turf health.
4. Applying fertilizer helps to replenish nutrients that have been lost due to wear and tear from traffic or other activities.
5. Fertilizing can help increase the rate of water absorption and help your lawn to better withstand drought conditions.

A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Fertilize the Lawn

Fertilizing your lawn may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fertilize your lawn:

Step 1: Determine the Fertilizer Type

The type of fertilizer you use will depend on the type of grass in your lawn. For cool-season grasses, a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is best and for warm-season grasses, a potassium-based fertilizer is best.

Step 2: Measure out the Fertilizer

Once you’ve determined the type of fertilizer to use, measure out the amount based on the directions given on the package. It’s important to measure it accurately as over- or under-fertilizing can be harmful to your lawn.

Step 3: Fill the Spreader

Once you’ve determined how much fertilizer to use, fill a rotary spreader with the correct amount and close it securely. It’s important to make sure there are no clumps of fertilizer in the spreader as this can lead to uneven distribution.

Step 4: Apply the Fertilizer

Start at one end of your lawn and move slowly in a side-to-side motion, making sure to overlap each pass so that no part of your lawn is missed. Once you’ve covered the entire area, turn off the spreader and move on to the next section.

Step 5: Spread the Fertilizer Evenly

Once you’ve spread the fertilizer, use a rake to evenly distribute it across your lawn. This will ensure that no part of your lawn gets too much or too little fertilizer.

Step 6: Water Your Lawn

After applying the fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly to help it absorb the nutrients.

Step 7: Do the Maintenance of Your Lawn

Finally, make sure to properly maintain your lawn with regular mowing and watering schedules to help keep it healthy.

What Happens if I Don’t Fertilize My Lawn?

If you don’t fertilize your lawn, it can become weak and thin, leading to an increased risk for weeds and disease. In addition, your lawn may not get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and resilient over time.

What Happens if I Over-Fertilize My Lawn?

Over-fertilizing can be just as damaging as not fertilizing at all! If you apply too much fertilizer, it can cause the grass to burn and become weak. In addition, over-fertilizing can lead to an increase in weeds and disease problems in your lawn.

FAQs About How Often Should I Fertilize My Lawn

Q: Should you feed a lawn after a heatwave?

A: It is not recommended to use fertilizer during hot weather as it can harm cool-season grasses and result in fertilizer burns. To avoid this, it is better to apply organic fertilizer that slowly releases nutrients twice a year – once around mid-May and again in September.

Q: Should my grass be watered before I fertilize it?

A: To prepare for fertilizing your lawn, water it thoroughly one to two days prior. Once the grass has dried, apply the fertilizer and then lightly water it again. This second watering is crucial, as it helps to wash the fertilizer off the grass blades and into the soil.

Q:  How often should I fertilize my lawn?

A: The lawn fertilizer schedule depends on the type of grass you have in your yard. For cool-season grasses, you should fertilize four times a year – once in early spring, late spring, summer, and fall. For warm-season grasses, you should fertilize three times a year – once in early spring, late spring, and fall.

Q: Will fertilizer burn grass if not watered?

A: It is important to water your lawn after fertilizing it. This will help in washing the fertilizer off the grass blades and into the soil where it can provide nourishment to the lawn. Additionally, if fertilizer is left sitting for too long without being watered, it can burn the grass.

Q: What happens if you apply fertilizer to wet grass?

A: While there may be some concerns, applying fertilizer to wet grass can be beneficial to provide it with essential nutrients. Wet grass allows the roots to effectively absorb nutrients as water can break them down, leading to greater availability for the plants.

Q: Can grass survive without fertilizer?

A: If you don’t fertilize your grass, it won’t be healthy and won’t feel soft. Fertilizer contains three nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – which are all essential for proper lawn health. Having these nutrients in your soil is necessary for your grass to grow to its best potential.

Conclusion – How Often to Fertilize Lawn

How often should I fertilize my lawn? The answer to this question depends on the type of grass you have in your yard. Generally, cool-season grasses should be fertilized four times a year – once in early spring, late spring, summer, and fall – while warm-season grasses should be fertilized three times a year – once in early spring, late spring, and fall. When applying fertilizer, it is important to measure out the correct amount and water your lawn thoroughly after fertilizing. Following these tips will help ensure that your lawn is healthy and lush all year round! Comment below if you have any questions!