Fall can be a busy time in the garden. Between harvesting the vegetable garden, cleaning up flower beds, dividing perennials, and raking the leaves, there’s a lot to do. That’s why it’s good to know what you need to focus on and what you can leave off your to-do list.
I’m here to help you pare back your chore list by sharing when to fertilize plants and what plants to fertilize in the fall. There are three main types of plants that benefit from fall fertilization. I’ll explain which ones need a little feed this autumn and recommend the right fertilizers for the job.
Plants You Need to Fertilize in Fall
You don’t have to fertilize everything in your garden in the fall. In fact, over-fertilizing can cause more harm than good. There are, however, three types of plants that do benefit from a boost of nutrients this fall. Here are ones you need to feed now before winter.
1. Cool-Season Grasses
Fall is the perfect time to fertilize cool-season lawns if you want green grass that lasts up until the first frost. When fertilizing the lawn in fall, choose a fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content. Nitrogen promotes new green growth, which will die back when cold weather hits and defeat the purpose of your fall feeding.
Instead, choose a lawn fertilizer specifically made for late-season feeding, like Winterguard Fall Lawn Food from Scotts on Amazon. The right fall lawn fertilizer will help your grass grow stronger roots, which means a healthier lawn next summer. Selecting a fertilizer with potassium can also improve your lawn’s winter hardiness, drought tolerance, and ability to resist common lawn diseases.
2. Trees & Shrubs
Not all trees and shrubs require fertilizing in fall, but new plants and ones that are recovering from stress do benefit from a late-season boost. If you moved any trees or shrubs this year, fall is a good time to fertilize them and help them settle into their new home.
Timing is crucial for fertilizing young or recently transplanted trees and shrubs. Don’t fertilize too early or plants will put out new growth that will get damaged during winter and make your plants more likely to struggle. But don’t wait too late either.
Fertilize immediately after trees and shrubs drop their leaves (feed evergreens at the same time). Roots keep growing and accepting fertilizer until soil temperatures dip below 40° Fahrenheit (4° C).
Use a fertilizer that’s lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium to help plants grow a robust root system that lets them flourish next year. Espoma Garden Food, which you can find on Amazon, is a good choice for fall fertilizing. I also find that a sidedressing of composted cow manure helps my hydrangeas and other woody plants do well the following summer. You can find composted manure at Ace Hardware online or in stores.
3. Fruit Crops
Set up next year’s harvest for success now by fertilizing fruit trees and shrubs in fall. After harvest, plants begin to set blooms which will become next year’s fruit. Make sure trees and shrubs are well-nourished so they can produce lots of delicious fruits for you next season.
Avoid fertilizers that are high in nitrogen. Feeding plants with nitrogen now will force them to put out tender, green growth, which is susceptible to cold damage. Instead, choose a fertilizer that’s rich in phosphorus and potassium.
Rock phosphate, which you can find on Amazon, is great for strong root growth. Apply that and a dash of potash, which is also available on Amazon, around apple trees, blueberry bushes, raspberries, and peach trees to give them a boost this fall.
