Autumn is a good season to add nutrients to your lawn. Fall fertilizing builds strong grass roots and helps the plants to store up energy for the following spring. Are you wondering when to fertilize your lawn in fall? If you’ve procrastinated fertilizing, you may want to know the last possible time to feed the grass before winter.
There is no universal “perfect” time for applying fall lawn fertilizer. But the best fall lawn fertilizer schedule for your lawn isn’t hard to figure out. This article will help you narrow down the best timing in your region.
Why Feed the Lawn in Fall?
Unless you are new to living with a lawn, you know the importance of giving that carpet of grass some TLC before winter. In most areas, turfgrass goes dormant in winter, then starts growing again in spring (if it’s cool-season grass) or early summer (if it’s warm-season grass). Fertilizing in fall gives the grass a nutrient boost that results in better growth in spring.
When to Feed the Lawn in Fall – Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grass loves summer heat. In warm regions, these lawns can remain green from early summer right through fall. It’s best to skip a fall nitrogen feeding. Nitrogen pushes growth and you don’t want new young grass to appear in late fall since it will be killed by a fall frost.
If you want to fertilize warm-season turfgrass in fall, use a phosphorus-heavy type of fertilizer. Severely limit nitrogen since the grass should be almost done growing for the year. Try this Scotts Winterguard fertilzer on Amazon, which can be used on any type of grass.
Early fall fertilization is your best bet for warm-season grass. A September feeding will give the lawn a chance to absorb the nutrients and then to slow growth before dormancy. Consider September your very last chance to fertilize. If you miss this fertilization timing, fertilize in late spring as your lawn starts a new season of growth.
When to Feed the Lawn in Fall – Cool-Season Grasses
When should I fertilize my lawn in the fall? If you're asking about cool-season grass, remember that it doesn’t appreciate summer’s heat. This type of lawn thrives in spring and fall and needs two feedings of nitrogen to stimulate growth, one in the spring and another in the fall.
The autumn application of fertilizer for cool-season grasses should be scheduled in September or October, between Labor Day and Halloween. This timing is ideal since it feeds cool-season grasses that have struggled through the stress of summer heat with extra irrigation and need some help recovering. Fall feeding helps the roots of cool-season grass to get growing, creating a dense grass concentration that shoulders out fall weeds. A good option is Scotts Winterguard Weed & Feed, available on Amazon.
The last possible day you can fertilize cool-season grasses in fall is generally considered Halloween. However, the exact day depends on current and projected soil temperatures. You never want to fertilize when the turfgrass is dormant or the ground is frozen. Plant growth slows when the soil temperature drops below 40 degrees F (4 C). That means that turfgrass plants won’t be able to utilize nutrients effectively in cold weather, so fertilizer applications would be wasted.
If you do decide to feed your grass in November, reduce the rate of nitrogen to prevent excessive turf growth in spring. If you missed this deadline for fall fertilization and your ground is already frozen, there is no way to get nutrients to your turf before winter. You’ll need to wait until spring to feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fertilizer for grass in the fall?
Fertilize cool-season grass with nitrogen-heavy fertilizer in the fall. Use a phosphorus-heavy fertilizer for warm-season grasses, since most of their annual growth has already occurred by fall.
Is October too late to fertilize?
October is considered the optimal month for fall lawn fertilizer. When it comes to warm-season grass, it’s better to apply fertilizer earlier in autumn and September is considered the best month.
