Let’s face it: nothing beats the feeling of our toes gliding through the lush, green grass in our yards. But did you know that our lawns do far more than make us feel good and beautify our living space?
Yes, lawns also reduce heat by 20-30 degrees, improve air quality, promote flood control, and generate oxygen. That’s precisely why we need to keep lawns healthy – so they can continue to give us these benefits. And this is where fertilizing in the fall comes into play.
If you are wondering when to fertilize in the fall and what kind of fertilizer to use, don’t worry. In this post, AAA Lawn Care explains why fall fertilizer timing is the best time to fertilize your lawn and provides you with fertilizer application tips from lawn care experts.
Let’s get started!
Why is fall the best time to fertilize our lawns?
The heat and hard sun in summer are stressful for our lawns. Shorter days and cooler temperatures in the fall provide the ideal settings for our turf to regain strength, and fertilizing feeds the recovery process. Here are a few reasons why fall is the best time to fertilize your lawn:
- Fertilizing in fall gives your grass a chance to build stamina before the chilly winter months
- Morning dew during fall delivers moisture to help your turf absorb the fertilizer.
- Fertilizing in fall promotes healthier, greener lawn in spring
- Fertilizing in fall helps regenerate the roots lost during hot and dry summer months.
Feeding your lawn during fall is good, but you’ll need to fertilize the best way possible to enjoy the results. Next, we discuss the best time to fertilize your lawn in the fall, what fertilizer to use, and fertilizer application tips.
Fall fertilizer timing
You may have received advice from some lawn experts saying that you should fertilize your lawn in autumn if you do it once a year. But the truth is that the specific time to feed your lawn depends on where you live. For most cool-season lawn owners, apply fertilizer in the fall (from September through early November). To know the exact date, talk to your local garden center or extension service about the first frost date in the locale. That date is perfect for fertilizing because the ground hasn’t frozen yet.
What kind of fertilizer should I use on my lawn in the fall?
A common misconception by many lawn owners is that all fertilizers work the same all year round – which is far from the truth.
Fall fertilizers promote healthy root growth, add nutrients and minerals to the soil, and prepare your grass for frost. And while the best lawn fertilizer will vary from area to area, the fall season calls for slow-release fertilizers. Consult the lawn care experts in Michigan in your area. By slow-release fertilizers, it means that the nutrients release slowly over time to the grassroots. The bag should have a larger first number (Nitrogen), followed by a zero or a smaller number for phosphorus and potassium. The number could read 20-0-10.
Remember:
The type of turf you have will determine whether you need to fertilize your lawn or not. Cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue, grow peak in fall and spring and will need fertilizing in the fall season. On the other hand, warm-season grasses, like zoysia and Bermuda, don’t need fertilizing in the fall season.
Fertilizer application tips for lawns in the fall
Fall fertilizer application benefits your lawn in several ways, including prolonging the dark green turf color into early winter, increasing shoot density, ensuring winter survival, etc.
Here are a few fertilizer application tips to help you enjoy these perks:
- Wait for rain: The fertilizer will help your lawn the best when the soil is moist, so wait until it rains to apply the fertilizer. However, do not fertilize the lawn after heavy rain. Let the grass blade drain first and try to time so that there is no rain in the next 24-48 hours.
- Read the bag: Make sure you read the specifications and instructions that come with the bag.
- Clear the lawn: First, remove any leave and debris that would prevent the fertilizer from reaching the grassroots.
- Mow your lawn: Start on a clean slate by mowing your lawn before fertilizing.
The bottom line
The lawn plays a vital role in our yard. The green lushness makes our outdoor space pop, and the grass helps promote quality air in our homes. Fertilizing the lawn during the fall season is among the best ways to keep it healthy. You can trust AAA Lawn Care for professional help in fertilizing your lawn. Since 1984, we’ve provided our customers with lawn care help, including pest control, fertilization, and weed control across the U.S. Contact us today for more information.
We’ve been in business for over 40 years and have the experience to get your yard looking beautiful. Give us a call at AAA Lawn Care today!