Fall is the Best Time to Fertilize Cool-Season Grass
Are you wondering when is the best time to fertilize cool-season grass?
The Best Time to Fertilize Cool-Season Grass
Now that it’s fall, it’s time to give a little more TLC to your cool-season grasses. The sweltering heat of the summer can severely damage the root system of these grasses. During the fall, however, the combination of cool temperatures and rainy days creates the optimal environment for root growth and development.
Because fall is a prime season for root generation, it is the best time to fertilizer cool-season grass. If you fertilize in the fall, a lush, green lawn without excessive top growth can be achieved in the spring. In other words, this means that your lawn will be healthier and you will spend less time mowing in the future.
When a strong root system is created by fertilizing in the fall, the grass will be better equipped to survive extreme moisture and temperatures during the other seasons. In particular, nitrogen-based fertilizer, like xVital, will help to thicken the roots, promoting the formation of a sturdy underground network.
But it’s important to keep in mind that this same rationale is not applicable to warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda grass. If these types of grasses are fertilized during the fall, they can become damaged and more susceptible to disease.
The best time to fertilize cool-season grass is from mid-September to November. During this time, approximately one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet should be applied. Application should be done around the final mowing, which allows the lawn to become green in early spring without excessive shoot growth.
Follow the tips and tricks below to discover how you should apply fertilizer to grass during the cool-seasons.
Tips and Tricks for Proper Fertilizing Techniques:
- Always perform a lawn soil test before applying fertilizer. Note that applying fertilizers that contain phosphorus and potassium are not recommended unless a soil test indicates otherwise. Most of the time, a higher nitrogen concentration is ideal. This makes xVital perfect for use on cool-season grass during the fall.
- Ensure that fertilizer is spread evenly and properly by using calibrated spreading equipment.
- Never apply fertilizer to sidewalks and driveways! This will cause runoff, which will greatly harm the environment by entering rivers and streams. If fertilizer does accidentally end up in these areas, remove it immediately.
- Do not apply fertilizer just prior to excessive rainfall or irrigation.
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Source:
Here’s why you Should Fertilize your Bluegrass and Tall Fescue Lawns in September
