The Importance of Winter Fertilizers

Late fall fertilizing is done to help lawns store more food in the winter and encourage the grass to grow thick and have healthy roots in the spring. It is not done to help grass grow over the course of the winter, early fall fertilizers are for encouraging growth.

When to spread Winter Fertilizers

The best time to spread these fertilizers is in late fall, after the grass stops growing. This could be as late as mid-November or even December, depending on location and weather patterns. A good rule of thumb is, when you put you mower away for the year, spread your winter fertilizers.

What to Apply

It was previously thought that potassium and phosphorus were what the grass needed at this time in the year. This has been disproved, and it is now understood that nitrogen should be a major part of winter fertilizers.

How to Apply

When applying be careful not to use too much. You are better off going with less than the recommended amount on the bag, because unabsorbed nitrogen can reach groundwater if you over apply. You should be able to get two or three times the amount the bag tells you. So if the bag says it will cover 5,000 square feet, you can probably get 10,000 to 15,000 square feet. With liquid fertilizers you can go even lighter.

Tyler Kaiser

T. J. Landscaping Inc