Fall Fertilizer: The Step You Don't Want To Skip
Between intense heat, drought, pests, and disease, summer lawn care can present challenges for even the most experienced of homeowners. And we know losing your grass to any one of these common summer troubles can leave you feeling like you're better off to try again next year, but don't give up now.
Why Feed in the Fall
As fall rolls in, the cooler temperatures and morning dew will begin to bring grass in drought-induced dormancy back to life. Taking the time to feed your grass now will help it through this recovery process quicker, allowing it to shift it's energy into preparing for winter dormancy. If grass is properly fed in the fall, it will begin to store carbohydrate reserves that are vital to resisting winter disease and damage. This feeding will also allow your grass to store away nutrients as a source of energy for root and blade growth come spring.
Fall Application Timing
Fall application timing should be catered to your climate and grass type. In most cases, for both cool and warm season grasses, you'll want to fertilize in early to mid September. The majority of our products contain slow-release nitrogen that provide continuous feeding for 6 weeks, but if you choose to use a product like Core™ 12-8-12 that is all quick-release, you may want to consider a second fertilizer application in October or November.
Don't Forget Your Soil
Fall is also a great time to reassess your soil's health and needs. Applying soil amendments at the same time as fertilizer helps ensure that nutrients are being fully absorbed and utilized by the grass. If you plan to establish new grass, you'll want to consider an amendment that contains biochar like BioChar DG™, PGF Complete 16-4-8 or HumiChar™.
