Fall Fertilizer Applications

19 Oct Fall Fertilizer Applications

The 5^th step of our lawn care program begins the week of October 25^th.  On this application we will be putting down a low Nitrogen 2% Iron blend.  This application is a low nitrogen blend because the last application (Step 4) was high in Nitrogen, and the 6^th step (winterizer) will be high in Nitrogen.  The Iron in the fertilizer helps maintain the green in your lawn as winter approaches, and works to increase the overall health of your lawn.  Nebraska Turf Products, our supplier, blends this specific fertilizer in Valley, NE so we also get the added benefit of supporting local business.

This will also be the last time we should need to put any chemicals in your lawn for weeds.  Fall is the best time of the year to manage pesky weeds (clovers, ivy, etc) because they are beginning to store nutrients for the winter.  Instead of storing nutrients during the winter, they store the chemical preventing growth in the spring.  Most lawns should only require a minimum amount of spot spraying.  After this application there should not be a need to spray going into the 6^th step.  Fall is the most important time of the year for your lawn – how your lawn is managed in the fall in large part determines what your lawn looks like in spring and early summer of the next season.

The 6^th step will be applied sometime around Thanksgiving and is the winterizer.  The goal is to apply the last application as late as possible before the snow falls.  The application will be high in nitrogen for two reasons: encourage root growth and strengthen the greening process in the spring.  The grass shoots grow most during spring and summer due to proper weather conditions; however it begins to go dormant during the fall due to the short days and longer nights.  The grass does not stop growing, however, it simply transfers the growth down into the root system.  Applying a high nitrogen fertilizer encourages this process, leading to a strong root structure and a healthier overall lawn.  The nitrogen will also stay stored during the winter, causing your grass to turn green early in spring once conditions are right.