Like us, grass cannot live on water alone and right now, before the stress of summer arrives, is the perfect time to fortify your lawn with fertilizer. 

If your lawn is showing areas of weakness, like weeds, fertilizer will strengthen your lawn and crowd out weeds before they take root.

Knowing how and when to fertilize varies depending upon many variables like soil quality, type of grass, and weather conditions, but these general rules apply to most lawns.

The right stuff – Go organic and know your dirt

Chemical fertilizers can do much more damage than organic. Opting for organic is better for your lawn (consider LadyBug brand), your family, your pets and the environment.

Testing your soil will tell you the pH and nutrient deficiencies of your soil. With this information, you will know if you need fertilizer and which type. 

The right amount – less is more 

Avoid feast or famine feeding of your lawn. Too much nitrogen damages grass, feeds weeds and ends up as runoff in our watersheds. A famine of nutrition to your grass allows opportunistic weeds to exploit weak spots.

A better rule is to spread less fertilizer and in multiple feedings across the year. 

The right time – seasonally for optimal results 

As the needs of your lawn vary with each season, so do the benefits of fertilizing. Here are general recommendations to consider.

Early Spring – think April 1 
As your lawn wakes from winter sleep, weeds are already active. Instead of traditional fertilizer, this is the ideal time to top dress, which enriches soil with beneficial microbes, stimulates grass growth, and smothers weeds. 

Late Spring – think June 1
Fertilize now to strengthen your lawn before the heat of summer. 

Summer – think August 1
Neglected lawns especially benefit from the application of slow release fertilizer in summer to help handle the stress of summer.

Fall – think October 1
Your fall application speeds recovery from the summer’s stress and prepares your lawn for winter slumber. 

If you are still confused about when or even if your lawn needs fertilizer, we are happy to help. Just let us know!