You ’ll get the fleeceable results when you time your fertilizing right with the next rain event .
Elenaleonova / Getty Images
Weather play a big theatrical role in all form of lawn upkeep projection . Fromwhen you mowto the best clip to reseed , the forecast often drives the undertaking . The same is true for applying lawn fertilizer . Whether you areapplying fertilizer in the fall — the best metre to fertilize — or broadcast plant food in late give , soil wet is a critical factor in clock it right on . We tapped the experts to check whether fertilise before or after the next measurable rainfall is best . Their passport will simplify your fertilizer plan and lead to a healthy , potent carpeting of greensward .
Credit:Elenaleonova / Getty Images
Time It Right
Timing is everything when it comes to fertilizer program . Plan to spread fertiliser when the soil is ardent and the grass is actively turn .
“ territory temperature really does subject , ” say Lou Manfredini . “ You want the soil temperature to be at least 50 ° F . This will help fertilizers and weed dominance to work its skillful . ” When you enforce fertilizer to turf that is inactive and not growing due to cold atmospheric condition or drought , it is squander because the works is growing so tardily that little of the plant food is absorbed .
Fertilizer timing also issue forth into romp with the frequency of software . Spread fertilizer too oft , and the lawn will grow wildly above land while the roots struggle to keep up with all the shoot growth . Timing is everything .
Watch the Forecast
Before fertilize actively growing grass , chequer the weather report . Turf fertilizer is useable ingranular ( ironical ) and liquid formulations . Recommendations for when to apply vary more or less based on the plant food formulation .
If you are using granular fertilizer , Aaron Steil says , “ Do not fertilize if moderate to heavy rain are potential within 24 hours . ” He goes on to explain that the rainfall will wash away much of the fertiliser before the lawn can use it . The atomic number 7 - impenetrable fertilizer will flow into waterway , disrupting the local ecosystem . farinaceous fertilizer can be open if a light rainwater measuring a twenty-five percent - inch or less is forecast in the next 24 60 minutes .
Lou Manfredini says fecundate on a rainfall - free Clarence Shepard Day Jr. is especially significant when using liquid fertiliser . “ Apply smooth fertilizer and hold off about 24 hour before watering or a rain event , ” he tell . Manfredini suppose rain presently after app program will quick rinse away the worthful fertilizer before it can attain the turf ’s theme zone .
Bottom line : It ’s good to fecundate your lawn after a rainwater . The dampish soil will help the fertilizer transgress down more pronto , birth worthful nutrient to turfgrass roots without the threat of the fertilizer wash away .
Water Granular Fertilizer into the Turf
Granular fertiliser does not begin present nutrients to plant roots until it is in contact with the territory and wet . For that reasonableness , many granular sward fertilizers must be watered in after software . Check the fertilizer package label for how - to selective information .
Beware of Burn
If your lawn has brown stripes or patches soon after fecundate , the cause might be fertilizer combust . Many plant food are made up of soluble salts . When the salts are heavily hard around green goddess roots , they get out water out of the plant , often killing it . Fertilizer burn mark is most vernacular when the turf is fertilized in spicy weather or without being water in . Always water in fertilizer to foreclose burn down unless the package recording label orchestrate not to .
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for an all - aim fertiliser formulated forthe sess in your lawn . The best fertilizer will contain slow - button nitrogen for unfluctuating growth over several calendar month . wait for the words “ slow - loss ” on the packaging .
Yes!Grass clip are loaded with nutrient — the combining weight of about 1 Lebanese pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet — along with other macronutrients and micronutrients . Let the cutting precipitate back into the turf where they ’ll decompose , and the nutrient will filtrate down to the skunk ascendent zone .
Your lawn is in all probability dormant . Lawns by nature move into quiescency when growing conditions become too stressful . passion , drought , and cold are rough-cut stressor . No amount of fertilizer will move your lawn out of quiescency . When regular moisture tax return , the lawn will probably begin spring up again , and then you could fertilize with an all - intent turf fertilizer .
