What you need to know about when to fertilize lawn in fall for the best grass growth and optimal results
Autumn is a special time of the year, full of activity and memory-making activities with family and friends. It’s also the season when homeowners start to prepare their properties for winter’s harsh arrival. Cool season grasses are growing and spreading their root systems, which makes it a great time to give them a nutrient boost through fertilization. You need to know just when to fertilize lawn in fall, and how to do it right. Here we break it down.
At Borst Landscape & Design, our natural lawn care program stresses aeration, root stimulation, and natural thatch control. Additionally, our award-winning service actually improves the condition of your soil by promoting healthier and stronger root growth. We have several organic fertilizer service options for your healthy lawn.
For more information about the best organic lawn care services for your property, reach us at (201) 822-9327 or online.
What to know about fall plant growth
Plants slow their growth in fall as cooler air temperatures arrive. Yet the soil is still warm enough to stimulate root growth, leading to a very productive time for plants under the surface. Without the stress of harsh summer heat or freezing winter, plants face less stress and can do the robust and necessary work of storing nutrients in their root systems. This leads to a greener spring ahead.
For cool season grasses, the most common lawn grasses in northern New Jersey and much of the northern United States, fall is actually considered peak growing season. This makes it an ideal time to feed your lawn.
Lawn fertilization is a key component to keeping grass healthy and ensuring beautiful new growth come spring. So what do you need to know about when to fertilize lawn in fall and how to do it correctly?
When to fertilize lawn in fall
In fall, cool season grasses are actively growing and ready to absorb nutrients. When to fertilize lawn in fall depends on your precise location and the local weather. While fall is the ideal time to feed your grass, you’ll need to do so early in the season if you live somewhere where frost also arrives early. If old man winter surprises you and brings an early frost, leading to the beginnings of discoloration and browning in your lawn, don’t apply fertilizer.
Feeding grass is complicated
Once you know when to fertilize lawn in fall, you still have a lot to keep in mind to do it right. In fact, fertilization is a science that holds many factors in balance. Even for the homeowner who loves lawn care and is prepared to do it themselves, there is a lot to the process. Fertilizing your lawn in the fall involves:
- Selecting the correct fertilizer for your grass and soil
- Performing a thorough clean-up to remove debris and leaves
- Waiting for optimal weather conditions
- Selecting and renting equipment such as a spreader
- Correct application to ensure success
- Removing excess from hardscape so it doesn’t stain
It’s also important to remember that most store-bought fertilizers are chemical based and can leach into local water sources and otherwise disturb the environment.
Leave it to professional lawn fertilization programs from Borst
The science-based Borst approach works in concert with nature’s system of built-in checks and balances. We carefully prepare your soil to receive the microbial benefits of our natural lawn care program. Later, as our biodegradable, organic fertilizers break down, they release nutrients and actually improve the structure of the soil, which increases its ability to hold water and nutrients.
Our Organic fertilizer programs were created with the health of your lawn and your family in mind. Pair one of our fertilizer programs with a fall clean-up. Our service crews will ensure your landscape is ready for winter with a final lawn cutting and yard clean-up.
The professionals at Borst know when to fertilize your lawn in the fall and how to do it right, so you can relax and enjoy the results. Reach us at (201) 822-9327 or online for your consultation.