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When To Winter Fertilize Lawn

The best time to apply a winterizer is after the grass stops growing in the fall, while it is still green on top and active below the surface. In most parts of the North, this will be sometime in mid-late November, or even early December.

When should I use winter fertilizer on my lawn?

In general, try your best to apply it between September 1 and October 15. The farther north you live, the earlier you should apply it. The goal is to have at least one month of active grass growing weather remaining before winter takes its grip.

When should Scotts WinterGuard be applied?

Fall is the best time to feed with Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food. It builds strong, deep roots for a better lawn next spring.

How late in the fall can you fertilize your lawn?

Fall Fertilizer Timing When to do it depends on where you live. For the majority of cool-season lawn owners, apply fertilizer anywhere from September through early November. The further north you garden, the sooner you’ll feed your lawn.

Should I fertilize my lawn in January?

Don’t fertilize too early! During the winter months, grass is likely dormant if you haven’t been irrigating. When you fertilize too early in spring—meaning it’s still winter— you’re providing nutrients before the grass has broken dormancy. It won’t be able to immediately take advantage of the nutrients you provided.

What is the difference between fall fertilizer and winter fertilizer?

Regular fertilizer that you apply throughout the spring, summer, and early fall keeps your grass growing at the optimum rate. By applying a winterizer, the roots will store nutrients and slowly feed your grass ensuring it survives, avoids winter diseases like snow mold, and has a quicker “green up” in the spring.

Do I need Winterizer fertilizer?

Most lawn care experts are adamant that winterizer fertilizer is the most important of all fertilizers. Winterizer helps the roots of the grass absorb and store nutrients. The roots continue to grow until the ground eventually freezes.

What should I put on my lawn in November?

You should purchase a complete fertilizer with a high percentage of potassium and nitrogen to ensure resistance to cold, disease, and wear as well as enhanced rooting. However, it should not contain too much phosphorus since the run-off from this ingredient can damage local rivers and streams.

Is it too late to fertilize my lawn in December?

Beware: fertilizing too late (once winter sets in) or too early (before mid-November) can actually do harm to your lawn. Applying a fertilizer too late after the first frost can result in chemical burns, root damage, and blade damage.

Can you put fertilizer down in December?

Your lawns root system is active until the soil freezes, which in most cases is in mid to late December. Again, fertilizing in early to mid November allows your plants roots to continue to receive nutrients and prepare for the winter.

Should I fertilize my lawn before winter?

Just before your area’s first expected frost date, head out to your lawn and aerate. Fertilizing your lawn gives your grass the essential nutrients it needs as it prepares for winter. The grass roots absorb and store the nutrients during the winter months.

How do I fertilize my lawn for winter?

You can use a winterizer or another fertilizer as long as it contains both nitrogen and potassium. Or supplement your lawn throughout the season with potassium from organic sources. For warm-season grasses, wait until late spring to fertilize and feed with balanced nutrients.

What should I feed my lawn in winter?

Autumn Winter lawn feed should contain Phosphorous and Potassium. Phosphorus is vital for plant metabolism. It helps the plants to convert other nutrients into cells, hormones and enzymes – in fact everything that it needs to grow.

Can winter fertilizer be used in spring?

However, plants cannot differentiate between fertilizer “types,” as they all are merely sources of nutrients that plants need for good health. Therefore, you can use a winter fertilizer at other times of year, although you may need additional fertilizer to fill a void in a nutrient that the winter formula lacks.

Can you use winter guard fertilizer in spring?

This lawn food is formulated to deliver the nutrients lawns need in the fall, repairing damage from the heat and drought of the summer and ensuring a better lawn in the spring.

Is it too late to fertilize lawn in November?

The exact timing on when to fertilize varies based on weather conditions and your climate zone; however, the final fertilizer application should be done sometime in November in most regions. This is the point when the grass has stopped growing or has slowed down to the point of not needing to be mowed.

Is it OK to put fertilizer down in November?

The November application also provides for early spring green-up without excessive top growth. Simply put: a beautiful green lawn with less mowing. But applications of fertilizer in late winter or early spring are converted directly to top growth. Nitrogen is the essential nutrient for proper grass growth.

Can I put fertilizer down in November?

While this fall lawn fertilizer dose is important, an application at the end of October or early November is essential. At that time, apply a fertilizer with a formula of 13-25-12. The push of phosphorus will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December.