Grow the greenest lawn on the block
A green lawn can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal, whereas a brown, weed-infested one can bring down the whole vibe of your property. One of the most effective ways to get curbside-worthy grass is to get on a lawn fertilizer schedule. Here’s when and how often to fertilize your lawn and keep it healthy year-round.
Determining which type of grass you have is the first step to knowing when to put down fertilizer. Each type, warm-season or cool-season grass, has different needs for the timing of fertilizer applications.
The easiest way to pinpoint your grass type is by checking the color your grass turns in the winter. You have warm-season grass if it turns brown and almost looks dead in cold weather. On the other hand, if your grass looks greenish-yellow in the winter, you have cool-season grass.
The climate in which you live is another clue. In the northern half of the United States, you’ll find cool-season grass, but in the southernmost states, you’re more apt to find warm-season grass. If you live between the northern and southern states, you’re in a transition zone, which means you may have warm-season or cool-season grass. The table below shows the types and ideal temperatures for both.
| Types | Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, and buffalo grass | Fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass |
| Ideal temperature (Fahrenheit) | above 75 degrees | 60–75 degrees |
Warm-season grasses grow from spring through summer. So, this fertilization schedule boosts your lawn at the beginning of the growing season, in the middle of the season, and right before it goes dormant for winter.
Warm-season lawns have to combat pests and weeds. In particular, fire ants can cause a lot of damage to your yard (not to mention their painful bites). To address these problems, grab fertilizer with pest and pre- or post-emergent weed killers for your first application.
Pre-emergent weed killers work to prevent new weeds, whereas post-emergent weed killers get rid of the ones already growing in your yard. Depending on your chosen brand, your fertilizer can kill fire ants and prevent pests like ticks, fleas, and chinch bugs. It’ll also kill weeds like dandelion, clover, and oxalis.
The first application is ideally in April
Use fertilizer with weed killers
Wait until the grass is green and needs its first mow
Skipping this application can lead to grass dying after the first frost
The summer fertilization application helps your lawn continue growing in the hotter months. To keep your lawn pest-free, use a weed and feed fertilizer with insecticide. Additionally, your lawn is more susceptible to fungal growth during this time, so you might use a liquid fungicide to protect it further.
Second application (four to eight weeks after the first application)
Use weed and feed fertilizer with post-emergent herbicides as necessary
Winterizing fertilizer provides one last feeding before your grass goes dormant for winter. These fertilizers are high in potassium to encourage root growth and help prevent winter diseases like brown patch fungus (also known as large patch disease) and broadleaf weeds.
Final application
Winterizing fertilizer prepares the grass for the dormant period
Six to eight weeks before the first frost (four to five weeks if you have Bermuda grass)
If these steps seem overwhelming or too time-consuming, hire a landscaper near you to get your yard on the right lawn fertilizer schedule and keep your grass looking great.
If you’ve never gotten help with your yard before, knowing how to hire a landscaper will save you a lot of trouble. Have a budget in mind and check references before signing a contract.
Cool-season grass grows in the spring and fall and is dormant in the winter. The most critical times for fertilization are from late summer to the end of fall.
Cool-season lawns have to contend with crabgrass, weeds that grow low to the ground with stems shooting out in a radius. These weeds start growing in mid-spring and continue spreading through the summer. If you had crabgrass last year, your first application should include pre-emergent herbicides that target crabgrass and other grassy and broadleaf weeds. These include foxtail, chickweed, barnyard grass, oxalis, and more.
Knowing how to time the first fertilizer application of the season is essential. Apply the fertilizer before your third or fourth mowing session for the best results.
First application (mid-March to mid-April)
Use weed and feed fertilizer with pre-emergent herbicides
Wait until the grass is green and soil temperatures are around 55 degrees
By late spring, your grass is in its prime growing phase. An extra fertilizer boost helps ensure your grass gets all the nutrients it needs. Although you already applied pre-emergent herbicides in early spring, you might notice some stubborn weeds growing, like chickweeds or speedwells. If so, use a weed and feed fertilizer with post-emergent herbicides.
Watch for pests like grubs, webworms, and chinch bugs. Common signs that you have pests include patches of dead grass, grass that’s off-colored or purple, and wilting grass.
Second application (May)
Use fertilizer with post-emergent herbicides and insecticides as necessary
Your cool-weather grass can also go dormant in the summer, but you can keep it nice and green with the right watering schedule. Depending on your lawn maintenance schedule, you might notice some weeds popping up or signs of pests around late summer. If so, use the right weed and feed fertilizer with herbicides and insecticides. This is also a good time to apply a liquid fungicide.
Third application (August)
Use fertilizer with post-emergent herbicides and insecticides as necessary
Your fall fertilization application is crucial since this is when your grass starts growing again. Use a winterizing fertilizer, ideally a slow-release fertilizer, so the soil gets the nutrients it needs over time. Conduct a soil test to check your soil levels and add any additional phosphorus or potassium as needed.
Final application (September through November)
Six weeks before the first frost
Apply when the grass is still green but no longer growing
Use winterizing fertilizer
Now that you know how often to apply fertilizer to your lawn, here are some tips for feeding your yard:
Use an online fertilizer calculator or follow the directions on the packaging to figure out how much to use.
Don’t fertilize right before heavy rain.
Use a broadcast, rotary, or drop spreader.
Fertilize after aerating your lawn.
There are loads of different fertilizers to choose from at the store. Here are some tips to help you out make a decision:
Use a soil test to figure out which fertilizer you need. The test will break down your soil’s nutrient levels and will include suggested levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
Fertilizer comes with different levels of N, P, and K. The packaging will have three numbers with dashes in the middle that indicate the percentage levels of each. Choose a fertilizer depending on the mix your soil needs. Generally speaking, a 5-5-5 fertilizer works for most gardens, but get a soil test if you’re unsure.
Slow-release fertilizers are recommended over fast-release fertilizers so you can avoid growth spurts that can stress out your grass and steadily feed nutrients to your lawn over six to eight months at a time.
Look for fertilizers for different seasons and warm- or cool-weather grass.
Here are some additional tips if you’re looking for a more natural approach:
Use compost instead of fertilizer for one of your feedings.
Use a mulching mower, which may allow you to skip one chemical fertilizer application.
Try natural pest control for your lawn, including neem-oil and diatomaceous earth.
Make homemade weed killer using vinegar and dish soap.
Opt for natural weed control, such as using organic herbicides, manually digging out weeds, or using a flame weeder.
Plant clover to add nitrogen to your soil.
