Fall Fertilizer Tips

This page is a general DIY guide on the proper steps and timing of applying fall fertilizer to residential turf. By using the products and methods suggested throughout this article, you can minimize upcoming turf stress and promote a thicker, greener lawn the following spring season.

Even though most homeowners are growing weary of managing their lawns by the time the fall season comes around, this is the most critical time for turf maintenance. The turf may not look too good from the top surface, but much is happening under the soil's surface.

Your lawn’s roots are growing, and they are pumping out essential energy to resist or survive the fall and winter freezes. At the same time, fall is the perfect time to build up your turf's root system, plant seeds, or start new ornamental gardens since the grass is going through a recovery process.

Also, plant roots are given a good combination of warm soil and cool air and given enough time for roots to develop to make it through the winter and be fully established in the spring. In this article, you will learn why fall is the most critical time for lawn fertilization and everything else you need to know about fall fertilization with the following tips and products.

Is it Worth Fertilizing in the Fall

Fall is a very critical time to fertilize your lawn. As temperatures cool, your grass may become dormant, appearing as if the grass is brown or dead. What’s actually happening is your grass is conserving its energy and preparing for the harsh temperatures of winter. Its growth and energy consumption slow just enough for it to survive the cold season.

By the time it warms up and spring comes around, your grass will need a large store of energy and nutrients to start growing vigorously and take on a lusher, greener, healthier appearance. That’s where a fall fertilizer application comes in.

Most of the benefits from fall fertilization will be seen in the next spring season with earlier green-up, improved coloration and density, and better tolerance to other environmental or pest factors.

What Fertilizer to Use in the Fall

Some of the best fertilizers to use in the fall are slow-release granular fertilizers. These fertilizers release their nutrients over time instead of feeding your lawn all at once. This prevents your lawn from becoming overstimulated.

Overstimulation could result in your lawn burning and turning yellow or increased weed and fungal activity, creating more problems in your lawn than before.

Try to find fertilizers that contain moderate to high amounts of nitrogen. We also suggest that the fertilizer contains phosphorous and potassium. Nitrogen promotes good foliage growth and better coloration, phosphorus aids root growth and development, and potassium supports a plant’s overall health and cell function.

When to Apply Fertilizer in the Fall

To figure out the best time to fertilize your lawn, you need to consider your lawn’s turf type and the local climate.

The United States can be divided into three sections. In the north, cool-season grasses grow actively in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. In the south, warm-season grasses grow vigorously in the summer. There is also a transition zone where your lawn may consist of a cool-season grass, a warm-season grass, or both.

Your lawn will consist of one of the following categories: Warm-seasoned turf, which is Centipede grass, St. Augustine, Bermudagrass, and Zoysia grass. Cool-seasoned turf includes Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue.

You should apply a fall fertilizer when your grass is actively growing. 

For cool-season grass, this can be throughout fall from September to early November before the ground becomes frozen or covered with snow.

Certain warm-seasoned grasses such as Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass should not receive fertilizer applications during the fall because it becomes dormant during this time.

The safest time to fertilize a warm-seasoned lawn is before the end of September. Applying a fall fertilizer too late can cause your grass to grow out-of-season during conditions when it usually cannot survive.

Most cool-seasoned lawns typically require 2 fertilizer applications in the fall.

The first application should be in late September to early October, and the second should be in November. Make sure the second application occurs at least 6 to 8 weeks before the average frost in your area.

If you fertilize too late, you risk your cool-seasoned turf growing out of season and in conditions where it cannot usually survive.

How to Fertilize Your Lawn During the Fall

Before handling any type of pesticide material, you will need to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

Be sure to check the current conditions of your cool-seasoned turf before making any fertilizer applications. If the ground is completely frozen, a fall fertilizer application cannot take place.

Step 1: Test the Ground

Fertilization can be incredibly challenging and pointless if the ground is frozen.

When the water in the ground becomes ice, the soil becomes hard and unable to hold nutrients from the fertilizer application.

The easiest way to tell if the ground is frozen is to walk across it or touch it with your hand. The grass blades won’t bend easily and feel cold to the touch and hard. If they do not spring back up easily or the soil does not break apart easily, then they are probably frozen.

If you are still unsure, use a garden trowel or a small shovel to dig a small hole in an area you wish to test. If the dirt is frozen, it will be very hard to penetrate and may not break apart at all.

Once you determine the ground is not frozen, you can proceed with a fall fertilizer application.

Some species of cool-seasoned turf can become dormant during the fall if the soil temperatures are consistently low.

Perform a tug test by gently pulling up brown grass blades. If the blades easily pull from the ground, the turf is dead, but if there is some resistance, it may be dormant.

Step 2: Measure the Treatment Area

Knowing the square footage of the treatment area will tell you how much fertilizer to use.

To find the square footage, measure the treatment area’s length and width in feet, then multiply them together (length X width = square footage).

For acreage, take the square footage and divide it by one acre (square footage / 43,560 sq. ft. = acres).

To get the square footage of a rectangular lawn, just multiply the area’s length by its width. Irregularly shaped lawns use different formulas, and they can also be broken down into simpler shapes and added together. Don’t forget to subtract the areas of spaces you don’t intend to treat.

Step 3: Apply the Fall Fertilizer

After your done calculating the square footage of the treatment area, refer to your fertilizers label for an application rate. 

We recommend using a fall fertilizer like the Solutions 8-12-16 Fall Grow Fertilizer.

This granular fertilizer will slowly release essential nutrients for turf to help it grow strong and healthier throughout the upcoming fall and late winter season.

Mow your lawn to its normal height 1 to 2 days before application.

A push or broadcast spreader will be needed to make applications with this product.

Apply 5 lbs. of Solutions 8-12-16 Fall Grow Fertilizer per 1,000 sq. ft.

After loading your spreader with the proper amount of product, spread half of the granules once across the treatment area. Next, broadcast the other half of the granules at a perpendicular angle to cover the space in the middle.

After application, thoroughly water the granules to push them off the grass blades and into the soil.

With even distribution, your lawn will gain the nutrients it needs to survive the winter. Come spring, your grass will have enough energy to start growing bright green and healthy.

Key Takeaways

What is the Benefit of Fertilizing in the Fall?

• Fertilizing your lawn during the fall will give it the proper nutrients needed to survive the upcoming cooler weather so it will emerge stronger and greener during the spring.

When Is It Too Late to Apply A Fall Fertilizer

• Depending on your region, the latest you could apply a fall fertilizer will vary. On average, you will want to stop fall fertilizations at least 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost in your area.

What Month To Fertilize the Lawn In the Fall 

• Depending on your climate and turf type, you should apply fall fertilization at least once from September to early November.