Why Fertilize in the Fall?

As the weather starts to cool and the leaves start to turn, there are so many things you can do to get a jump start on your lawn care for next spring. Fertilizing and applying weed killer in the fall gives your lawn the support it needs to be full and lush when springtime comes back around!

Nitrogen and Your Lawn

All plants, including grass, need nitrogen to grow and thrive. Nitrogen is actually part of the chlorophyll molecule in plants, giving plants their green color. It is also involved in the creation of food for the plant through photosynthesis.

After a long, hot summer, your lawn may become stressed and start to yellow. It needs nitrogen to recover from the damage that drought-like conditions can cause. Fertilizing in the fall provides your lawn with nitrogen when it needs it most. It also gives your lawn a boost, so it can be healthy and green by the time spring comes!

Root Systems and Nutrient Storage

Fertilizer provides your lawn’s root system with the nutrients it needs to thrive. During colder months, your lawn needs to store these nutrients to use when they are unable to obtain as much themselves. Fertilizing in the fall allows the root system of your lawn to store nutrients that it will need as the temperatures drop and winter begins.

Heavy Dew

During the fall, there is a heavy dew in the morning. This dew not only provides more hydration, but it also helps with fertilization. The heavy dew helps your lawn break down fertilizer and absorb it into the root system. Fertilizing in the fall takes advantage of the extra moisture provided by the heavier dew and helps to strengthen your lawn against the hardships of the winter.

Don’t Forget the Weed Killer

Fall is also the best time to apply weed killer to your lawn. Just like your grass, weeds are also taking advantage of the heavier dew. If you apply weed killer during this time, the weeds will absorb more of it into the root system, effectively killing the weed. Applying weed killer in the fall also kills both annual and perennial weeds.

Fertilization Tips

There are many options of fertilizer and weed killer available for lawn care. It is best to assess the specific needs of your lawn before deciding on a fertilizer or weed killer to use.

To properly fertilize your lawn, Wasson Nursery recommends using a granular fertilizer with a composition of 24-0-8 and 50% slow release on your lawn. This mixture helps to fortify your grass with the nutrients it needs all winter long.

Questions? We can help! Give us a call or visit our website for more information on fertilization and other lawn care tips for the fall!