When to Fertilize for a Greener Lawn

One of the most important things you can do for your lawn is to fertilize it. A well-fed lawn is healthier, which means it has a better root system to combat heat, cold, drought, mowing, foot traffic, and other stresses. While feeding your lawn once a year will improve its condition, feeding it 4 times a year will make it even healthier and more beautiful.

Early Spring

Why feed:

Your lawn wakes up hungry in the spring! Fertilizing it strengthens roots and gets it off to a good start.

Timing:

Apply early spring lawn fertilizer once between February and April, when your grass is starting to green up and begin to actively grow (around the time your lawn first needs to be mowed).

Late Spring

Why feed:

By this point your grass is busy and using up stored energy, so you need to keep it well-nourished.

Timing:

Apply late spring lawn fertilizer once between April and June, 6 to 8 weeks after the early spring feeding.

Summer

Why feed:

Summer is tough on grass, thanks to heat, drought, foot traffic, and insects. Fertilizing helps protect and strengthen it.

Timing:

Apply summer lawn fertilizer once between June and August, 6 to 8 weeks after the late spring feeding.

Fall

Why feed:

Your lawn is looking for the nutrients it needs to recover from summer damage while getting ready for its winter nap. Doing your fall lawn fertilization now will strengthen roots and increase nitrogen storage for a healthy, green lawn next spring.

Timing:

Apply fall lawn fertilizer once between August and November, right before winter hits, 6 to 8 weeks after the summer feeding.