When to fertilize lawn in spring

Knowing when to fertilize grass in spring time is key to starting the season off right. Equally as important is knowing the right fertilizer to use. The use of organic fertilizer as soon as you see growth occurring in the lawn at the very beginning of spring will benefit plants when they need it most. Lawns grow fastest when soil temps are between 50°F-65°F. Using an organic fertilizer early in the growing season will stimulate soil microbe growth which will in turn feed turf through the height of the growing season.

 

• When to fertilize lawn in spring:

  • As soon as you see growth

• What type of fertilizer to use in spring:

  • Organic granular 9-0-2 or similar. Low water solubility

 

 

What makes a good organic fertilizer?

Good organic fertilizers with low water solubility are made primarily of organic matter. The non-water-soluble organic matter in organic fertilizers must be eaten by bacteria or fungi before it can be transformed into plant food. Organic matter stimulates growth of soil microbes that feed, provide water to, and protect turf plants naturally. Using an organic fertilizer like this early in the season allows enough time for soil microbes to transform the organic matter in organic fertilizer into plant food. We tend toward low nutrient count fertilizers focused on nitrogen for spring feeding. 9-0-0 or 9-0-2 are good fertilizers for spring; mostly slow release nitrogen, no phosphorous and no or little potassium.

Best time to fertilize in spring

Fertilizing at the first sign of growth will provide fertility that will become available a few weeks later, when the lawn needs it most. Fertilizing using a non-water-soluble organic fertilizer with a nutrient label of 9-0-2 or similar will provide nitrogen for early season growth. Bacteria will process the organic matter in the organic fertilizer in time to support grass as it really starts to take off when soil temps are warm. This will stimulate bacterial growth which in turn can stimulate the growth of beneficial fungi.

 When to fertilize grass in spring

If you’ve been wondering when to fertilize grass in spring, the answer is go early, and go organic. Fertilizing early with organic fertilizer will set the stage for a season of growth. Don’t be fooled by fertilizers with high nutrient counts. The 20-20-20 might sound tempting but you are likely to damage soil fungi by using such a large amount of water-soluble nutrient in the lawn soil. Soil fungi rely on fresh water to live and grow. When the water within your soil profile is flooded with soluble nutrient, fungi can be damaged or killed. Knowing when to fertilize in spring as well as knowing what kind of fertilizer to use is key to unlocking strong turf growth by increasing soil health.

A gluten free lawn?

Understanding the best time to fertilize in spring is helpful, but there are many more dynamics than just timing to think through. Corn gluten is an organic form of slow-release fertilizer often promoted for early spring lawn care by organic landscapers. Corn gluten is also a pre-emergent, meaning it stops seeds from sprouting. The best organic lawn programs rely on growing thick turf through aeration and over-seeding multiple times per season.

The use of corn gluten in the early season can leave your soils unable to sprout lawn seeds for 6-8 weeks after application. There aren’t very many days, let alone weeks that are perfect for sprouting seeds every spring and even the best weather forecasters can’t say with any accuracy when those days will occur. We don’t have weeks to give over to pre-emergent products blocking our seed’s ability to sprout each spring. I guess you could say our lawns are gluten free.

If your lawn is damaged, you may need more than just fertilizer. A full lawn restoration is often required to bring dead lawn areas back to life. Knowing when to fertilize lawn in spring is important, but if you’re fighting grubs, you’ll need more than just good timing.

Contact Minnehaha Falls Landscaping today to schedule an on-site consultation so we can start your spring fertilization!