Why Fall is the Best Time to Fertilize Your Lawn

The services that come to mind when thinking of fall lawn care usually include raking leaves, pulling weeds, cleaning gutters, winterizing sprinklers, and deciding when to mow the lawn for the last time. But, what about fertilizing? Many people think that fertilizing is a spring or summer activity but, fall lawn fertilization is incredibly beneficial.

When it comes to fall lawn care, fertilizing is one of the best things you can do. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering fall lawn fertilization:

Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K)

On bags of fertilizer, you’ll typically see the letters “N-P-K” with a set of numbers next to it. These are the three ingredients in fertilizers: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Each one of these ingredients serves a different purpose:

• Nitrogen is responsible for growth.
• Phosphorus helps strengthen the root system and encourages root growth
• Potassium protects the grass and roots from cold, winter temperatures and helps with the overall functions of grass.

Getting the right mix of fertilizer could make the difference between a scorched, burnt lawn and a lush, healthy lawn. This is where most DIYers run into issues and is why investing in a lawn care program that includes fall fertilization treatments is such a good idea.

Fall is the Best Time to Fertilize

It’s a bold statement, but there’s a lot of truth to it. Fall is the best time to fertilize your New Hampshire lawn for a couple of different reasons. First, the weather. Here in New Hampshire, fall means cooler weather and plenty of rain. This, combined with the warm soil, means that your grass is in heaven. It’s a great time to give it a little boost before the winter.

The second reason why fall is the best time to fertilize comes down to grass behavior in the fall. Cool-season grass is still growing in the fall and, not only that, it’s also preparing for the winter. During the fall, cool-season grass stores up essential nutrients to ready itself for the winter. While they’re in this absorption mode, it’s a great idea to add fertilizer because they’ll quickly absorb it.

Protect Your Lawn From the Harsh Winter Weather

After the stresses of summer, it’s important to give your grass an extra boost before the fall. Lawn restoration services, like aeration and overseeding, along with broadleaf weed control will help get your lawn back to health. But, restoration is one thing, protection is what your lawn needs going into the harsh New Hampshire winter. That’s another perk of fall fertilization.

Applying fertilizer in the fall gives your grass the nutrients and stamina it needs to prepare for, and endure, the frigid weather of winter. This boost to your grass helps protect it from winter diseases like brown patch and snow mold.

Finally, it’s a good idea to provide one last boost to help winterize your lawn before the frost settles in. Winterizing fertilizer is best when it contains plenty of potassium (K). Potassium works by hardening and strengthening the turf down to the cellular level. This helps prepare your lawn for winter by making it more tolerant of the wind and cold. Potassium even aids in nutrient absorption, allowing your grass to absorb and store the other beneficial fertilizers.

Give Your Grass Roots a Boost This Fall

Fall is an important time for cool-season grasses. Root growth is especially strong during this time. A good way to aid root growth is with irrigation and fertilization.

Infrequent, deep watering will encourage deep root growth. Deeper root systems result in healthier grass. More nutrients are absorbed and the structure of the grass becomes stronger and hardier.

Fertilizing in the fall will create a foundation of strong health for your grass. It helps prepare your grass for a healthy spring. By rapidly storing nutrients in the fall, it ensures your grass will come back ready for rapid growth in the spring. If your grass grows quickly in the spring, then it leaves less room for weeds to encroach. Overall, fall fertilization sets your lawn up for success.

Fall Lawn Fertilization is Our Specialty

Fall lawn fertilization is a scientific process. It’s possible to do it yourself, but if you choose the wrong fertilizer, then you could be paying for it for seasons (or years) to come. Take the guesswork out of fall lawn care by calling the pros at Alliance Landscaping. Our expert technicians take the time to get to know your lawn, allowing them to find the right mix of fertilizers and services for your specific lawn.

Call us today at (603) 704-4230 or leave us a message here. Let us help you set your lawn up for success with fall lawn fertilization.