Why Fall Fertilization Is So Beneficial for Your New Hampshire Lawn

It’s hard to believe, but fall is right around the corner in New Hampshire. The kids are back to school, whether in person or online. The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. So, what does this mean for your lawn care regime? Mowing is still necessary, and you should continue to do so until the first hard freeze of the season. Weeds are still populating, so utilizing weed control and prevention should still be part of your routine, but what about fertilizer? Many people think that fertilizing is a spring or summer activity, but fall lawn fertilization is incredibly beneficial. Here in our northeastern state, there are many reasons why. Below is a list of some of the basic advantages of fertilizing in the fall.

Understanding What Makes Up Fertilizer

But first, what exactly is fertilization? If you’re not familiar, it can be quite confusing. 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 the cold winter temperatures and helps with the overall functions of grass.

Getting the right fertilizer mix could make the difference between a scorched, burnt lawn and a lush, healthy lawn. Because this is not always an easy process and can be quite confusing, we recommend investing in a long-term lawn care program with a local lawn care professional who utilizes fertilizer in the spring, summer, and fall.

New Hampshire’s Climate

One reason why fertilizing in the fall is so important is because of our general climate. We have mostly cool-season grasses here in New Hampshire, including fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass. Around this time of year, when the temperatures start to cool off, and we get more rain, your cool-season grasses continue to grow while beginning to store up essential nutrients for the winter. While they’re in absorption mode, adding in fertilizer is an excellent idea because they will quickly absorb it.

Protection From New Hampshire’s Harsh Winter Weather

After the stresses of the summer, including excessive foot traffic, and heavy lawn equipment, it’s important to give your grass an extra boost. This boost to your grass helps protect it from winter diseases like brown patch and snow mold. Lawn restoration services, like aeration and overseeding along with broadleaf weed control, will help get your lawn back to health. To help keep it protected, that’s where fertilization comes in. Applying fertilizer in the fall gives your grass the nutrients and stamina it needs to prepare for and endure the frigid winter weather. 

It Gives a Boost to the Grass Roots

Fall is an important time for cool-season grasses because root growth is especially strong during this time. A good way to aid root growth is with fertilization followed by irrigation. After fertilizing, infrequent deep watering will encourage deep root growth, which in turn results in healthier grass. After fertilizing, infrequent deep watering will encourage deep root growth, resulting in healthier grass. This is because more nutrients are absorbed, and the structure of the grass becomes stronger and hardier.

Fertilizing in the fall will create a foundation for a healthy spring. By rapidly storing nutrients in the fall, it ensures your grass will come back ready for rapid growth. 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.

With Alliance Landscaping, Fall Lawn Fertilization is Part of Our High-Quality Lawn Care Program

Alliance Landscaping understands that achieving a lush, thick lawn in New Hampshire can be difficult. Our 7-Step Lawn Care Program goes beyond the surface to nourish and balance your soil, target hard-to-control weeds and promote a healthy root system throughout your yard. Alliance Landscaping’s 7-Step fertilization process spans from April through November. Contact us now to learn more. Visit our website and fill out our online contact us form, or give us a call at 603-704-4230.