Healthy lawns start with fall fertilization

Summer takes a lot out of the lawn, including the roots of the grass. In summer, grass roots get smaller as the top growth uses its underground reserves to stay alive. An application of fall fertilizer promotes root growth and prepares the lawn as it goes into winter.

September is the most important month for fertilizing the lawn. November is the second most important. Turf grasses are about the last plant in the landscape to go dormant in winter and one of the earliest to break dormancy in spring. Most of the plant’s root development occurs in these cooler temperatures.

When it comes to fall lawn fertilizer, the critical ingredient is the type and amount of nitrogen in the mix. Nitrogen is a key element to overall plant health. Nitrogen helps plants stay green, encourages plant cell development and strengthens roots. However, it moves or dissipates quickly through the soil, which is why slow-release nitrogen is an important ingredient in fall fertilizers. Slow-release nitrogen releases the nutrient in a controlled, steady manner. Because it releases slowly, more of the nitrogen is absorbed by the plant. This is better for the plant and better for the environment. A fall fertilizer mix should have at least 30 percent slow-release nitrogen, according to most county extension agents.

• In September, apply Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Fertilizer. Forty percent of the nitrogen is a slow-release nitrogen that is designed for soil temperatures above 50 degrees. This fertilizer provides 12 weeks of fall feeding for the lawn, helping to repair summer damage and bolstering root development.
  
• In November, apply Greenview Fairway Formula Late Fall Fertilizer to prepare your lawn for the winter weather. This late fall fertilizer is specially formulated to feed the grass until the ground freezes. With 90 percent slow-release nitrogen, it works for up to 16 weeks. As the ground thaws in the spring, the remaining fertilizer is taken up by the roots for a quicker spring green-up.

Click here to buy Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Fertilizers online.