When is the Best Time to Fertilize the Lawn?

Fertilize when the roots are growing!

Spring lawn care: April–May

• The best time to apply fertilizer in spring is when soil temperatures have warmed and the grass plant is actively growing.  A general rule of thumb is after the first 3 mowings. Apply 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet to the lawn to support growth and to build-up nutrient reserves, which help the lawn withstand the heat and stress of summer. If you are using a weed and feed fertilizer, timing is much more critical to get the best results from the weed control. Be sure to read and follow application directions carefully.
  
  We recommend Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer and applying it after the forsythia has bloomed but before the dandelions go to the "puff ball" stage. The combination of weed control ingredients kill over 200 broadleaf weeds and prevent crabgrass.

Summer lawn care: June–August

Cool season grasses should not be fertilized in summer.

• Agronomy experts do not recommend the application of nitrogen fertilizers to cool season grasses in the summer. Cool season grasses go dormant in the summer and fertilizing at this time can burn the grass and contribute to watershed pollution.

Warm season grasses do need fertilizer in the summer.

• Warm season grasses grow most vigorously during the hot summer months. At this time the grass plant benefits from the nutrients in fertilizer to grow dense, lush turf. Greenview recommends Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer.

Fall lawn care: September–November

• The most important time to fertilize your lawn is in the fall to help you lawn develop a strong root system. Apply 1.5 to 2.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Use a lawn fertilizer with a higher amount of nitrogen, if your grass type is Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass, or soil is sandy, or grass clippings are not returned to the lawn.
  
  Greenview recommends applying Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Fertilizer in early September followed by an application of Greenview Fairway Formula Late Fall Fertilizer (Winterizer) around the time you put the lawn mower away, usually mid to late November.

Lawn fertilizer recommendations from the experts at Greenview

Greenview fertilizers are designed to feed your lawn when it's spending the most energy growing.  Greenview Fairway Formula Fertilizers are formulated to deliver the proper amount of nitrogen using a proprietary and patented slow release nitrogen technology. Greenview fertilizers contain the same fertilizer technology we provide to championship golf courses.

To keep your lawn in top shape, follow up with an annual fertilization program developed and recommended by agronomy experts. Check out the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan

Fertilizer recommendations for spring lawn care

The Greenview agronomist recommends Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed and Feed with Crabgrass Preventer as it contains the right combination of fertilizer and weed control for most home lawns that have weed problems. It is also our most popular lawn fertilizer for spring. One application of this Greenview fertilizer will provide all the nutrients your grass needs for spring and it will kill dandelions and over 200 broadleaf weeds. This fertilizer will also prevent crabgrass and kill crabgrass (up to three tiller stage).

See Greenview fertilizer recommendations for:

• Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer
• Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer with Crabgrass Preventer

Fertilizer recommendation for fall lawn care

The most important time to apply fertilizer is in the fall. This is when you will want to help the grass plant develop a strong root system that will produce thick, healthy, green grass next spring. The primary fertilizer component for this task is nitrogen. The agronomy experts at Greenview recommend Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Fertilizer which contains our proprietary slow release nitrogen technology.

Want a zero phosphorous fertilizer for fall? Greenview offers a fall zero phosphate fertilizer too. Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Zerp Phosphate Fertilizer contains the same slow release technology in our other fertilizer products, but without the phosphorous.

For the serious lawn aficionado, we also recommend a fertilizer application in late fall. The timing of the late fall fertilizer is dependent on your zone, but generally can be applied 6 weeks after the fall fertilizer treatment and immediately after the last mowing of the year. The advanced technology in Greenview Fairway Formula Late Fall Fertilizer feeds the grass plant and the grass roots until the ground freezes. When the ground thaws, the remaining fertilizer is taken up by the roots producing a quicker green grass color in spring. 

Get expert timing with the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan

• Have worked with the weed scientists and agronomists to determine the best time in the growth cycle to apply our fertilizer and weed control products for maximum results.
• Utilize our field offices throughout the country to monitor weather conditions in the spring and fall.
• Pinpoint when each growing zone will reach the optimal application window.

When you order your products as a part of the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan you get the benefit of expert assisted timing: the products are shipped at the best time for application as determined by our experts. Your spring fertilizer order can be delivered as early as March and as late as mid May, depending upon your region's weather. The fall fertilizer will arrive between late August and the end of September, depending upon your growing zone and weather conditions.

Learn more about the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan »