The very best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring, when the soil temperature—not the air temperature—reaches 55º Fahrenheit. Especially during times of drought when you grass is already stressed, it’s best to wait until the day after a good rainfall before aerating. If you are looking for a quick and easy guide for when to fertilize a lawn, late summer and fall are the optimal times for most lawns. Too much rain could wash away the fertilizer before it has a chance to soak into the soil, so plan to fertilize several days before a heavy rain arrives or several days later. This acts like a “second helping” of much-needed food going into winter. Otherwise, make two to three applications in fall, one month apart, and one in spring for cool-season grasses; three applications are needed during the summer for warm-season grasses. This means it’s got maximum time to settle into the lawn before the next cut. ). Fall – In September or October, it’s time to get your lawn ready to survive the winter. Is it best to fertilize before or after rain? Space your applications too far apart, […] When and how often you should apply fertilizer to your lawn depends on the type of grass you grow. Rainfall typically provides good, even coverage over the entire lawn area (except under full trees), which can be difficult to achieve with lawn sprinklers. If you have to feed your lawn, consider doing it before the rain. Best time to fertilize lawn before or after … Being flexible and using a little common sense is the order of the day when using lawn care products. Then the rain won’t be able to wash away your fertilizer. Knowing what to do, when to do it, and what to avoid can be tricky. How soon after fertilizing should you water? If rainfall is expected to be light, though, you might have options. Ive read online to do it before, the instructions on the fertilizer bag say after a rain, and to not get it wet for 2 days after application. When the top two inches of soil have dried, the benefit of good distribution of … Does it really matter either way? Here are more tips from the professionals at Jonathan Green. Don’t wait too long after a heavy rainfall to apply fertilizer. 5. Most gardeners love to fertilize after a heavy downpour while some prefer to fertilize before it rains. The very best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring, when the soil temperature—not the air temperature—reaches 55º Fahrenheit. Answer: Applying the fertilizer before the rain may result in washing away of your fertilizer and pollute the community water. 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Thoroughly water your lawn immediately after spreading to activate the quick greening component or, better still, time your application for just before rain if it is forecast. Contrary to popular belief, you should water your grass before applying fertilizer. It's also best to time your application so there's at least a few days before the next rain so your fertilizer doesn't get washed away before it gets absorbed into the soil. Don’t fertilize a dry lawn. While it is fine to fertilize before a light rain, if you are expecting heavy thunderstorms, it might be best to aim to fertilize your lawn after the rain has passed. Therefore, after reading it, you will be able to understand why it is best to apply fertilizer before or after rain and you will know how to help your lawn grow healthy and have great color. It’s best not to fertilize your lawn when the weather is sweltering and sunny. Grass types can be broadly broken down into two main categories: warm-season grasses, and cool-season grasses. If you are planning to fertilize before it rains, it is best to avoid days with a high probability of consecutive downpours. Instead, wait until the day after a rain, when the soil is moist. If you would rather not waste your time and the money you’ve invested, it’s best to fertilize when no rainfall is expected for two days, or spread the fertilizer before it rains if you’re anticipating only light rainfall. Before doing so, you should first make sure that it will not rain for at least two days after you have applied it because this will allow the nitrate to be absorbed by the soil and the plants in time for it to not be washed away by the eventual heavy rain. Both methods come with their pros and cons and that’s what will be our focus here. Best Fertilizer for New Jersey Grass. Mowing at the right time of the day, especially during the summer, will help your lawn stay green. The time of year and type of grass will determine how best to fertilize after aeration. The result will be a beautiful green, healthy lawn for you and your family. The best time to fertilize is right before a rain, hopefully one that will last a long time but not be too heavy, so it soaks into the ground and very little washes away. This pollution is one of the main reasons that the best time to fertilize the lawn is after forecasted rainfall has finished, rather than before it rains. It provides your lawn with everything it needs to grow green and strong, and controls dandelion, clover, chick weed and over 250 other kinds of broadleaf weeds. It is ideal to time fertilizing so that it coincide with the time period just before peak growing phases of the lawn. But you should always ensure that it will not rain within 48 hours of the fertilizer application as this would be counterproductive. Warm season grasses are served best when fertilized in late spring and early summer. When it comes to when to fertilize your lawn, this is the most important factor at playthat determines when the best time is … Calculate how much fertilizer you’ll need for your lawn. Fertilizing Gardening Composting Landscaping Lawn and Garden Lawn Care Fertilization Fertilize your lawn properly, and you’ll be on your way to a healthy, dense stand of turf that maintains a deep green color and gives weeds a run for their money. Depending on the type of grass this could either be during the warm season or cold season. The heavy rain will maximize run off and a significant percentage of your fertilizer will be swept away. This will gently feed it while helping it recover from winter and also control crabgrass before and after it germinates. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. However, if the rain is heavy enough, you risk your fertilizer being washed away and possibly polluting local waterways. This is especially true on steep slopes. When To Fertilize Warm-Season And Cool-Season Lawns. Essentially, the perfect time to fertilize your lawn is just as it is running out of food from its last feeding which, with Jonathan Green fertilizer, means about three months after the last fertilization. You don’t keep your lawn moist after aerating and overseeding. Here's Why & How | Davey Blog Best Time To Fertilize Lawn, Before Or After Rain Plano Landscaping. The most suitable time to fertilize is one or two days after a light rain. 5. It keeps the lawn looking good, maximizes the dark green color, and helps it better tolerate seasonal turf stresses, such as heat, drought, and cold. 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