With fall beginning, it’s once again time to begin thinking about the cooler (…and freezing) months ahead of us. While it may not be exciting to look too far forward, thinking about next springtime is something you may want to do.
In order to make sure your lawn is in tip top shape as it comes out from underneath the winter snowfall, you must begin addressing your lawn this fall.
As opposed to the general notion of spring being the only time to fertilize one’s lawn, fall is a great time to do this as well. The reason for this is because it gives your lawn the last boost of nutrients and growth going into the winter months – it will then be ready to go when spring comes.
It is also essential that you take advantage of the mild weather, rather than completing a strong fertilization during the summer when the lawn is more stressed due to the heat.
6 Tips for Fall Fertilizing Your MN
Below are the steps that will help fertilization be the most effective it can be.
1. Mow the grass a little shorter
This is important as it prepares the soil for better fertilization. Mowing your grass lower will allow the seed to better fall onto the soil and thereby begin to germinate and grow.
Pros
- It loosens and prepares the ground.
- It makes fertilization easier
- It helps the root of the grass for absorption of chemicals.
2. Leave traces of grass after mowing
By this, it does not mean that the grass should not be cleaned up after mowing. This practice makes the remnant grass decompose, thus, adding natural fertilizers to your lawn, such as carbon. This also compliments any other type of chemical substance that you may want to add to your lawn.
Pros
- It produces nutrients in the soil.
- It is economical
- It is natural.
3. Water your lawn regularly
Water provides a wholesome rejuvenation to your lawn which would have suffered due to the heat of summer. It nourishes and supplies it with the required macro and micronutrients to flourish during winter.
Pros
- It serves as a suitable nutrient transportation means.
- It makes the lawn moist.
- It makes the ground receptive to the applied chemicals.
- It speeds up the rate of growth and greenness.
4. Fertilizer should be applied before the freezing of the ground
When the ground is frozen, the fertilizer will not be effective since it won’t go into the soil as easily. Also, if the ground is frozen and we get a late rainfall, the applied chemicals will simply wash off the surface of the lawn, which will deprive the lawn of its needed nutrients. The penetration of the chemicals might not be as optimal as it should be.
5. Avoid applying fertilizer to your lawn before heavy rain
This will lead to wasting the fertilizer you just applied because the heavy downpour will wash away the fertilizer off the lawn – especially if you’re fertilizing hilly areas. It’s always important to check the weather forecast.
6. Apply the appropriate quality and quantity of fertilizer
The combination of the right quality and number of fertilizers during fall is needed in order for your Minnesota lawn to succeed. During fall time, a proper fertilizer should contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N:P:K). A good ratio may be 24-4-12, but this depends on your specific lawn and grass-type.
Also, you must note that overuse of fertilizers can have adverse effects on the lawn and its natural environment.
Minnesota’s Choice Grounds Maintenance Company
Ground One has been serving the greater Twin Cities, Minnesota area with high-quality fall cleanup and fall plant container installation services since 1989 and can help with any lawn projects you need to completed. Contact our lawn professionals for high quality lawn and grounds maintenance services.