Lawn Fertilizing – The Last Supper of The Year

The time has come for a final lawn fertilizing. The lawn “knows” winter is knocking on the door and heading into dormancy.

Before you put the fertilizer spreader away for the season, take one last stroll around the yard and give your lawn some extra nutrition before the ground freezes.

This last lawn fertilizer application of the season, provides the roots with food to store up carbohydrates.

This carbs will be laying in reserve to give a quick green up when the warm spring weather comes calling.

For this last feast of lawn food you’ll want a apply a slow release winterizing fertilizer with a high first number.

A typical slow release winterizing fertilizer would carry an analysis on the bag of 12-8-16, 10-0-15 or 20-2-6 or similar numbers on the bag.

The numbers break down as follows:

• First number – nitrogen
• Second number – phosphorus – helps with production of root growth
• Third number – potassium – gives an extra boost to plant’s flowers and fruits

Add Some Gourmet Organic Food

Leaf mulch makes great fertilizer and are an excellent source of organics. Leaf mulch and grass clippings which are about 80% water helps build the soil, returning much-needed nutrients back into your lawn.

Instead of bagging, continue to mow (a mulching mower is best) and mulch them into your lawn. Mulching mowers finely chop leaf clippings and grass so bagging is not required.

You many also want to use other natural fertilizers like fish blood, bone meal or chicken manure. Once applied they need be raked into the soil.

The Last Mow

If you have not done the last mow for the season, the time has come to lower the mower deck for the last ride or last push, over the turf and put your grass to bed. The lower cutting reduces the for disease to take hold.

If you live in New Jersey, as of November 15th, the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) says NJ homeowners can no longer apply fertilizer to their lawns this season – the deadline has passed.

Commercial applicators have until December 1 complete their late Fall lawn fertilizer applications. Fertilizer can be applied to lawns again starting March 1st.

So wind up the lawn season before winter comes calling (unless you live in Jersey) – fertilize the lawn with a slow release winterizing fertilizer formula, mulch the leaves into the lawn and give the grass one last mow on a lower setting.