When To Fertilize Plants Best Times For Application Of Fertilizer

Generally speaking, the best time to fertilize landscape plants is around the time they begin to grow actively. The worst time to fertilize plants is at the end of their growing season. Trees, for example, begin to wake up and grow in early spring, and typically are fertilized once in February or March.

1. Should I fertilize in the morning or evening?
2. Do you fertilize before or after watering?
3. What time of day is best to apply fertilizer?
4. Can I put fertilizer on wet grass?
5. How long do you wait to water after fertilizing?
6. What if it rains after I fertilize my lawn?
7. Can I fertilize my lawn every 2 weeks?
8. Should you fertilize before or after cutting lawn?
9. When should fall fertilizer be applied?
10. Can I fertilize before rain?
11. Is granular fertilizer better than liquid?
12. How long does it take granular fertilizer to work?
13. When should I apply WinterGuard fertilizer?
14. How long should I wait to mow after applying granular fertilizer?
15. Will heavy rain wash away fertilizer?
16. Does Scotts fertilizer need to be watered in?
17. Can you apply Scotts Turf Builder before rain?
18. What month Should I fertilize lawn?
19. What do I do if I put too much fertilizer on my lawn?
20. What is the best lawn fertilizer for early spring?
21. How soon can I fertilize again?
22. Can you fertilize grass too much?

Should I fertilize in the morning or evening?

Fertilizing your lawn in the morning enables you to take advantage of cooler temperatures and morning dew to reduce the risk of burning the grass. As you spread the fertilizer and water it in, the nutrients will have the best chance of reaching the roots and being absorbed quickly.

Do you fertilize before or after watering?

Fertilizer and Water

A day or two before applying fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly. After grass dries, apply fertilizer. Then lightly water again. This second watering is vitally important, because it washes fertilizer off grass blades and into soil.

What time of day is best to apply fertilizer?

The best time of day to fertilize is the late afternoon or early evening. DO NOT apply in direct hot sunlight or the grass can burn. MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER! Apply sparingly with a proper spreader to ensure even application, or grass can burn.

Can I put fertilizer on wet grass?

Don't apply any kind of fertilizer—organic or otherwise—to saturated ground. If it's so wet it's squishy, the fertilizer will just run off or leech too deep for the roots to benefit. ... Damp soil is fine, and you should always water in fertilizer, but don't overdo it. Liquid fertilizer is another story.

How long do you wait to water after fertilizing?

Although the best practice is to water fertilizer into your lawn immediately after you have applied it, you can wait up to 24 hours after fertilizing before you water during cool weather or if you are using a slow-release fertilizer.

What if it rains after I fertilize my lawn?

The answer not very cut and dry, but here is the bottom line: The vast majority of the time, rain after a fertilizer application is not a problem at all. ... Keep in mind (I have said this before), your lawn needs about 1/2" of water after you fertilizer. Water helps "activate" your fertilizer.

Can I fertilize my lawn every 2 weeks?

Applying a fertilizer every two weeks isn't recommended as this will likely lead to problems such as lawn burn, excessive grass growth, and pollution to waterways. A natural way of feeding your lawn every two weeks would be to leave the grass clippings on the lawn surface when mowing your grass.

Should you fertilize before or after cutting lawn?

When fertilizing a lawn, it is best to apply fertilizer after the lawn has been mowed so it has a few days to absorb the fertilizer.

1. Wait until late summer, fall or early spring to fertilize the lawn. ...
2. Mow the lawn and leave a small bit of grass clippings on the lawn.

When should fall fertilizer be applied?

Apply fall lawn fertilizer 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes. To find an exact date, look for the first frost date in your area. That date is typically a good time to fertilize since the ground hasn't frozen yet. More generally, mid-October is a good time to apply lawn fertilizer.

Can I fertilize before rain?

Does it matter if you fertilize before a heavy rain? Yes, it does. This is not a good time to apply fertilizer because a heavy rainfall could wash away the fertilizer before it has an opportunity to break down and be absorbed. ... The light rainfall can substitute for watering in the fertilizer after application.

Is granular fertilizer better than liquid?

Although there is no difference in the total amount of nutrients supplied by either granular or liquid fertilizer for a specified plant nutrient application, there are differences: ... Less mobile nutrients like phosphorus can't get closer than the individual granule containing them.

How long does it take granular fertilizer to work?

The granular form of Turf Builder, which you need to water in to activate the fertilizer, takes two to five days to show results.

When should I apply WinterGuard fertilizer?

Fall is the best time to feed with Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food. It builds strong, deep roots for a better lawn next spring.

How long should I wait to mow after applying granular fertilizer?

A: If a granular fertilizer was applied it is ok to mow anytime. When a liquid treatment of broadleaf weed control has been applied please wait 24-48 hours to mow. This allows the herbicides active ingredient to move through the plant before cutting it off.

Will heavy rain wash away fertilizer?

Yes, heavy and prolonged rain can wash away recently applied fertilizer.

Does Scotts fertilizer need to be watered in?

Scotts Turf Builder for New Lawns should be lightly watered in immediately after application. ... As with Turf Builder products for mature lawns, Weed and Feed for young grass should be applied while the grass is moist from dew or previous watering.

Can you apply Scotts Turf Builder before rain?

Can I apply fertilizer to a wet lawn? Most Scotts® fertilizers can be applied to either a wet or dry lawn. If you're applying a weed-and-feed product like Scotts® Turf Builder® Weed & Feed, though, you may need to apply to wet grass to help the particles adhere to the weeds for best results.

What month Should I fertilize lawn?

According to Scotts, you should apply lawn fertilizer between February and April when your grass starts to green up and begins to actively grow. Essentially, if it looks like your grass is ready for its first mowing of the season, then it's ready for lawn fertilizer.

What do I do if I put too much fertilizer on my lawn?

If you spill fertilizer or realize you over-applied, remove as much excess fertilizer as possible from the soil surface; then water the area heavily. This helps rinse any remaining excess from grass or plant leaves and flushes salts through the soil and away from plants.

What is the best lawn fertilizer for early spring?

By the way, a 20-5-10 lawn fertilizer is a good basic mix to use in spring. Slow-release lawn fertilizers break down their nutrients over a longer period of time, so you can wait longer between applications.

How soon can I fertilize again?

If the fertilizer has nitrogen in a fast-release form, you can apply it every four to six weeks while the grass is actively growing. Slow-release fertilizers are applied again after six to eight weeks. The last fertilizer application should be at least six to eight weeks before the anticipated first frost date.

Can you fertilize grass too much?

Applying excessive amounts of fertilizer to lawns will cause the nitrogen and salt levels in the soil to increase, which may damage or kill the grass. This phenomenon, known as fertilizer burn, manifests itself as yellow to brown strips or patches of dead grass. Many times symptoms appear the day after an application.