It’s tempting to stop fertilizing your lawn once summer hits, but it’s actually the perfect time to keep feeding it. Water and sunlight are at their peak during this season, which means your grass is taking in more nutrients than ever before. So while you might not mind letting your green space go a bit wild during this carefree season, fertilizing in summer is actually the best way to support its recovery when fall arrives. Create a healthy growing environment so that your lawn thrives even when you have less time to tend to it. These tips on fertilizing in summer will help your grass stay lush and healthy all year long.
Can You Fertilize In Summer?
You can fertilize in the summer, but you should take care to avoid fertilizing when the ground is wet. Fertilizers that are applied when the soil is wet will quickly run off and contaminate waterways. It’s best to wait until after a good rain or to water your lawn before applying fertilizer. Also, be sure to read the label on any fertilizer you use and follow the application instructions carefully.
What Is The Best Time To Fertilize?
1. Fertilize in the Fall
The best time to fertilize is during the fall when it’s a little cooler and your lawn is at its peak. The key to feeding in the fall is to add nutrients at the same time you’re providing water. This helps your lawn use those nutrients more efficiently and will help prevent the browning of leaves caused by the overuse of fertilizer. If you want to fertilize during the fall, make sure you apply a balanced fertilizer in spring or early summer so that it can be used before winter.
2. Fertilize Once a Month
Once a month is usually sufficient for most people, but if you have very hard-to-manage grass, fertilizing every week might be necessary. Choose a time when it’s cooler outside so that your lawn will be able to use more nutrients because it won’t be using up any extra moisture from the heat of summer. For example, if it’s a very hot summer, you might want to fertilize in the morning when it’s cooler.
3. Fertilize in Winter
You can fertilize in winter as long as you do so with caution. The best time for this is usually in the afternoon because this is when your lawn will be able to use the nutrients most efficiently. It’s also a good idea to use a slow-release fertilizer during this season because cold temperatures can cause the slow breakdown of chemical compounds.
Which Type Of Fertilizer Should You Use?
1. Slow-Release Fertilizer
The best type of fertilizer to use in summer is a slow-release variety. This type of fertilizer is designed to provide nutrients to your lawn over time, which means it will not burn the grass like other types of fertilizers can. Instead, it will provide nutrients at a slower rate and over a longer period of time; so you’ll have enough time to take care of your lawn before the next growing season starts.
2. Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizer is another option that is great for summer use. It contains smaller, more concentrated doses of nitrogen and phosphorus than regular liquid or granular fertilizers. These smaller doses are designed to help fill in the gaps in your lawn’s nutrition as summer progresses, so there won’t be any need for additional feeding later on during the cooler months. The downside? Organic fertilizers tend to be much more expensive than their conventional counterparts; so if you only want to use organic fertilizer in the summertime, it might be best to stick with the slow-release kind.
3. Granular Fertilizer
Granular fertilizers are another option for summer use. They’re typically available in a variety of different types, each of which has been formulated to provide a different type of nutrition depending on the needs of your lawn. So if you have a fairly healthy lawn that just needs some extra nutrients during summertime, reach for one of these granular fertilizers instead of relying on liquid or slow-release varieties.
How To Incorporate Summer Fertilizer Into Your Lawn Care Routine
1. Fertilize on a Regular Basis
Watering your lawn in summer is vital to the health of your grass, but so is fertilizing it. It’s easy to let your lawn go without fertilizer during this season because you’re busy outside with the family and there aren’t many chores to do. But you should still make a point of fertilizing your lawn on a regular basis. The most important thing to remember about summer fertilization is that you don’t need a lot of it—only half as much as you would in the fall or spring. This will help keep your grass healthy while getting out of the habit of over-fertilizing, which can cause it to become unhealthy and even lose its color.
2. Add Summer Fertilizer During Spring and Fall
If you don’t want to skip summer fertilizer, try adding some at other times during the year as well! Filling your lawn with fertilizer in the fall can help it recover from summer neglect, while spring fertilization can help it bounce back after a long winter. You can also consider “top-dressing” your lawn with fertilizer in the spring, which involves applying nutrients to the top layer of soil. This will help your grass get an extra boost of nutrients during its first few months after you’ve applied it.
3. Plan for Summer Fertilizer When You Plan Your Lawn Care
When you actually do plan to apply fertilizer during summer, try to make sure that you have enough time to do it. If you need to apply it on a specific day or at a specific time, make sure that you do so before the weather warms up enough for your lawn to go into recovery mode. This will give your grass plenty of energy and nutrients when fall arrives and fertilization becomes more important again!
Tips For Applying Fertilizer In Summer
1. Water Your Lawn After Fertilizing
Watering your lawn after fertilizing is essential for two reasons. First, it helps the fertilizer work better. As you know, fertilizer is meant to be absorbed by the roots of your grass, so it’s important that you provide a good watering schedule after applying some of these products. Failure to do so can result in a number of problems, including poor-quality grass and uneven growth. Second, overwatering can harm your lawn if done too often. You want to avoid over-watering because it can cause damage to the roots and leaves of your grass that might not be apparent until the following springtime. Following up with a good soaking will help your lawn bounce back quickly in case of over-watering during the summer months.
2. Apply Fertilizer Only Once a Month
Applying fertilizers more often than once a month will only increase the amount of nitrogen in your soil, which could lead to poor grass growth and even disease. Remember, you want to fertilize your lawn in the summertime so that it can grow well during the fall, winter, and spring. If you apply fertilizer more than once a month, your lawn might begin to look unhealthy when it’s time for a new season’s growth.
3. Avoid Fertilizers with Phosphorus
Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients in your soil, but it’s also one of the most dangerous when applied too often. It encourages algae growth in water bodies and can lead to poor-quality grass if used too much. If you apply fertilizer containing phosphorus, be sure to mix it into your soil after planting seeds or plants with shallow roots so that they can easily absorb the nutrients.
4. Don’t Over-Fertilize Your Lawn
Oversupplying your lawn with fertilizers can cause harm by feeding unwanted pests such as slents for healthy grass growth. However, research has shown that lawns treated with phosphorus in the summer months might experience poor growth. If you’re planning on fertilizing in the summer, stick to products that don’t contain phosphorus and watch how your lawn grows.
4. Avoid Fertilizers with Nitrogen
Nitrogen is another important nutrient for healthy grass growth. However, studies have shown that nitrogen can be harmful to your lawn during the summer months if it’s applied too often or if too much of it is applied at once. If you want a lush lawn all year round, avoid fertilizers with nitrogen and focus on products that contain less of this nutrient. You’ll notice a difference in how your grass looks after using these products.
5. Apply Fertilizer Only Around Shoots and Roots
It’s important to apply fertilizer only directly around the roots of your grass when applying fertilizer in the summertime.
Bottom Line
It’s tempting to stop fertilizing your lawn once summer hits, but it’s actually the perfect time to keep feeding it. Water and sunlight are at their peak during this season, which means your grass is taking in more nutrients than ever before. So while you might not mind letting your green space go a bit wild during this carefree season, fertilizing in summer is actually the best way to support its recovery when fall arrives. Keep in mind that fertilizing in the summer is usually not as effective as fertilizing in the spring or fall since it’s already warm out. You should also keep in mind that certain types of fertilizer need to be applied during specific times of the year in order to be most effective.
