Using Lawn Fertilizers
Why Regular Fertilizing is Important
Your lawn is made of up of thousands of living grass plants that need to be properly nourished to stay green and full, fight off invading weeds, and be more resistant to disease. A well-fed lawn will also require less watering because it will build a deeper root system that's better able to seek out water deeper in the soil. So, when do you need to feed your grass? Just follow this simple lawn fertilizing schedule.
When to Feed Your Lawn
In Canada, where cool-season grass types like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescues are dominant, you'll want to fertilize your lawn twice in the spring and once again in the fall. Each feeding should be spaced at least 6 to 8 weeks apart. If your cool-season lawn is still green and actively growing in the summer, you can continue to give it lawn fertilizer during the summer months (again, making sure to space feedings 6 to 8 weeks apart). However, if your grass goes dormant (turns brown) during summer heat and drought, temporarily stop feeding until it greens up and starts to grow again in the early fall.
Early Spring
The first spring feeding should be applied in the early Spring. Apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Green Max™ Lawn Food 27-0-2 with 5% Iron in any growing season to any grass type, including newly seeded and sodded areas. An early Spring feeding promotes strong roots and helps grass green-up out of dormancy from the winter.
Late Spring
Follow up your early spring application with a late spring fertilizer application 6 to 8 weeks later. Summer heat is coming, for your second spring application, use Scotts® Turf Builder® SummerGuard® Lawn Food 34-0-0 with EveryDrop® Technology to help build deep root systems that help to keep your lawn healthy and vibrant when it's hot. With Summaerguards' Everdrop technology, a wetting agent, helps drive water into hard, dry soil reducing wasteful runoff.
Fall
In the fall (usually right after around Labor Day), do your final first fall feeding. Applying Scotts® Turf Builder® Fall Lawn Food 32-0-10 a fertilizer to your lawn in the fall helps it recover from the heat and drought stresses of summer and prepares it for winter by storing all the nutrients it needs to survive and so that you have a better lawn next spring.
