Add November Lawn Fertilization to your to-do List
Wait, November lawn fertilization? Lawn care in November? Really? It’s football season and nearly Thanksgiving. I’ve put up the hoses, drained the mower, and mulched the leaves. I’ve mowed the lawn one last time and even aerated and overseeded. What else could there be?
One last thing to do to almost guarantee a healthy green lawn next spring is a November fertilization.
Fertilizers help prevent winter stress and promote healthy root development. Not only will your lawn spring to green sooner, but November fertilization will help stop the stress of snow, ice, and cold to your lawn by promoting grass root growth. Other benefits of a November lawn fertilization include weed control, nutrient replacement, and disease prevention.
But I Fertilized in September. Do I need to Do it Again so Soon?
According to Purdue Agriculture, yes, you should. “Cool-season turfgrass species should be fertilized mainly in the autumn. September and November are the two best times to fertilize a lawn in Indiana. Fall nitrogen promotes good root development, enhances storage of energy reserves, and extends color retention in cool-season lawns. Most of the benefits from late fall nitrogen will be seen next spring.” — Is it too late to apply nitrogen fertilizer?
What, When, and How much Fertilizer should be applied?
What is the best type of fertilizer, how much should be applied, and when should it be applied are great questions. Once again, Purdue has the answers for Central Indiana.
“The late-fall or November application timing should be near or after the last mowing of the year, but while the lawn is still green. Typically, there may be a month or more between your last mowing and the time the grass turns brown or goes under snow cover. Generally, the first few weeks of November are when to apply. Earlier Purdue research suggests that the nitrogen must be taken up by the plant before winter to be most effective. Therefore, a quick-release (or soluble nitrogen source) such as urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, or ammonium sulfate is most effective. The target application rate for this November fertilization should be 0.5 to 1.0 lbs. N/1000 square feet.” Turfgrass Science at Purdue University Fall Fertilization
Pro Tip
It’s a good idea to mow your lawn before November fertilization. After you’ve spread the fertilizer, if the temperature is above freezing, water your grass. Watering will help set the fertilizer in the ground where it can most benefit the roots, whereas nitrogen fertilizer left on the top of the grass can burn it. I
“Don’t wait until the ground freezes, and don’t apply fertilizer over snow or ice. On the flip side, it is best to fertilize a lawn right before a rain. The rainfall will help to water in the fertilizer, allowing it to sink into the soil. Just make sure the rain forecast doesn’t call for a heavy downpour, as that can wash away the fertilizer.” — The Spruce — The Best Month for Fertilizing Your Lawn in Fall
Spreading fertilizer on your lawn this month will help you spread a little joy come spring when your lawn comes in a beautiful green!
How Can We Help You?
Berger Hargis has a company philosophy of providing personal excellence for all our services. Our growth and success have been due entirely to our commitment to honest, excellent customer service. The company is built on the referral business we have received due to this philosophy.
If we can answer any questions about fertilizing your lawn, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
About the Author
Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management.
Photo by Katharina on Unsplash
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