The transition from summer growth to winter growth starts sometime between mid September and mid October. This transition is a perfect time for fertilizing your lawn.
When you look at a bag of fertilizer you will see 3 numbers. These number represent the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) levels in that fertilizer. Nitrogen helps promote the growth of foliage like the blades of grass. Phosphorus stimulates the root growth and potassium is important for the overall plant health.
Love to know garden give this advise on fertilizing:
“Cool fall temperatures can make many plants appear dead or dormant, but actually there is a lot going on under the ground. Now is when the roots are growing. Fertilizer that is high in phosphorus is just what you need to promote strong, healthy roots now as well as for beautiful plants in the spring. When temperatures drop to 40 degrees, plants are stimulated to produce higher concentrations of amino acids, sugars and other things that help the plant resist freezing. Fertilizing in the fall will help plants to be more winter hardy when temperatures drop.”
Different plans have different needs:
- Perennials – Give them a high phosphate fertilizer with low nitrogen content. and watch how many more flowers you get in the spring.
- Spring bulbs – Now (Sept & Oct) is the perfect time to plant those blooming spring bulbs. Apply phosphorus at the level of the roots and mix rich compost with the soil to give your spring bulbs plenty of food to carry them until spring. Plant your bulbs in a hole that is roughly four times deeper than the height of the bulb and don’t forget that bulbs need to be planted tip up.
- Roses – They will appreciate it if you stop fertilizing them. Fertilize them will encourage new growth on the rose-bush that will only freeze and die when frost comes. If you love your roses, hold off til spring with their fertilizer.
- Lawns. This is the ideal for fertilizing your lawn, as well as over-seeding a sparse lawn. Taking time to add a little bit of fertilizer this fall and next spring you will be amazed with a thick, lush lawn.
