Fertilizing

Help your Lawn Stay Green All Summer Long.

When to Fertilize Your Lawn in Minnesota

One of the best parts of living in Minnesota is that the climate is perfect for cool-season grasses. Still, a proper fertilizing schedule will get the most out of your grass. Like any turf, giving a Minnesota lawn the right nutrients at the right time will help it be strong from the first signs of spring until winter hits.

If you want a truly spectacular front yard, terrace or garden, we recommend a five-stage fertilizing program. When exactly to apply them depends on that year’s weather — the warmer and wetter the spring is, the earlier you should start. In most cases, we recommend a slow-release fertilizer. This will give a lawn sustained nutrients without over-growing.

First Fertilizing in Spring

Your first round of fertilization should be in March or early April. Providing nutrients early will help give a lawn a jump start after it wakes up hungry from the winter. It will also help grass while it strengthens its roots in preparation for the main growing season. Early spring is also the right time to apply crabgrass preventer and get rid of holdover weeds.

Late Spring Feeding

This is when the real growing season begins, and your grass needs a good meal. Apply your second fertilization in May or June roughly 6-8 weeks after the first round. This will help improve the turf’s color and density as it hits hyper-growth mode. Broadleaf weed control should also be applied during this feeding so that dandelions don’t also take advantage of the nutrients.

Summer Fertilizer Application

Keep your Minnesota lawn going strong through the hot summer with a third round of fertilizer in late June or July. This feeding, along with adequate irrigation, will help grass battle the heat, foot traffic and insects that it faces during its prime growing months. It will also promote good color for your grass without causing it to grow too fast.

End-of-Summer

Begin preparing your turf for the winter early. Applying fertilizer treatment in August or early September will thicken the lawn and stimulate new root growth as growing conditions enter their second growing season. This is also a good time for another round of broadleaf weed control.

Applying Fertilizer in Fall

Fall in Minnesota is the most important time to apply fertilizer. The weather in September and October is perfect for cool-season grasses with its warm days, cool nights and morning dew. Take advantage by feeding the lawn while it is aggressively growing. This is also the one time of year where we recommend using a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content. Doing so will help your turf strengthen its roots and start storing extra nutrients for the rugged winter ahead.

Let Central Lakes Lawn Mowing create and provide a custom fertilization program for your Minnesota lawn that will help it stay healthy year-round. Contact our experts to learn more!