Denny's Soapbox

Fertilizer Myths

Soon the ads will start promoting ‘Winterizer’ fertilizer for your lawn. Most who buy are under the impression that grass is not that cold hardy and needs a feeding of ‘Anti-Freeze’. Guess what, all northern grasses that we grow here are extremely winter hardy. The winterizer is marketed in such a way as to put fear in the homeowner that it’s not. This type of fertilizer is usually low in nitrogen and lots higher in phosphorus and potash than any normal lawn food. Many recent studies by universities, including Ohio State have tested and concluded that all established lawns, those older than one year want high, quick release fertilizer in the fall. They recommend an application of high nitrogen at least 1 pound per 1,000 square feet in early September and another feeding in late fall when the grass has stopped growing, but still green. In southern Ohio, that period is usually around Thanksgiving.

The plant food in that late fall feeding will be absorbed by the grass plants and help build new, stronger roots. Plant food will also be stored in those existing grass blades and roots which will give your lawn good winter color and great green-up in the spring. This system allows the grass plants to use this fertilizer as it requires and doesn’t force feed your lawn in the spring. The only other fertilizer your lawn needs is a light feeding of nitrogen in mid-spring, ½ pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, usually the amount you get mixed with a pre-emergent crabgrass control. Add up these applications and you’ll see that 3 steps are all that’s needed, not 4 steps. Speaking of 4 step programs, they can actually weaken a lawn by putting down too much nitrogen in the spring. If you would like a copy of this O.S.U. report about fall feeding of your lawn by two of the finest agronomists, Dr. John Street and Pamela Sherratt, go to http://www.bloomingarden.com/falllawn.html . The report includes some wonderful information on aerification and weed control.

Other lawn notes

Keep mowing the lawn at the 2 ½ inches for blue grass and 3 inches for turf fescue and perennial rye. Fall is a great time to treat for weeds. The cooler the weather, the quicker the kill.

September is the best month to plant grass seed. The second best time is winter seeding, putting down grass seed from mid-January to mid-March. No soil prep is needed for this application.