Your lawn needs extra attention in the fall to prepare for winter and the following spring, such as removing organic debris and scheduling aeration services. Another essential care step is applying grass fertilizer during autumn. With the guide below, discover how you can best handle this task to ensure a healthy landscape.

Why Should You Apply Fertilizer During Fall?

During the hot summer months, your lawn endures a lot of stress. Heat, drought, and foot traffic can damage the grass, making it difficult for it to recover. Applying fertilizer in the fall can help your lawn recover from this stress by strengthening the roots and promoting healthy growth. 

Additionally, fall fertilizer can help prepare your lawn for the winter months. When temperatures drop, grass goes dormant and stops growing, but the roots continue to grow. Applying fertilizer during fall can help the roots grow deeper, making it easier for the grass to bounce back in the spring.

What Types Are Best?

Before buying grass fertilizer, you should know the main ingredients in it and what each ingredient does. The three primary ingredients in grass fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Nitrogen is the most important ingredient in grass fertilizer because it promotes the growth of green leaves and stems. A high nitrogen fertilizer is ideal for fall because it will help the grass recover from the summer stress and provide the necessary nutrients for winter survival.

Phosphorus is the ingredient that promotes root growth and development. A lawn with healthy roots can better withstand drought and heat stress, making it more resistant to damage. Applying a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in the fall will help the grass develop strong roots to survive the winter.

Potassium is the ingredient that improves the overall health of the grass. It helps the grass to resist disease and drought, and it also improves the grass's ability to absorb nutrients. 

The recommended nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) content number is 25-22-4. This amount works for a new lawn planted in the fall that needs help with growth and disease protection. It also applies to a yard in poor health that needs its bare patches filled in. Conversely, a ratio of 32-0-4 is ideal if your lawn is already established since this product will promote healthy growth in the spring. 

For quality grass fertilizers, contact Oakley Professional Products, formally T & N. This Foristell, MO-based company sells top-quality lawn care products and ships locally to St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. Everything except grass seed can be shipped anywhere else in the U.S. Call (636) 673-2505 today with questions or browse products online.