They benefit from fertilization prior to re-seeding in the spring. The higher phosphorus content of starter fertilizers is an important nutrient right after your grass seed has germinated, but once established, your lawn no longer needs phosphorus at such a high rate. I also use the Scotts lawn app to track all of this. Although nitrogen is an important macronutrient for plants, your new lawn needs to get established first before it can begin promoting new growth. if you used a pre-turfing fertilizer wait 6 weeks if you didn’t feed after 4 weeks of laying the new lawn. Ideally, sow the seed after the ground has been thoroughly wetted by a good fall of rain. Some experts consider seven to 10 days a conservative option, suggesting that four days should be enough. Due to the nature of the season, there’s likely to be very little visual progression with your new lawn. But be careful! If you’re fertilizing in early September, water in the fertilizer and use a high nitrogen source. After Your First Lawn Fertilizer Application. Fertiliser for seeding a new lawn. After this routinely feed your lawn every 4-6 weeks. Seeding a new section of grass is a great way to invest in your garden. If you're sowing seed, apply fertilizer at seeding time or two weeks after sowing seed. If you didn’t get around to using it, apply an autumn-winter lawn feed 4-6 weeks after turfing. Applying a starter fertilizer the same time as seeding a new lawn will ensure the emerging grass stalks have the nutrients they need to jump-start their growth. I'm in the Twin Cities and my routine each of the last 5 years in the fall has been; 1.) Rather than playing a guessing game, hiring a professional is a simple solution. Then fertilize again during the late summer and early fall. Nothing else. About 4-8 weeks after the perennial ryegrass seeds germinate you should fertilize your grass again. The transition from starting a new lawn, to getting into a fertilizing routine is where many get confused. Rake the lawn before aerating to remove thatch as well as any stones that may damage your aerator. After aeration and seeding, you’ll want to follow up with fertilizing your lawn. If you’re looking to source a great lawn fertilizer, why not check our list of the best lawn fertilizers. Feeding. You are now looking to source a fertilizer that’s suitable for your grass as well as your climate and vegetation conditions. At this stage, you can get into a lawn feeding schedule that matches your ambition to promote the growth of your new lawn. At about 4 to 6 weeks after the seed germinates fertilize the lawn with a high quality turf fertilizer that is predominantly nitrogen. When to Fertilize: Wait a few months until spring starts to kick in, from March on you can use a spring-summer fertilizer to promote the growth of your new lawn once temperatures begin to rise. A start fertilizer should only be applied during the preliminary stages of forming your new lawn. People usually avoid fertilizing the lawns in October.  this is a fertilizer that is applied to the ground before you apply the new lawn seed to promote new growth. The Lawnifi New Lawn Starter Box is the best fertilizer for new sod and contains the perfect amount of nutrients for your newly establishing lawn’s needs. There are several different fertiliser products that you can use to get the best results from your lawn. It should be forked into the soil at 140g/m 2. After 48 hours of aerating your soil, you will apply seeds and fertilizer then water on the ground. September and/or November is the best time to fertilize your lawn, especially if you have cool-season grass. Choosing a fertilizer low in nitrogen is key to prevent weak leaves from growing. The seed, fertilizer, and water will have the best chance to get down into the holes made by the aerator if applied soon after aeration. In summers high temperatures, giving your new lawn enough water is key to its success. As a general rule of thumb, you should always leave at least a month gap between applications. Overseeding After Aerating Your Lawn Black Beauty Ultra® grass seed germinates in about 14 days. This is a time where turf will be working hard to affirm its roots. The pre-turfing fertiliser you worked into the soil before you laid your lawn should be enough to keep the plants going. The transition from starting a new lawn, to getting into a fertilizing routine is where many get confused.  if you chose not to apply a pre-turfing fertilizer, apply a spring-summer feed around 5 weeks after laying your new lawn. Use a bit more nitrogen during late summer and fall, and a bit less during the spring. If you want to learn more about who we are and what we do read more here. The Gardenknow editorial team leverages the knowledge, enthusiasm and experience of its team of gardening fanatics to provide the websites content. How Often to Fertilize New Grass. Once turf is 4 to 6 weeks old or older, nitrogen is the most important nutrient for a healthy, attractive stand of grass. If you mow your lawn after fertilising you may remove the fertiliser before it has a chance to sink in properly. If you are fertilizing and seeding your lawn on the same day, you should broadcast the food and seed separately, one after the other, and it does not matter which order you spread them in. A product such as GreenView Fairway Formula Lawn Fertilizer is an excellent option. Starters release slowly with successive watering nutrients to feed young emerging lawn grass. So that means you should fertilize the new sod at about four or six weeks after you have laid the new sod. After this routinely feed your lawn every 4-6 weeks. Spring Fertilization Generally speaking, the first time you fertilize in the spring will likely be sometime between the beginning of March and the middle of April. This feed is for the roots. Part of the process includes knowing when to fertilize grass after seeding it, which can depend on a variety of factors including; the type of grass, time of year as well your climate. Why is my rye grass not growing? Your email address will not be published. What Is the Best Time to Fertilizer Your Lawn? If the soil and air temperatures are too cold, newly seeded grass may take longer than expected to germinate. Fertilize in early spring (after a mild winter), late spring or early summer (after a cold winter), late summer and fall. After this routinely feed your lawn every 4-6 weeks. The season that families spend the most time in the garden, it’s less of a traditional time to sow lawn seeds as the mild weather has well and truly gone. The best fertilizer to use (and how much) will be dependent on your grass type and lawn size. When to Apply Fertilizer Once your lawn has sprouted after about six weeks, an additional feeding of starter fertilizer is appropriate. Fertilizer can "burn" the grass and should be applied during the times of year when the sun is less intense. If your cool-season lawn seems thin, fall is a great time to thicken it by overseeding before winter arrives. After your first application, you want to apply another round of fertilizer 6 to 8 weeks later and repeat that two more times with 6 to 8 weeks in between.  the process of something coming into existence and developing. When to Fertilize: if you used a pre-turfing fertilizer wait 6 weeks if you didn’t feed after 4 weeks of laying the new lawn. Keep the area moist until the grass sprouts, and then slowly reduce the watering frequency. It MUST be low in nitrogen. When seeding a lawn, you should never apply the fertilizer and seed together. Ideally you should feed your lawn as soon after mowing as possible as this will give the grass more time to absorb the nutrients before the next mow. Keep your lawn or garden healthy before it goes into a period of winter dormancy with an application of fertilizer in the late fall. The ideal time to fertilize new grass seed is before or while the seed is being sown. After long dark winters spring is the most promising time of the year, where nature bursts into color and new life sprouts. Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ is specially designed to turn weak, thin grass into a thicker, greener lawn. For most parts of the country, this time period can fall between late August and early October. You don’t want to stimulate fast-growing but weak leaves. After the new seeds have germinated and have been given enough nutrients to become grass, there’s no need to give your lawn starter or pre-turf fertilizer. Growmore is generally the best fertiliser to use prior to sowing. For help choosing a great summer fertilizer, read our. Some people may advise that you should fertilize your lawn a few days before you aerate and overseed but I am telling you the exact process I have carried out many times and it has always worked out well for my lawn. Fertilizer with weed killer should sit on your lawn for a full 24 hours before being watered in, which means you have to plan the application for a dry spell. That way, they’ll be ready to spring up after the frost. It is best to overseed your lawn immediately after applying the fertilizer to prevent weeds from taking advantage of the extra nutrients in the soil. When to Fertilize: if you used pre-turfing fertilizer it will be enough to keep your lawn going. Overseed a Thin Lawn. Immediately after aerating, your lawn is exposed to oxygen, and so laying fertilizer during this time is your best bet for growing a healthy, envy-worthy lawn. Water lightly after seeding, and continue to water the seeds and plants at least twice a day to keep the soil moist until the grass is actively growing. If not, to help the roots use a low nitrogen, autumn-winter lawn feed around 5 weeks. It is high time to get into soil fertilizer and water. The best thing you can do for your grass after overseeding is give it rest, and your mower causes a lot of unrest. 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Select a suitable mixture of grass seed using the Lawn UK lawn wizard. Seeding early in spring is recommended, allowing plenty of time for them to germinate and mature before summers hot weather arrives. In this case, you should apply the product after the rain or in the morning when there is still dew on the grass as it sticks in place longer than applying to a dry lawn. Wait a few months until spring starts to kick in, from March on you can use a spring-summer fertilizer to promote the growth of your new lawn once temperatures begin to rise. Fine fescue can improve shady lawn areas or lawns that face very cold winters. For help choosing a great summer fertilizer, read our summer lawn fertilizer round-up.Â. It combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a soil improver into an easy-to-use product that’s applied using a spreader. That said, Summer is a time that warm weather grasses can thrive such as Bermuda and St. Augustine.Â. At this stage, you can get into a lawn feeding schedule that matches your ambition to promote the growth of your new lawn. That said, Summer is a time that warm weather grasses can thrive such asÂ. If you’re looking to source a great lawn fertilizer, why not check our list of the. Like most things in their infancy, newly seeded grass must be cared for carefully to help it grow into a luscious mature lawn. In summers high temperatures, giving your new lawn enough water is key to its success. If you plan on doing this, make sure you use a starter fertilizer that’s appropriate for your grass and growing conditions that does not contain any weed control. if you used pre-turfing fertilizer it will be enough to keep your lawn going. Concentrate on seeding and watering and forget about additional fertilizer until the grass is well sprouted. This is an incredibly active time for new grass. Generally, mid to late spring and early to mid fall are optimal times to aerate and fertilize. 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