Now’s the time to winterize your lawn

The cool, wet mid-October weather has triggered some changes in your lawn.  The grass isn't growing as vigorously and typically, you're mowing less frequently. While top growth has slowed, grass roots are still very active, storing nutrients and moisture, getting ready for the winter season.  All this activity at the root level makes this the most important time to feed your lawn. Applying a Winterizer  fertilizer  in late October and early November benefits your lawn now by strengthening the root system, which in turn prepares the lawn for the rigors of winter. The most important nutrient for feeding fall lawns is Nitrogen, the first number listed on the bag. 

Fertilome Winterizer contains 25% Nitrogen, plus Potassium to help your lawn absorb and store the fertilizer you apply now. A twenty-pound bag of Fertilome Winterizer will cover a 5,000 square foot lawn. A forty-pound bag of Fertilome Winterizer will cover 10,000 square feet.

 Another choice for fall lawn fertilization is RichLawn Winterizer. Richlawn Winterizer is organically-based and has a 15-3-6 formula, again with emphasis on Nitrogen for root feeding.  This forty-pound bag of Richlawn® Winterizer will cover 6,000 square feet of lawn. 

The big benefit of feeding your lawn now comes next spring when the grass emerges from its dormant state and there’s sufficient nutrients in the root system to feed it. Applying a Winterizer fertilizer now means a quicker green-up, stronger top growth early in the spring season and a healthier lawn through the summer.  After applying Winterizer fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly to help the fertilizer get down to the grass roots.  

In addition to feeding your lawn, this is a good time to work on the soil your grass grows in. HuMic contains humate, an organic-based soil conditioner. Humate will improve soil structure and increase nutrient uptake. If you choose to include HuMIc now, the sequence should be to apply HuMic product first, water it in, then apply Winterizer Fertilizer, followed by a thorough watering of the lawn. 

Speaking of watering, it’s important to water your lawn through the winter, if we don’t receive sufficient natural moisture.  Every four to five weeks when the temperature is above forty-five degrees, use a simple sprinkler attached to a hose to water your lawn. Water about noon and be sure to remove the hose from the spigot when you’re done watering.  Periodic watering through the winter will also benefit the trees and shrubs planted in or near your lawn. 

This is especially important where the lawn and trees are surrounded by sidewalks and streets.