Your Guide to Lawn Fertilization in New England: When and How

As someone who wants to do all the right things for their lawn, you might be wondering about lawn fertilization in New England. Fertilization is such an important service for lawns because it involves supplying much-needed nutrients to the soil. Your lawn will use those nutrients to grow thicker and greener. If your lawn is lacking in color, vigor, or thickness, it could be that it’s not receiving the proper nutrients that it needs to thrive.

This is where fertilization comes into play.

But getting the most out of this service means understanding what you’re doing.  Knowing everything from when to apply the product to how often to keep up with fertilization is key.

We know that understanding how to fertilize grass in New England can be confusing.

But don’t stress…we’re here to help. 

We can answer all your questions about lawn fertilization in New England so that you’ll understand exactly what needs to be done. At the end of the day, it all boils down to helping you achieve the best results without the worries.

When to Fertilize Your Lawn in New England

You might be looking for the perfect lawn fertilizer schedule in the Northeast. When should you be performing this lawn care task?

While most people think of the spring as fertilization time, your lawn can benefit from fertilization throughout the entire lawn care season. That’s why we include fertilizer treatments throughout the spring, summer, and fall. 

There are just different rates of application to pay attention to throughout the seasons.

In the spring, the grass is actively growing and will definitely need a boost of nutrients during this important time. Your grass will use those nutrients throughout the growing season.

Summer is a time to be cautious with lawn fertilizer as lawn burn can occur when the grass is already getting scorched by the sun. This is a critical time that fertilizers are not overapplied. Over-fertilizing can also contribute to lawn disease if you’re not careful. It’s critical that you understand application rates, particularly in the summer when the lawn will not be as forgiving of mistakes.

The fall is also a vital time for lawn fertilization in New England. In particular, our late fall treatment (what some people call “winterizer”) is what will help set your lawn up for success as it goes into the dormant season. 

Late fall fertilization also sets your lawn up for early spring success. It’s this last round of fertilization that will help be responsible for the early spring “green up” that you’ll see when a new season rolls around.

How to Fertilize Grass in New England

The key to success with fertilization is strategically timed visits that are spaced out and take the proper rate of application into account. As we mentioned, this can vary with the season and weather conditions. Your lawn is going to have different needs at different times of the year.

Here in New England we have four distinct seasons. We have rainy springs, hot and humid summers, chilly autumns, and frigid winters. That’s going to impact the rate of application as well as what type of fertilizer is used.

In the spring, using a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer will feed your lawn over time. The nitrogen plays a critical role in helping your lawn to “green up” while the slow release will allow your lawn to get a steady stream of nutrients during this active growing period. Keeping up with proper mowing and watering during this time will also be critical to your success.

When transitioning into summer fertilization, you’ll need to choose a fertilizer with less nitrogen. Applying too much nitrogen in the summer can stress the lawn and lead to fertilizer burn. 

Finally, as we move into the fall, you will want to use a fertilizer product with more phosphorus and potassium to support strong root growth ahead of the winter. This will set your lawn up for success during the colder months.

If you are fertilizing your lawn yourself, in addition to purchasing the correct bags of fertilizer for the season you’re in, you’ll also need a spreader for application. It’s important to apply the proper amount of product using your spreader. 

Fertilizer should be applied evenly and across all areas of the lawn. You’ll want to apply the recommended volume for your lawn size. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on whatever bag of fertilizer you purchase. 

Homeowners often tackle DIY lawn fertilization in New England and that’s not unreasonable. However, there are some mistakes that can impact your results.

Some common fertilization mistakes include:

• Overapplying fertilizer: When you apply too much fertilizer, you run the risk of burning your lawn.
  
  
• Underapplying fertilizer: Failing to apply enough fertilizer will mean your lawn doesn’t get the full benefits of the added nutrients.
  
  
• Fertilizing at the wrong time: Timing is everything with this service. As we mentioned, you’ll also want to make sure that you choose the right type of fertilizer for the season that you’re applying it.

Make Lawn Fertilization in New England One Less Worry on Your Plate

Figuring out specifics like when to fertilize your lawn and how much product to apply can be stressful and time-consuming. It will involve trips to the hardware store and spending time working on your lawn on the weekends. And even when you get all the supplies you need, you could end up making a mistake that could cause harm to your lawn (like lawn burn).

Instead of having to worry about any of this, you could partner with professional lawn care. That should give you peace of mind that this service is getting done exactly as it was meant to. Here at Seacoast Turf we provide lawn care services in Northeastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Southern Maine. 

Hiring professional lawn care services also means not worrying about the rate of application, which is an important factor that will be critical to your success. Your lawn is going to have different growing and nutrient needs at different seasons and a lawn care pro will know how to account for that.

Another benefit of partnering with a pro is that your lawn will get everything it needs to thrive. While we’ve focused this article on lawn fertilization in New England, you know that there are many other important lawn care services your lawn requires. Weed control, pest control, disease management, and lawn aeration are just some of the additional lawn care services that you may need.

At Seacoast Turf Care, we can help you with all of your lawn care needs. It’s our goal to not only help you get the best results but to help take away your worries in the process. Not only can you feel confident that your lawn is receiving the fertilization and other services that it needs, but you can stop having to worry about doing any of this yourself. We’ve got you covered!

Want to get a beautiful, green lawn? At Seacoast Turf Care, we service NH towns near Stratham, North Hampton, Exeter and many more. Get lawn care pricing for your Southern NH, Southern Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts property.