Obviously, this can vary quite a bit by region, so another way to tell when you begin is to pay attention to your lawn. It is best to spread the fertilizer just prior to planting the seed. Once the grass reaches 4 1/2-inches tall, mow to a height of 3 inches. Fertilizing in late October builds energy in the grass root systems, forcing grass plants to push new roots and rhizomes. There are both slow-release and quick-release formulations, with the latter delivering a quick green-up dose of nitrogen. Using a fertilizer high in nitrogen at the time of seeding may result in burnt seeds. Once you’ve received your soil test, selected an appropriate starter fertilizer for your soil and know the needed amounts, applying it over the lawn area is relatively basic. For overseeding and new grass I use a starter fertilizer (24-25-4). "Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer How to Use Apply during final preparation of seedbed for planting seed, sod, sprigs or plugs. 1 In southern areas, overseed thinning lawns in late spring, as warm-season grasses enter active growth. One look at your local garden center’s fertilizer aisle and you’re inundated with choices for producing your vibrant lawn. Water the lawn lightly, twice daily at first, while the grass seeds germinate. Water it before planting the fescue seed. Young grass is 'hungry' for P. The best way to do this is to use a broadcast or rotary spreader. This timing gives your new grass plenty of time to harden off and tolerate the summer of 2014. For example, a fertilizer ratio of 10-10-10 contains 10 percent of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Put on safety gear, including shoes, gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask before applying the fertilizer. Method-1: You can apply fertilizer first. Once applied, work the product 4 to 6 inches into the soil, if you are planting grass seed or sod after the application. There are benefits to incorporating the starter fertilizer into the soil before planting. Addressing soils that aren’t amended with organic materials Landschoot continues, “In cases where soils are not amended with compost, nitrogen is almost always needed for rapid establishment. The three most important nutrients required for good growth and health of your turfgrass are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, which a starter fertilizer contains. When it comes to the specific job of each of these primary nutrients in regards to the health of your turf: Some examples of the formulations of common starter fertilizers for lawns are 10-10-10, 20-10-10 and 16-8-8. In the North, the best time to overseed your lawn is in the fall, when the soil is still warm but the air is cooler, and there are fewer weeds for new grass to compete against. Secondly, while you are planting the seeds. When overseeding lawns, you may find it necessary to apply a starter fertilizer before or directly after seeding. Water thoroughly after applying the fertilizer. This is especially true if a soil test says your soil Phosphorus (P) is low. Walk the spreader across the lawn in one direction and then again perpendicular to the first application. As seen in Forbes, CNBC and USA Today, LawnStarter lets makes it easy to schedule service with a local lawn care professional. buy it, spread it, drink a beer(s). Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden topics. Peter Landschoot, Ph.D., professor of turfgrass science at Penn State Extension states, “Yes, both seed and sod. It can cover your fescue lawn to up to 7,000 square feet for 1 box. The holes provide excellent soil exposure for seeds and deliver fertilizer directly to the roots of your grass. Sweep any loose granules on the sidewalk or driveway back onto the grass. Soil samples can be collected any time during the year as long as soil is not frozen. Walter Reeves, The Georgia Gardener: Fescue – Planting Seed – New Lawn, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning: Overseeding Your Lawn, Yardcare.com: Cool-Season Grasses | Choosing the Right Grass, Pennington: How to Overseed or Reseed Your Lawn, Nature's Seed: How to Fertilize Your New Fescue Grass Seed Lawn. It doesn't really matter if you fertilize or overseed first. Whether you are planting new grass from scratch or repairing bare spots, figuring out a proper fertilizer to get your grass off to the best start can be daunting. I’m leaning toward putting down milorganite at overseed time, since it’s slow release, at 1#/1000, then starter fert at 0.5#/1000 after a few weeks. Memorial Day (the end of May): The application rate at this time is 32 pounds per 2,500 square feet. Avoid weed-and-feed products, as the pre-emergent herbicides will prevent germination of the fescue seeds. Mixing grass seed with Milorganite is an effective way to spread seed accurately. Also, build in a few days to interpret the report and purchase the correct amount and type of fertilizer.”, If you didnít get a soil test to determine how much starter fertilizer for the lawn you should use, Landschoot writes, “Starter fertilizers should be applied at 0.5 to 1 lb. Next up is a starter fertilizer. Now there’s a new product with pre-emergent weed control that you can apply when you seed –whether bare-ground seeding or overseeding. Even properly applied starter fertilizer may not be enough food to maintain a healthy start for your grass. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. When to Apply Use when planting seed, sod, sprigs or new lawn plugs or when overseeding. If there's a heavy layer of thatch or the soil is compacted, aerate the soil. Just pour the required amount into a standard fertilizer spreader and evenly apply the starter fertilizer over the planting site. ft. can burn the young turf and result in poor establishment. Alternatively, if you prefer to use organic methods, rake 1 to 2 inches of a manure-based compost over the lawn. ft. To keep the fescue green and growing, water regularly and apply fertilizer on a regular schedule. Fertilizer Analysis 20-27-5" so, there you go. I’m sure there’s no wrong way. Lebanon’s ProScape® Starter Fertilizer 21-22-4 with Mesotrione is ideal for use during turf establishment (bare ground seeding, sodding, sprigging or plugging), renovation or overseeding. Application of a starter fertilizer is not a substitute for the phosphate and potash recommended on your soil test report.”, When it comes to situations where a starter fertilizer for grass isnít required, Landschoot advises, “In some cases, a 1- or 2-inch layer of good quality compost amended into soil before establishing turf will provide more than enough nitrogen and phosphorus for optimum establishment. The Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance service recommends overseeding at least 45 days before your average first fall frost. For maximum appearance of your lawn, you can apply fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the most active period of your grass' growth. I have seen few opinions about right timing for fertilizer while doing full reno/overseeding. Types of starter fertilizers include those with NPK amounts of 5-10-5, 10-20-10, 5-20-10 and 16-20-0, according to the University of California. so your lawn stays green through the cold season. Probably not. Lawn fertilizer packaging will include instructions on which setting to use on a spreader. You overseed with fescue when the fescue areas become thin. 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. If you didn't apply starter fertilizer before spreading the fescue seed, it's not too late. Of course, donít go overboard with its use and think more is better. When Time Is Right, Apply Starter Fertilizer You want to wait until the soil temperature falls to 50 degrees to 65 degrees Fahrenheit to get the best germination from your fescue seeds. When applying a starter fertilizer, itís best to apply before seeding or before laying sod, or after you plant your grass seed. However, if you desire, you can spread the starter fertilizer over the site immediately after spreading your grass seed. Always check the rates on the bag as they vary among brands. You can use a starter fertilizer with an N-P-K amount of 5-10-5 at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet, according to the University of California. Starters release slowly with successive watering nutrients to feed young emerging lawn grass. For my full reno, I have prepared a 10-25-10. Should I Use Starter Fertilizer. Starter fertilizers for lawns come in different compositions of the primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P-phosphate) and potassium (K-potash), or the three numbers listed on the package (NPK). Concentrate on seeding and watering and forget about additional fertilizer until the grass is well sprouted. Apply a Starter Fertilizer When the soil temperature falls to 50 to 65 degrees or the air temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, apply a starter fertilizer for overseeding. Starter fertilizers vary, but most are either a 10-10-10 or a 20-10-10 formulation. For best results, use high-quality seed and fertilize with Milorganite®. Warm season grasses aren't the only ones that may need overseeding. For early fall or early September, you should apply fertilizer to revitalize the green blade color after the heat stress of summer. Keep everyone off the lawn so the new grass has time to become established. (Best of the blues from seedland). In general, plan to overseed the lawn at least six weeks before the average first frost date so the new grass has time to become established. This process thickens your lawn and helps build deep roots along with reserves that help your lawn combat next summer's heat stress. Winterize your lawn with a late fall fertilizer application, like Gertens Winterizer. Overseeding after aerating is a no-brainer, and it is the best possible time to do so, according to our Gaithersburg lawn care partners.-Apply soil amendments: Lime, Fertilizer… 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. The extra nitrogen helps green up the existing grass as well as feed the fescue as it germinates and grows. quick-release nitrogen per 1,000 sq. This Miracle Gro Lawn Food will fertilize all type of grass/lawn. That generally equates to days when air temperature consistently hits 60 to 75 degrees. Get easy-to-understand, actionable yard tips that will give you the greenest grass on the block. Work the starter fertilizer into the top 2 to 4 inches of soil. Used properly, it won’t be long before your bare feet are enjoying the feel of your healthy lawn. Just be sure to allow time for the lab to process the samples and return your report with phosphorus recommendations. The numbers list the percentage of each nutrient contained in the starter fertilizer for grass. Before scattering fescue seed over your lawn, take time to prepare the existing grass and any exposed soil. But, you have to ensure overseeding your lawn at least 6-8 week after spreading fertilizer. The all-purpose, non-burning formula feeds for up to 8 to 10 weeks. The ideal situation would be to collect soil and submit the sample(s) to a test lab as close to the time of establishment as possible. LawnStarter is a startup making lawn care easy affordable and reliable. Also rake or dig up any bare spots to loosen the soil. Seedling grasses need greater amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus than mature grass plants because seedlings are producing new tissues rapidly and thus have higher energy and nutrition requirements.” Reseeding a lawn will take more time, but sod will be more expensive. Apply a 5-10-5 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium starter fertilizer at a rate of one-half pound per 25 square feet of lawn area. Overseeding requires one half of the grass seed that would be needed for seeding a new lawn. Firstly, before seeding when you are preparing the soil. Water thoroughly after fertilizing. Contains high nutrients and chelated iron for roots and grass blades. Some nitrogen and phosphorus (as starter fertilizer) applied to the soil before the sod is laid should help hasten development of new roots.”, Landschoot notes, “Because soil-test levels of phosphorus don’t change much over short periods, you can collect soil samples and submit to a test lab to determine phosphorus levels within a year of establishing turf. 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. If you are applying the product after you apply grass seed, spread the product over the soil and water into the soil. When overseeding lawns, you may find it necessary to apply a starter fertilizer before or directly after seeding. Water immediately after spreading the seed. Generally speaking, the first time you fertilize in the spring will likely be sometime between the beginning of March and the middle of April. You should not use starter fertilizer in areas where you cannot control runoff. However, some types contain two parts of nitrogen and one part of phosphorous and potassium. If your lawn is not rich in natural organic matter, nitrogen plays an important role. Fescue grasses thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 7 and die back when warm temperatures dominate in spring, summer and fall. When it comes to knowing how much starter fertilizer for the grass youíll need, Penn State Extension suggests taking a soil test. You donít want to apply it directly to newly planted sod or burning can occur. The test will note just what nutrients require beefing up in the soil to benefit your turfís growth and how much is required. If you don’t overseed, there’s no need to top-dress in fall. My soil tests always showed low P. I am attributing this to 2 renos in 2 years. What is the best mix for a starter fertilizer? Although you can use a starter fertilizer for a lawn that is established, it’s better to use a well-balanced fertilizer designed specifically for grass that is established. Apply a Starter fertilizer that contains nutrients only such as GreenView Starter Fertilizer according to the directions on the fertilizer bag. You donít want to apply it directly to newly planted sod or burning can occur. In fact, you should wait six to eight weeks before applying another dose of balanced fertilizer to your grass after planting so it doesnít incur burning. Be sure to use a turf-type tall fescue cultivar such as 'Cayenne' or '2nd Millennium' or a blend designed to withstand foot traffic and warm temperatures in your area. Leave the clippings on the grass. Method-2: You can also plan to apply fertilizer after a certain time later from the overseeding on your lawn. You can apply every 4 to 6 weeks at any season when your fescue lawn is growing. Do not apply a preemergent herbicide for crabgrass control to a new seeding or on seedling turf—unless the product is specifically formulated to do so.. Make sure not to over-apply by following the application rate provided on the fertilizer… I've found that a good topsoil, rake in seed then top with peat moss or compost(not to heavy) does the trick. Immediately after aeration, your lawn is ripe for overseeding and fertilizing. Follow this blog to stay tuned with what you need to keep your lawn in tip-top shape year-round. When phosphorous and potassium are applied only to the surface of the soil they cannot move down into the soil fast enough. Starter fertilizers will contain higher amounts of phosphorus (Middle number on the bag of fertilizer). Use a Starter Fertilizer Fertilizer is the other needed product for seeding. For a standard starter fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 24-25-4, apply at a rate of 3.27 pounds per 1,000 square feet. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. “Even though sod is mostly composed of mature turf, many of the roots have been severed during the harvesting operation,” Landschoot says. She continues to write nonfiction articles on gardening and other topics and is working on a second "50" book about plants that attract hummingbirds. Starter lawn fertilizer helps your grass seedlings and sod roots establish rapidly in the soil, leading to a thick new lawn in a short period. Time To Apply. You need to give attention to the seedgermination and their growth so that you can apply starter fertilizer according to the grass type you like to grow. I had my lawn care company put down a starter fertilizer instead of my normally scheduled fertilizer on Sept. 22. Some research shows little influence of phosphorus on turf establishment in soils containing adequate to high levels of soil-test phosphorus; whereas other studies show benefits even when phosphorus levels are adequate. Mow warm-season grasses at the mower's lowest setting or an existing fescue lawn at less than 2 inches. Plus it makes you mow sooner. In summary, a lawn starter fertilizer high in phosphorus and quick-releasing nitrogen is ideal for starting a lawn from seed. They just give numbers for each component, so I’m a little stuck. When to Apply Fertilizer Once your lawn has sprouted after about six weeks, an additional feeding of starter fertilizer is appropriate. ft. will speed up seedling development.”, When it comes to explaining phosphorus and its role Landschoot also notes, ‘”Phosphorus is included in starter fertilizer primarily to enhance root development. Starter fertilizers will contain higher amounts of phosphorus (Middle number on the bag of fertilizer). 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