When to Seed/Plant and Fertilizer Your Lawn
No matter how green your fingers are, the care and feeding of a lawn can be a daunting task. There are multiple questions to ask and answer, and if you don't have all the answers, it might feel like a lost cause.
We’ve thrown together a little guidebook to show you the general idea of what you’re looking at for lawn seeding and fertilizing.
Where in the World Are You?
Or, more specifically, in the US. The climate affecting your soil matters to your grass. If you're closer to the northern border, you and the Canadians have cool weather grasses. If you're south of the Mason-Dixon Line, you're probably using warm weather grasses. The country's middle is a transitional area that can use either or both kinds.
Cool-weather grasses do well in, you guessed it, cool weather. They go dormant in warm weather, turning brown.
Warm-weather grasses flourish in warm weather, going brown and dormant over the weather.
If you're somewhere in the center, you could have a mix of the two.
There are a few ways to find this out. If you're starting a lawn from bare ground, read the package on the seed bag. If you're overseeing or maintaining, talk to your local lawn care specialists, and they can assist you in figuring out what kind of grass you have.
Do I Seed Or Fertilize First?
Before seeding the ground, you must make sure it’s ready. Optimizing the soil before you plant the seeds will give your grass the best chance of sprouting, taking hold, and growing like wild.
Using a fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will help make the soil fertile for new grass seeds.
So When Should I Seed and Fertilize?
Warm-Season Grasses
Start your warm-season planning early. Fertilizing for warm-weather grasses should happen in early to mid-spring, so your soil has lots of time to get ready for the planting.
Some like it hot, and that applies to these guys. Warm weather grasses should be seeded between spring and summer and never later than midsummer.
Cool-Season Grasses
Fertilizing for cool-season grasses can be flexible. Depending on whether you want to plant early spring or late fall, give your soil a few months to acclimate before planting.
These grasses are like your cousin Mildred- fair and burns easy. Planting these in early spring can give them a chance to mature before the summer sun cooks them. Planting in early fall, when it’s still warm but not too warm, is another excellent option for these grasses.
What Do I Need to Seed and Fertilize My Grass?
Any job done right uses the right equipment. So you'll want to have a few things in your shed to make sure that when it is time for seeding and fertilizing, you've got the right tools for the job.
Drop Spreader: Sort of like a fancy bucket with a hole in the bottom, drop spreaders help you spread seed and fertilizer over your lawn. These range from fancy motorized contraptions to good ol’ manual, depending on the acreage you need to cover.
Lawn Roller: Lawn rollers are like a lumber-jacks rolling pin. They have many uses, but in your case, you can use them after seeding to ensure the seeds make good contact with the ground.
Seed and Fertilize According to Your Area
When it comes down to it, no one knows what the grass in your area needs like you. You’re the one out there, walking on it, taking care of it, and (the most time-consuming job) cutting it.
Take the kind of grass into consideration, and use the best tools you can get to seed and maintain your lawn. Think of it like a toy and a tool. After all, you spend all this time taking care of it; why not have fun?
If you're looking out for the perfect way to soup up your toy and make it the best tool for your lawn care, we can help with that. Not to brag, but Reliable Aftermarket Parts lives up to its name. We make sure you have the parts to make your lawn care toys awesome. Make lawn care fun again. Visit our Lawn & Garden section to see all that we have to offer.