Time to do the last major gardening work and prepare part of the garden for winter. This includes, among other things, proper lawn care in autumn, which also includes autumn lawn fertilization. Not only should you choose the right time, but the fertilizer should also be right. We summarize what you should pay attention to when it comes to lawn fertilizer for autumn and when you should fertilize in our article.
When was the last time you fertilized your lawn?
When it comes to when to apply fall lawn fertilizer, you have a fairly large amount of time available.The big heat wavesIt's best to be over by now, so don't start gardening until the end of September at the earliest. If you can't do it in the first few weeks, it's no big deal, because you can take your time until the beginning/mid of November.
Tipp: Follow the weather report. It's helpful to spread fall lawn fertilizer before a rainy day because the rain will help release the nutrients more quickly and get them into the soil where the roots can absorb them.
The purpose of autumn fertilization for the lawn is to get it through the winter well by providing the fertilizer with nutrients before the big cold period and thus making it more robust. The result is a healthy and green lawn in spring and summer. But of course you also have to use the right lawn fertilizer for autumn. Which one is that?
It's important to choose a long-acting fall lawn fertilizer that will provide the lawn with nutrients for the next 10 weeks. The best lawn fertilizer for autumn is an organic fertilizer that is primarily rich in potassium, as this strengthens the cells and thus the stalks and makes them more resistant to frost by lowering the freezing point of the cell sap. Potassium basically acts like an antifreeze. This also prevents diseases (e.g. snow mold), which can occur more frequently in this wet season.
It is particularly important that lawn fertilizer is used in autumnnot is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. These two substances have a growth-promoting effect, which would have exactly the opposite effect. Growing blades of grass are softer and therefore more sensitive. If you choose commercial fertilizer that is specifically designed for this time of year, you can't go wrong. There are also mixtures of seeds and autumn fertilizer for the lawn if you not only want to fertilize the lawn, but also improve it.
Autumn fertilizer for the lawn and lime treatment at the end of the season
In addition to lawn fertilizer for autumn, you can also treat the lawn with lime. This balances the pH value of the soil and ensures the lawn has the neutral soil it prefers. Liming makes sense, especially if you want to combine autumn lawn fertilizer with weed killer, because in this way you make life difficult for moss, for example. You have until December to distribute lime. How you go about it is up to youread here.
Spread autumn fertilizer correctly for the lawn
There are special tools that make spreading fertilizer easier. However, if you want to work by hand (with gloves), first prepare the necessary amount according to the square meter of your lawn and then sprinkle the first half lengthways over the lawn and then the second half crosswise in another layer. This way you are most likely to apply the fertilizer evenly.
Then water the area. This is particularly important if no rain is expected in the coming days (but not only), as the product could otherwise burn the lawn.
What else you could do besides fertilizing your lawn for the fall
Have a few spots and bare spots formed here and there over the course of the summer season? No problem, because now is the perfect time to reseed and repair such blemishes. This is not just a good idea from an aesthetic point of view. Such bare spots are also weak points on the lawn that weeds quickly use to establish themselves. A dense turf, on the other hand, prevents this. In addition to autumn fertilizer for the lawn, the following care measures are beneficial:
- You can do thatNow scarify the lawn, thereby ensuring better ventilation and preventing matting.
- If youthe last timemow this season, set the mower lower than usual. You should shorten the grass blades to around 4 cm. The purpose of this is to ensure that the stalks don't just bend over the heavy snow cover. If they are then left lying there, the moisture will build up underneath, which provides ideal conditions for fungal diseases.
- For the same reason, you should regularly remove fallen leaves in autumn. They can lead to mold growth.
- In the summer, grass clippings can be left lying around as long as they can dry quickly. This is no longer recommended this season (also to prevent fungal diseases).
- From the first frost onwards, you should limit the use of the lawn so as not to put too much strain on it.
