For winter color, overseed southern lawns in fall. Also rake or dig up any bare spots to loosen the soil. I had my lawn care company put down a starter fertilizer instead of my normally scheduled fertilizer on Sept. 22. They just give numbers for each component, so I’m a little stuck. 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. You donít want to apply it directly to newly planted sod or burning can occur. 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. Just be sure to allow time for the lab to process the samples and return your report with phosphorus recommendations. Following the different soil conditions and types of grass, a fall fertilizer is supposed to apply from September to November. Immediately after aeration, your lawn is ripe for overseeding and fertilizing. For maximum appearance of your lawn, you can apply fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the most active period of your grass' growth. Winterize your lawn with a late fall fertilizer application, like Gertens Winterizer. Starter fertilizers will contain higher amounts of phosphorus (Middle number on the bag of fertilizer). Young grass is 'hungry' for P. Overseeding requires one half of the grass seed that would be needed for seeding a new lawn. 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. When phosphorous and potassium are applied only to the surface of the soil they cannot move down into the soil fast enough. When it comes to knowing how much starter fertilizer for the grass youíll need, Penn State Extension suggests taking a soil test. Just pour the required amount into a standard fertilizer spreader and evenly apply the starter fertilizer over the planting site. When overseeding lawns, you may find it necessary to apply a starter fertilizer before or directly after seeding. With these nine FAQs about using starter fertilizer on your lawn, we’ll also explain what all those numbers on the fertilizer package mean and how they’ll affect the growth of your grass. For overseeding and new grass I use a starter fertilizer (24-25-4). The holes provide excellent soil exposure for seeds and deliver fertilizer directly to the roots of your grass. Since your trees are starting to shed their leaves, there's plenty of sunlight. 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. Use a metal thatch rake to remove the grass clippings, thatch and debris. My soil tests always showed low P. I am attributing this to 2 renos in 2 years. I've found that a good topsoil, rake in seed then top with peat moss or compost(not to heavy) does the trick. Starter fertilizers vary, but most are either a 10-10-10 or a 20-10-10 formulation. Warm season grasses aren't the only ones that may need overseeding. so your lawn stays green through the cold season. Then you can add your fertilizer to that pure water. Time To Apply. As with many things in life, too much of a good thing can be bad and too much starter fertilizer for your developing lawn can affect it negatively through burning. 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. Always check the rates on the bag as they vary among brands. Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass (4.9 / 5 rating), GreenView 2131254 Starter Fertilizer (4.8 / 5 rating), Jonathan Green Green Up Seeding & Sodding Lawn Fertilizer (4.8 / 5 rating), Lesco Professional Starter Fertilizer, 18-24-12 (4.7 / 5 rating), Tips for Watering Your Lawn in Philadelphia, PA, How to Landscape With Palm Trees in Phoenix, 2021’s Best and Worst States for Living Off the Grid, 10 Walkway Ideas for Your Yard and Garden, 14 Treehouse Ideas for Your Backyard Playhouse. Nitrogen and phosphorus from indiscriminate use of fertilizers have caused such great environmental concerns that about half the states in the U.S. have imposed some sort of regulations on fertilizer use. 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. Some say wait until 3-4 weeks after germination before throwing down nitrogen. Water the lawn lightly, twice daily at first, while the grass seeds germinate. The three most important nutrients required for good growth and health of your turfgrass are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, which a starter fertilizer contains. 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.. 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. It’s generally best to apply Milorganite fertilizer to warm-season grass at the following times of year: Easter (this should be after the turf comes out of dormancy): The application rate at this time is 32 pounds per 2,500 square feet. Water thoroughly after applying the fertilizer. 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. It can cover your fescue lawn to up to 7,000 square feet for 1 box. It won’t hurt the grass, but might lack the needed nutrients that a well-balanced fertilizer for continued lawn maintenance contains. In addition, nitrogen can easily be leached from the soil before the grass even has a chance to uptake its nutrients. Similarly, do I need to fertilize when I overseed? When applying a starter fertilizer, itís best to apply before seeding or before laying sod, or after you plant your grass seed. Instead, use either a more traditional type fertilizer, or an organic, slow-release fertilizer such as an 18-1-8 formulation which is better suited for an existing lawn. 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. I have seen few opinions about right timing for fertilizer while doing full reno/overseeding. Amounts in excess of 1.5 lb. The best way to do this is to use a broadcast or rotary spreader. Two specific moments are better to apply starter fertilizer. Water immediately after spreading the seed. Water thoroughly after fertilizing. However, if you desire, you can spread the starter fertilizer over the site immediately after spreading your grass seed. (For best results, use a Scotts spreader!) Once applied, work the product 4 to 6 inches into the soil, if you are planting grass seed or sod after the application. If you are applying the product after you apply grass seed, spread the product over the soil and water into the soil. (Best of the blues from seedland). Starter fertilizers will contain higher amounts of phosphorus (Middle number on the bag of fertilizer). Regular slow-release fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen is best for planting sod or giving your existing lawn a boost. If your fine fescue lawn (Festuca rubra or Festuca brevipila) sees a lot of foot traffic or it has been a long, hot summer, overseeding with a tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) increases the lawn's ability to withstand kids, pets and summer heat. I understand that many factors come in place and will stick to 2 weeks in for my overseeding area. 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. The numbers list the percentage of each nutrient contained in the starter fertilizer for grass. Secondly, while you are planting the seeds. Lawn fertilizer packaging will include instructions on which setting to use on a spreader. 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. 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. 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… 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. For best results, use high-quality seed and fertilize with Milorganite®. Once the grass reaches 4 1/2-inches tall, mow to a height of 3 inches. That generally equates to days when air temperature consistently hits 60 to 75 degrees. 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 Best Time to Apply Starter Fertilizer for Grass Seed. Method-2: You can also plan to apply fertilizer after a certain time later from the overseeding on your lawn. 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. When to Apply Fertilizer Once your lawn has sprouted after about six weeks, an additional feeding of starter fertilizer is appropriate. 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. Next up is a starter fertilizer. 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. If there's a heavy layer of thatch or the soil is compacted, aerate the soil. 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. Simply apply the starter fertilizer after overseeding the lawn. Our research shows a greater influence of nitrogen compared to phosphorus on the rate of turf establishment, so if you can’t use phosphorus (or you think there is enough phosphorus in the soil), an application of 1 lb. "Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer How to Use Apply during final preparation of seedbed for planting seed, sod, sprigs or plugs. However, some new formulas have different schedules to … But, you have to ensure overseeding your lawn at least 6-8 week after spreading fertilizer. If you didn't apply starter fertilizer before spreading the fescue seed, it's not too late. Overseeding starter fertilizer is applied right before seeding. Fill a hand-held rotary or push-type drop spreader and apply the seed to the lawn according to the manufacturer's directions. You donít want to apply it directly to newly planted sod or burning can occur. When overseeding lawns, you may find it necessary to apply a starter fertilizer before or directly after seeding. Generally, developing seedlings growing in compact soils during cold temperature periods are thought to benefit more from phosphorus in starter fertilizer.î. This timing gives your new grass plenty of time to harden off and tolerate the summer of 2014. The all-purpose, non-burning formula feeds for up to 8 to 10 weeks. If you are over seeding, I would not put any fertilizer on the lawn-The new grass will have zero chance with the established then. I’m sure there’s no wrong way. Should I Use Starter Fertilizer. When it comes to using a starter fertilizer for new sod or grass seed, thereís a definite benefit to its use to promote the healthiest growth and establishment of your lawn in the quickest amount of time. Apply at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. For example, a fertilizer ratio of 10-10-10 contains 10 percent of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. This is especially true if a soil test says your soil Phosphorus (P) is low. Apply a Starter fertilizer that contains nutrients only such as GreenView Starter Fertilizer according to the directions on the fertilizer bag. 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. Mow warm-season grasses at the mower's lowest setting or an existing fescue lawn at less than 2 inches. Starters release slowly with successive watering nutrients to feed young emerging lawn grass. If you are spot seeding, then yes fertilize with a starter(if needed). It is best to apply starter fertilizer just before, or at the same time as planting grass seed. Using a fertilizer high in nitrogen at the time of seeding may result in burnt seeds. 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. In summary, a lawn starter fertilizer high in phosphorus and quick-releasing nitrogen is ideal for starting a lawn from seed. When to Apply Use when planting seed, sod, sprigs or new lawn plugs or when overseeding. Using a Starter Fertilizer When overseeding lawns, you may find it necessary to apply a starter fertilizer before or directly after seeding. If your lawn consists of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, or perennial ryegrass, choose a product specially designed for overseeding thin lawns, like Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ Sun & Shade, which combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a soil improver into an easy-to-use product you apply … Fertilize with a slow-release 18-1-8 fertilizer using a spreader, four to eight weeks after the fescue germinates. You can apply every 4 to 6 weeks at any season when your fescue lawn is growing. You only do that in the fall (late August) after the crabgrass has stopped germinating. Method-1: You can apply fertilizer first. Alternatively, if you prefer to use organic methods, rake 1 to 2 inches of a manure-based compost over the lawn. 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. When seeding a lawn, you should never apply the fertilizer and seed together. One look at your local garden center’s fertilizer aisle and you’re inundated with choices for producing your vibrant lawn. Follow this blog to stay tuned with what you need to keep your lawn in tip-top shape year-round. Avoid weed-and-feed products, as the pre-emergent herbicides will prevent germination of the fescue seeds. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. Peter Landschoot, Ph.D., professor of turfgrass science at Penn State Extension states, “Yes, both seed and sod. Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden topics. There are benefits to incorporating the starter fertilizer into the soil before planting. It is best to spread the fertilizer just prior to planting the seed. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. Even properly applied starter fertilizer may not be enough food to maintain a healthy start for your grass. Memorial Day (the end of May): The application rate at this time is 32 pounds per 2,500 square feet. Plus it makes you mow sooner. Apply a 5-10-5 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium starter fertilizer at a rate of one-half pound per 25 square feet of lawn area. Use your seed spreader to apply the fertilizer in two directions. She continues to write nonfiction articles on gardening and other topics and is working on a second "50" book about plants that attract hummingbirds. 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. Sweep any loose granules on the sidewalk or driveway back onto the grass. Obviously, this can vary quite a bit by region, so another way to tell when you begin is to pay attention to your lawn. 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. 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