Fertilizing the lawn in spring: everything you need to know about fertilizing the lawn in spring

In the first warmer days of spring, your lawn will start to grow again. Here you can find out how to properly prepare your lawn for the new season after winter and what you should consider when fertilizing your lawn in spring.

After the winter, when sunlight and warmth are scarce and it often freezes, most lawns look a bit battered. The spring is therefore perfectly suited to carry out the first lawn fertilization. But first we should clarify a few important questions: Why exactly should a lawn be fertilized in spring and when is the right time for fertilization? You can find all the answers in this article.

Fertilizing the lawn in spring: why is it necessary?

Lawn grasses have a high nutrient requirement. Malnutrition would be particularly disadvantageous in the spring after the long winter: If the grasses are not in optimal shape right from the start, they can change spread moss and wild herbs between the little plants, which have lower demands on temperature, lighting and nutrient supply or even these circumstances to prefer. In addition, severe frost or unfavorable fertilization in autumn could also have damaged the lawn: If it appears yellowish, muddy, or otherwise not vital, there may be something wrong with preparing the lawn for winter went wrong. Possible reasons are late or heavy nitrogen fertilization in autumn or late mowing. A slight yellowing of the lawn and weak growth are, of course, quite normal for a lawn shortly after the winter. In any case, the task now is to create optimal conditions for growth in the new year by fertilizing the lawn in the spring.

Tip: Some frost sensitive lawn grasses like this German ryegrass (Lolium perenne) can "winter out" in autumn due to frost and late nitrogen fertilization. This means that this lawn grass will almost completely disappear from the lawn. This is then reflected in a weak-growing, very sparse turf. Spring is a good time for a simple Lawn reseeding, in the Lolium perenne purposefully mixed in again. For example, you can use our certified Plantura lawn reseeding use.

When should you fertilize the lawn in spring?

The effectiveness of lawn fertilization in spring is also determined by the timing. This depends on the soil type, fertilizer type and weather. We have broken down the impact of these factors individually for you below:

soil type: Light soils with low nutrient reserves are first fertilized in March or April to stimulate growth. Heavy soils have sufficient reserves for the first budding. You should therefore only apply fertilizer to lawns on heavy soil at the end of May to the beginning of June, when the natural growth spurt wears off. Otherwise there is a risk of over-fertilization. Soils with properties between these extremes are fertilized for the first time in April or May.

weather: If the winter is long, fertilize later, otherwise frost damage is possible. If spring comes early and is unlikely to be interrupted by severe late frosts, fertilizer can also be applied earlier.

fertilizer type: Primarily organic lawn fertilizers are applied a month earlier in the spring because they do not take effect immediately after spreading.

The best lawn fertilizer for spring

In order to ensure an advantage over wild herbs, a fast-acting dose of mineral fertilizer is often used. However, the better choice is a primarily organic long-term fertilizer that keeps the soil and thus the lawn healthy over the long term.

Taking care of the soil with a mostly organic fertilizer like ours Plantura organic lawn fertilizer begins as early as the end of February, i.e. a little earlier than with mineral lawn fertilizer. This is because primarily organic fertilizers release nutrients for your lawn slowly, but in the long term and evenly. In this way, fertilization is modeled on nature and over-fertilization is prevented. Organic lawn fertilizers are harmless to insects, the soil, groundwater and all garden animals. Regular use of organic fertilizers also improves the soil under your lawn and provides the greenery with optimal nutrients.

General to organic fertilizers and their composition can also be found in our special article.

By the way: Did you know that choosing a site-specific lawn seed mixture and using it primarily organic lawn fertilizer the occurrence of moss in the lawn prevents? Which the right type of lawn for your location is, find out here.

Tip: As you have already learned above, your lawn can sprout quickly on its own in the spring on well-supplied soil. Taking care of the soil with an organic autumn lawn fertilizer with a long-term effect - like ours Plantura Organic Autumn Lawn Fertilizer – can therefore make mineral fertilization as a jump-start in spring completely superfluous. In this way, the beneficial microorganisms are also promoted - a real benefit for your garden.

Fertilize the lawn properly: Instructions for the ideal application

So that you can start supplying your lawn with nutrients right away, we have put together detailed fertilizer instructions below:

1. Light, sandy soils are fertilized with mostly organic fertilizer from February. Heavy, clayey soils can only be fertilized in May or June, when the first growth spurt wears off. Normal, sandy loam soils are primarily supplied organically from the beginning of March. Anyone who fertilizes with mineral fertilizers does so about a month later. Mow the lawn to about 3-3.5 centimeters and remove leaves from the area. If one scarification or that aerating the lawn should it be necessary, now is the best time to do so.
2. Distribute the amount specified on the fertilizer packaging by hand or with a fertilizer spreader. For our Plantura organic lawn fertilizer, for example, that would be 40 - 60 g/m²² for normal spring fertilization or 70 g/m² after scarifying.
3. Water the lawn extensively if no rain is forecast for the next few days.

tip: Ours Plantura organic lawn fertilizer you can easily measure: A volume of one liter corresponds to 650 grams.

If you need information about mowing, scarifying and more Caring for the lawn after the winter search, you will find it here. More information about different lawn fertilizers can also be obtained here.