Fertilize the lawn in the fall

If the lawn is lush green and strong stalks, the heart of the hobby gardener will be happy. To keep it that way, the greenery in the garden should also be fertilized regularly. In spring and summer this is a matter of course. However, autumn fertilization is rather unusual in this country. It supplies the blades of grass with important nutrients before the cold season and helps them survive the cold season.

Characteristics

Special fertilizers called Autumn fertilizers have a composition that meets the lawn requirements during the cold season because they are characterized by a high proportion of potassium and phosphate. Potassium acts like a natural antifreeze, because potassium increases the salt concentration in the plant cells, which lowers the freezing point of the plant sap. This makes the stalks more resistant to frost and cold. Phosphate helps the roots to survive the cold season. The autumn fertilizer should also have the following properties:

• high proportion of minerals and trace elements
• good long-term effect
• Minimizing the risk of fungal infection (snow mold)

Under no circumstances should you apply a fertilizer in autumn that has a high proportion of nitrogen, as this stimulates the growth of the blades of grass. However, this is counterproductive in autumn, since the weather conditions are not ideal for growth. Only soft stalks grow back, which are more susceptible to diseases and do not tolerate frost and cold well.

time

When is the right time to apply the autumn fertilizer depends on the weather conditions and the region. Since the blades of grass only absorb the fertilizer while they are growing, lawn growth is the decisive criterion when it comes to fertilizing. The culms grow when the temperature is above five degrees Celsius. If it falls below that, they stop growing. Therefore, to determine the optimal time for autumn fertilization, the horse must be put before the horse, proverbially.

In Germany, the five-degree limit is usually reached in October or reached Nov. A look at the temperature profile for your region in recent years will help you narrow down the period. Once it has been clarified, you should allow three to four weeks for the fertilizer to absorb. So if the five-degree mark is in November, the autumn fertilizer must be applied in October. If it is in October, then the autumn fertilization falls in September.

temperature drop in autumn

Unfortunately, you can no longer trust the weather, especially in recent years. A cold snap in October and a relatively warm November must be expected. In order to be prepared for such a sudden drop in temperature in October, you can start autumn fertilizing earlier, i.e. in September.

daytime weather

In addition to the time on the calendar, you should also pay attention to the weather of the day. Regardless of whether you use a liquid fertilizer or a granular fertilizer, you should not fertilize on a sunny autumn day. Because the sun's rays break the irrigation water, and this can lead to burning of the blades of grass. This also applies to granular fertilizer, since the lawn must be watered after it has been dispensed.

Take advantage of forecast rain. So you can spend the autumn fertilizer when rain is forecast for the next day or the evening hours. In this case, the rain takes over the watering. If you leave the watering to the rain, it can take three to four days, depending on the intensity of the rain, for the granules to disappear into the ground. Therefore, a weather situation that promises several rainy days is optimal in this case.

Fertilize

If the right day for the autumn fertilization has come, the green must not be over-fertilized. Therefore, you should stick to the amount indicated on the bottle or bottle. hold the pack. When using a granular fertilizer, you should ensure that the granules are evenly distributed over the lawn. A spreader will help you with this. In this way, even tracks can be drawn and the granulate is evenly distributed over the lawn.

In places that are difficult or impossible to access with the spreader, the granulate fertilizer is distributed as evenly as possible by hand. Liquid fertilizers are easier to use because they are simply added to the irrigation water. However, they are only recommended for smaller lawns, as watering large areas can easily become a tedious task.

Patent Kali

Patentkali, also known as potassium magnesia, is a cheap alternative to autumn lawn fertilizers because, like these, it increases the winter hardiness of the lawn. It contains 30 percent potassium, 10 percent magnesium and 15 percent sulfur. So that Patentkali can develop its full effect, it should be spent during the growth phase. The lawn can still absorb the fertilizer well. Administration in the months of September and October is recommended. The optimal dose is 70 grams per square meter of lawn.

Patentkali is issued in the same way as for autumn fertilizers. Here, too, you should pay attention to the daily weather and apply the fertilizer evenly.

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