table of contents
- Autumn fertilization - why?
- The right moment
- preparation
- Apply fertilizer
- Types of fertilizer
The most important lawn fertilization usually takes place in autumn. Because this is how the lawn is strengthened for the winter. However, the same fertilizer should not be used in October or November as in spring or summer. Because the resting phase of the grass in winter must also be considered. Again race The following article explains when to fertilize properly in autumn and when the ideal time is for fertilization.
Autumn fertilization - why?
Winter in particular puts a lot of strain on a lawn. And it does not matter whether it is clear frost or extreme snowfall. Both of these can extremely affect a lawn that has not previously been strengthened by autumn fertilizers. In winter, for example, the grasses are particularly susceptible to the following:
- continuous snow cover
- Lawn diseases such as snow mold spread
- Bald frost is also harmful
Especially when long frost do not step on the lawn under any circumstances. Because then the frozen grasses break off and may not grow back in the next spring.
The right moment
The ideal time to re-fertilize the lawn before winter is between Mid-October and early November. However, it is important to ensure that the fertilizer is used on an overcast, but still relatively warm day without frost is abandoned. Because if the ground has already become too hard due to nocturnal ground frost, the nutrients in the fertilizer can no longer penetrate and thus cannot reach the roots of the grasses. In addition, the following weather should prevail on the day of fertilization:
- without exposure to sunlight
- in the sun, the stalks could be burned by the fertilizer
- Rain showers after fertilization are ideal
- so the fertilizer penetrates directly into the soil
- when the ground is frozen, fertilizer does not get to the roots
If there is prolonged drought at the time of fertilization, you should apply the lawn after fertilization water well. However, it is important that no night frost is to be expected. The autumn fertilization in October or November shows its effect for about ten weeks, so the day of fertilization is in Autumn should be chosen so that about ten weeks between this fertilization and the next required fertilization in spring lie. If the spring fertilization takes place at the beginning of February, then mid-November is the right time for the autumn fertilization.
preparation
Before fertilizing begins, the lawn must be prepared so that the nutrient can also penetrate the soil well and thus get to the roots of the grasses. So the preparation and final maintenance of the lawn before winter should look like this:
- Remove autumn leaves from the area
- otherwise the grass will start to rot when it is wet
- mow one last time at the end of October
- Cut to a height of five to six centimeters
- do not leave any clippings on the lawn
- this also causes putrefaction
- close brown and bald spots
- otherwise moss or weeds will spread
Especially now in the autumn months, there is a good condition that lawn seeds are still beginning to germinate. Because the ground is still warm from summer. It is ideal to have one Lawn repair, which is available ready-made from well-stocked specialist shops, on the bare areas. These are usually seeds and fertilizers.
Apply fertilizer
When fertilizing, it is important that the nutrients are well distributed throughout the soil so that they later reach all the individual grasses via the roots. With a large lawn it makes sense to have a Gritter to use. You can also rent these devices from well-stocked gardening shops if you do not want to purchase or have a spreader. Otherwise, proceed as follows:
- pay attention to the quantity given by the manufacturer
- Avoid over-fertilization
- Put fertilizer in a bucket
- Sprinkle by hand with one throw
- go on slowly
- Sprinkle the entire area
A spreader is also useful for a small area, as the exact amount can be set here that is to be spread and thus distributed well and regularly over the area.
Types of fertilizer
In the autumn months, when the vegetation period of the plants and the grass is coming to an end, then the need for fertilizer also changes. It is therefore important to give the lawn the nutrients it needs Cell stability needed. Then the grasses are less susceptible to fungal diseases but also to frost. The lawn also has to cope with drought on sunny days in winter. Therefore, when fertilizing in autumn, it is essential to ensure that the following ingredients are included:
- Potassium: against any susceptibility that may arise
- Iron: promotes leaf formation
- Calcium and magnesium
Fully waive should be used during autumn fertilization Nitrogen and nitrates. Because nitrogen stimulates the growth of the grass, which should be avoided in winter. Strong growth in autumn leads to soft cells, which are then again susceptible to pests and diseases in winter.