Does Your Colorado Lawn Need Fall Fertilization?
Maintaining a beautiful lawn takes continuous lawn care maintenance and attention. For Colorado lawns, the cooler time of year is actually a great time to spend a little more time on lawn maintenance. Cool-season grasses like fescue or bluegrass enter their peak growing season during fall, making it a prime time for lawn fertilization.
When to Apply Fall Fertilizer in Colorado
According to Colorado State University’s “Homeowner’s Guide to Fertilizing Your Lawn and Garden”, a successful fertilizer schedule starts in the early fall, not the spring. We couldn’t agree more! While spring fertilization is a great way to promote healthy lawn growth and color, fall lawn care is crucial for Colorado grass types. Fall fertilizer applications are more focused on root development, overall grass health, and winter hardiness. Depending on your local weather, type of grass, or even soil test results, the exact time for your fall fertilizer may vary. For most Colorado lawns, the months of September to October are the best time of year for fall fertilizer applications.
What are the Benefits of Fall Fertilization in Colorado?
Fertilizing your lawn in the fall comes with many benefits before the winter season kicks in. It helps your lawn store important nutrients, survive harsh winter temperatures, and develop stronger root systems. Providing nutrients to your lawn during early fall is also a great way to prepare for a healthy lawn next spring. With fescue lawns, all of your fall lawn care efforts will pay off even more in the upcoming seasons.
Growth and Color
Applying nitrogen fertilizer during fall will help boost your lawn’s color and growth. For fescue lawns entering their peak growing season, nitrogen should be the main focus. It also helps improve density and your lawn’s ability to resist disease or stress.
Root Development
Fall fertilization promotes strong root development which in turn improves the overall health of your lawn. The root systems are the most important part of your grass because they are the vehicle to absorb water and nutrients.
Nutrient Storage
Look at fall fertilizer like a protein bar after a workout. Summer weather is a workout for cool-season grasses and applying fertilizer in the fall helps restore much-needed nutrients to the root systems. Fall is also the time of year for cool-season lawns to replenish and store carbohydrates in the plant.
Winter Hardiness
Even cool-season grasses can struggle during harsh, cold winters and fall fertilization can help your lawn better protect itself. Fertilizers with potassium are especially beneficial in promoting winter hardiness.
The Best Fall Lawn Care in Colorado Springs
For professional and trusted lawn care in Colorado Springs, look no further than Integrated Lawn Care. Our lawn care programs are designed for Colorado lawns by applying the right fertilizer at the ideal time of year. Since 2001, we’ve provided lawn care services to homeowners in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Palmer Lake, Peyton, Security-Widefield, Falcon, Black Forest, and surrounding areas. We know what it takes for different types of grass to thrive in Colorado’s climate. We also offer tree and shrub care, perimeter pest control, rock bed weed control, winter mite suppression, aeration, and organic fertilizer options in the Greater Colorado Springs area. All of our pricing is based on the square footage of your lawn. Contact us for a free quote today!