Is your lawn the one on the block with a thick, weedless stand of grass? Or are you envious of those perfect lawns while yours is a little on the lame side? If you fit the first example, you know that fertilizer is the key to creating and maintaining gorgeous turf. But, if you fit the second example, read on. You are about to learn everything you need to know: the best time to fertilize lawn (before or after rain, and the fertilizer I use) to get the lawn you’ve dreamed of.
This article was last updated on by Lawn Chick Owner Sarah Jameson
Article content reviewed for accuracy by Horticulturist Arthur Davidson, A.S.
Understanding Why You Need to Fertilize
Some of the most vital information you need to know is what fertilizer is made of.
This will help you understand why fertilizer is helpful, how it works, and will guide you toward buying the right type for your lawn.
The fertilizer you put on your lawn plays an essential role in making your yard look thick and green, but this is just the beginning.
The nutrients in fertilizer help prevent weeds from smothering and crowding out healthy grass.
Below is a list of three critical nutrients in your fertilizer and their functions in producing the yard you desire.
- Nitrogen is the main reason grass gets thick and green. Nitrogen encourages leaf growth. Your lawn naturally gets some nitrogen from rainfall, and from mulched grass clippings, but adding a controlled amount of nitrogen by fertilizing ensures your grass has the nourishment it needs to become a thick and green lawn.
- Phosphorous is essential for a strong root system. Phosphorous stimulates root growth and also helps grass seeds sprout for a thick and healthy lawn. The more grass you have in your yard, the less room there is for weeds. Healthy roots help lawns survive droughts as well.
- Potassium is like an immunization for your lawn. It helps grass resist harmful elements and conditions that compromise its health, such as drought, disease, fungus, foot traffic damage, and extreme weather conditions. It is an especially essential nutrient for the overall health of your lawn.
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Types of Lawn Fertilizer
With all the different kinds of fertilizer, it’s hard to know which one you need.
I group fertilizer generally into two categories – synthetic, and organic. Synthetic fertilizers are made in a lab, organic fertilizers are made naturally.
The difference between the two really is that synthetic fertilizers feed the plant, and organic fertilizers feed the soil.
While you might see better short-term results from synthetic fertilizers, I find that over time your lawn will depend upon them because your turf will be depleted.
So. A few factors help determine which type to purchase.
First, different types of fertilizers are made for specific application times.
Forget about all of the marketers telling you to fertilize constantly so you buy more … here on planet Earth you can fertilize your lawn just about any time of year as long as you buy the right fertilizer.
Some people feed several times per year, but most people do not have that kind of time or money.
If you are only going to fertilize one time during the year, follow these general rules:
- Fertilize in September for cool-season northern grasses.
- Fertilize in June for warm-season southern grass.
Personally, I fertilize 4 times annually with a slow-release organic fertilizer called Milorganite (Amazon link). You can read more about that product, and the application schedule I follow here.
Granular vs Liquid Fertilizer
Most people choose a granular fertilizer because it is cheaper to buy in bulk, and it is also easier to store and preserve.
Granular fertilizer dissolves over a period of time, offering a steady release of nutrients to your lawn.
Liquid fertilizer, however, does have its place.
It is easier to apply evenly and is more easily absorbed by your turf.
You might use liquid fertilizer instead of granular to address specific problems. Liquid fertilizer gives you more control over the dosage and is immediately absorbed for instant lawn repairs.
Does Rainfall Play a Role in When You Fertilize?
One question that seems to stump people is what role rainfall plays when determining when to fertilize.
What the Experts Recommend About Fertilizer Application Timing and Placement
The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reminds us you need to check your fertilizer product’s watering instructions before use. But no matter what these might be, it’s important to avoid putting down fertilizer when there is rain in the forecast, especially heavy rain.
The DEQ also explains that you shouldn’t apply “fertilizer near storm drains, streets, sidewalks, driveways, ditches or within 50 feet or lakes and streams.” If you apply fertilizer in these places and there is unexpected rain, there will probably be runoff that will pollute nearby waterways.
Similarly, the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) warns us not to apply fertilizer on windy days or days when there is rain expected. It also says to “Avoid applying fertilizer close to waterways.”
Expert Perspective
The Lawn Chick editorial team regularly interviews industry experts to bring our readers the latest science and expert recommendations to complement our own hands-on lawn care experience.
We Asked: What strategies can homeowners use to avoid nutrient runoff and the eutrophication of local waterways while fertilizing their lawns?
Will Answered: “Phosphorus from fertilizer is known for its negative effects on water health. When applied in excess it can run off into water bodies and cause eutrophication, or excessive nutrients in a body of water. Eutrophication leads to low oxygen levels and can result in dead zones that can no longer support life.”
“Being mindful of both the type of fertilizer you’re using, and the timing of its application can greatly minimize nutrient runoff. Sunday’s lawn plan fertilizers typically exclude phosphorus, helping to reduce runoff and lessen eutrophication concerns. We only include our phosphorus fertilizer pouch if soil tests indicate a deficiency. Our extensive soil test database shows that most lawns aren’t lacking in phosphorus. Additionally, following fertilizer blackout dates, often during the rainy season in coastal states, is another effective way to minimize runoff.”
Will Seip
Expert Lawn Advisor at Sunday
Born and raised just south of Buffalo, NY, it has been quite a journey for Will getting to explore warm-season grasses after having a hodgepodge of fescue, bluegrass and rye in his lawn growing up. Will graduated from Cornell with a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, with a concentration in Land, Air and Water Resources.
What This Means For You
Let’s begin by listing two times when not to fertilize to help clear the confusion.
- Do not fertilize your lawn during a drought. Even if you plan to water, feeding your grass when it is stressed from heat and dryness is mostly ineffective, and a waste of time, product, and money.
- Do not feed your lawn right before a heavy rain. A heavy rainfall will cause the fertilizer to run off or pool in concentrated areas before it can break down and be absorbed. Run-off is a bigger problem than just failing to nourish your lawn. Fertilizer can wash out of a yard and pollute other areas, especially waterways.
So, if you don’t want to fertilize right before a heavy rain … when should you feed your lawn?
The following best practices should be of some guidance.
- Before a gentle rain– Watch the weather and try your best to fertilize a few days before a gentle rain. Understandably, predicting the weather is tricky, so the next suggestion for fertilizer application might be easier to achieve.
- After a rain – Fertilizing a few days after a rain is easier than predicting the rain and trying to apply before it. But convenience is not the only reason you should apply fertilizer after a shower.
Why is Fertilizing Your Lawn After a Rainfall Best?
Applying fertilizer after a rain is more eco-friendly because you don’t risk polluting water sources with run off.
Additionally, your lawn will receive nitrogen from the rainwater it absorbed a few days prior, which improves the overall health of your lawn.
Adding additional nutrients when your lawn is not stressed will enhance the effectiveness of the fertilizer. It will help your lawn grow and thrive, rather than helping it recover.
Tips for Applying Fertilizer After a Rainfall
- It is best to wait a day or so after a rain before applying fertilizer. At this time, any pools of water will be gone, but the ground will still have moisture in it.
- Do not apply fertilizer on grass blades that are still wet.
- Check the forecast and make sure some sunshine is in order. Sunshine is necessary in the process of photosynthesis, which enhances the fertilizer and creates healthy growth.
When I Fertilize My Lawn
My favorite time of day to fertilize is late afternoon, a day or so after rainfall.
This ensures that kids aren’t running on the lawn in the next 12 hours since it’s just before dark, the blades of grass will be dry from the sun, and the dew overnight will help the fertilizer adhere to the turf.
Let it Rain!
Fertilizing is an essential step in having the kind of lawn your neighbors will envy.
Knowing the function of fertilizer and choosing the right type for your yard is crucial as well.
If you found this article helpful, take a peek at some of my other articles about lawn fertilization where you’ll learn some more tips to stretch your dollar and get better results.
At Lawn Chick, I am committed to publishing accurate, useful, and trustworthy resources for my readers. As part of this commitment, I’ve invited subject matter experts to review our articles for accuracy. I invite you to read our editorial policy and publishing standards which outlines in detail how every article on this site is sourced, edited, fact-checked, and vetted.
-Sarah
Additional Resources
- What You Can Do: In Your Yard, Nutrient Pollution, EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), (link)
- Fertilizer Facts: Fertilizers promote plant growth and green lawns by helping plants meet their nutrient needs, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (link)
- Improving Water Quality with Proper Lawn Care, North Dakota Environmental Quality (link)
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