Utah Fertilizing Schedule

Utah has distinct seasons with hot, dry summers and cold winters, so understanding when and how to fertilize your lawn is essential to promote healthy growth for your lawn. Proper fertilization habits help strengthen your grass, reduce weeds, and increase resilience against drought and disease. 

To help you achieve these lawn care goals, we have put together this guide will walk you through a season-by-season lawn fertilization schedule tailored specifically for Utah lawns. Please feel free to contact us here at Holmes for more information after reading!

The Importance Of Lawn Fertilization

Fertilizers are vital for lawn health because they provide essential nutrients that promote vigorous growth, strong root systems, and rich green color. The three primary nutrients in fertilizers are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), and each plays a crucial role in grass development. Nitrogen is responsible for lush, green foliage, phosphorus promotes strong root development, and potassium helps improve overall stress tolerance, making the grass more resilient to environmental factors such as heat, cold, and disease.

Utah’s soil, particularly along the Wasatch Front, tends to be alkaline and often lacks sufficient nutrients for sustaining a healthy lawn. The addition of fertilizers compensates for these deficiencies and encourages the lawn to thrive, even in the state's arid conditions. However, over-fertilization or improper timing can do more harm than good, causing excessive growth, lawn burn, and environmental issues like nutrient runoff into water systems. Following a proper fertilization schedule is critical for achieving optimal results.

As winter begins to wane, it’s essential to start preparing your lawn for the upcoming growing season. Late winter and early spring, around February to March, are ideal for applying a pre-emergent herbicide combined with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. This helps prevent the germination of weeds, such as crabgrass, and provides your grass with the initial nutrients it needs to kickstart growth once the temperatures rise.

Important Tips! If your soil is compacted, consider aerating the lawn in late winter to improve nutrient absorption. If your lawn suffers from frequent weed issues, use a pre-emergent herbicide, which will stop weed seeds from sprouting without harming your grass.

• What to apply: A balanced fertilizer with a ratio of 16-4-8 or 10-10-10 (N-P-K) is suitable for early spring. The higher nitrogen content promotes green growth, while the phosphorus and potassium aid in root development and stress resistance.

• How much to apply: Apply about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Slow-release fertilizers are preferred because they gradually release nutrients into the soil, preventing spikes in growth and minimizing nutrient runoff.

As temperatures warm up in April and May, your lawn will enter its most active growing phase. During this period, grass needs a consistent supply of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, to promote rapid green growth and recovery from winter dormancy. The focus of fertilization in this period is to support the growth surge without overstimulating it, as rapid growth can lead to mowing difficulties and water demands.

Important Tips! Water your lawn thoroughly after applying fertilizer to help it penetrate the soil. Monitor for signs of overgrowth or yellowing, which can indicate nutrient deficiencies or excesses. Mow regularly, ensuring that you never cut more than one-third of the grass blade’s height at once to maintain lawn health.

• What to apply: A high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as a 21-0-0 or 24-0-6 mix, is ideal for the spring growing season. Ensure that it has slow-release nitrogen to avoid promoting rapid, uncontrollable growth.

• How much to apply: Apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Avoid over-fertilization during this period, as it can lead to excessive top growth and shallow root development.

Utah’s hot, dry summers can be tough on lawns, especially cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescue, which are common in the region. During this period, it’s crucial to help your lawn cope with heat and drought stress. Over-fertilizing in the summer can damage your lawn and increase its water needs, so it's best to apply lighter amounts of fertilizer during this time.

Important Tips! Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Consider applying fertilizer in the early morning or late evening to prevent the hot sun from evaporating moisture and causing lawn burn. Aim for 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, adjusting based on rainfall.

• What to apply: Opt for a fertilizer with lower nitrogen and higher potassium content, such as a 10-0-20 or 6-0-12 formula. Potassium helps the grass withstand heat and drought stress, while limiting nitrogen helps prevent excessive growth that would require more water.

• How much to apply: Apply about 0.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in mid-summer. Some homeowners may even choose to skip fertilizing in the hottest months, focusing instead on proper watering techniques.

As the intense summer heat begins to fade in late August and September, your lawn will enter a period of recovery and renewed growth. Fall is an essential time to fertilize because it helps your lawn recover from summer stress and prepares it for winter dormancy. Fertilization in early fall can also encourage root growth, making the grass more resilient in the following spring.

Important Tips! Early fall is also an excellent time to aerate your lawn if it’s compacted, as this allows the fertilizer to reach deeper into the soil. Consider overseeding in thin or bare spots, as the cooler temperatures are ideal for seed germination.

• What to apply: A balanced fertilizer, such as 16-4-8 or 20-5-10, works well in the fall. These formulations provide a good balance of nitrogen for green-up, phosphorus for root development, and potassium for stress resistance.

• How much to apply: Apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Focus on even coverage to ensure that the entire lawn benefits from the nutrients.

The final fertilization of the year in late October to early November is sometimes referred to as a “winterizer” application. The goal is to provide the lawn with nutrients that will support root growth and strengthen it for the upcoming winter dormancy period. This late-season application can also give your lawn a head start when it comes out of dormancy in the spring.

Important Tips! Rake up fallen leaves and debris before applying the fertilizer to ensure even coverage. Water the lawn lightly after applying to help the nutrients penetrate the soil.

• What to apply: A fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content and higher potassium, such as 10-0-20, is recommended for winterization. Potassium helps strengthen the grass and improves its cold tolerance.

• How much to apply: Apply about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. This will be the last fertilizer application of the year, so make sure you time it before the first freeze, ideally before mid-November.

Call Holmes For Professional Fertilization In Utah

A proper fertilization schedule is essential for maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn in Utah’s challenging climate. We hope this seasonal guide will help provide your lawn with the necessary nutrients at the right times, helping it thrive through each stage of the year. Keep in mind that each lawn is different, so monitoring how your grass responds to fertilization and adjusting accordingly is key to long-term success. 

If you follow these guidelines and still do not see the type of results you are looking for, you can always reach out to us here at Holmes Lawn & Pest. Our expert fertilization techs have been serving the Salt Lake area for years, and we would be happy to make your property the next stop on our quest for creating healthy lawns across Utah!