The upcoming autumn season is a cherished time for many; cooler nights, cozy clothing and plenty of pumpkin spice lattes. In terms of your landscaping, fall is also a great season to focus on fertilization. Supporting your lawn, plants and trees during these months will help build a strong foundation to last through winter and give them that boost to thrive come spring.
Lawns
With drought conditions and water restrictions here in Santa Cruz County, your lawn may be in need of some extra help as we’ve entered September and a healthy lawn will use less water. A fertilizer rich in nitrogen will help encourage blade growth after a harsh, dry summer. As we get deeper into fall, supplement your lawn with another round of fertilizer, this time more abundant in phosphorus. Using a slow-release fertilizer for your lawn in the fall is an insider secret. The fertilizer will remain in the soil and roots throughout the winter as lawn growth is delayed due to reduced daylight and temperature. Once the spring sun starts to warm up the soil temperature, the lawn will begin to restore to its normal growing habits, having the fuel it needs already inside it’s underground system.
Plants
Your perennials might be starting to dwindle but giving their surrounding soil some phosphorus-rich fertilizer will give these plants the boost they need for stronger, more abundant blooms next spring. As the trend continues, you see these fall fertilization procedures are typically all about preparation for future growth.
Trees
Often overlooked, shrubs and trees heavily benefit from fertilization during the fall. Stimulate root growth and promote disease resistance by giving your trees a slow-released nitrogen fertilizer during late October. The excess nutrients will be stored in the roots to be used in spring when the tree needs them for new production. Tree roots and its vascular structure are actually quite active during the winter months, while most of the above ground growth is slowed or stopped. Since trees’ biological processes don’t stop, make sure you give them the needed nutrients to carry on with their mission to reduce our air pollutants and remain healthy!
Be careful not to go overboard with fertilizing – too much of a good thing can be adverse in this situation. Its always best to test your soil before applying any fertilizer recipe to your lawn or plants. Soil tests can be done in a variety of ways, I recommend investing in a soil test from a lab. We are lucky to live in an agricultural rich area where there are a lot of soil labs available.
Its easy to let landscaping duties fall by the wayside during autumn but committing to some simple fertilization steps before winter hits will reap its benefits when spring pops up next year. Supporting the magic that’s happening below the surface of your lawns, trees and plants is just as critical in maintaining the life and limbs we see earthside. Remember, we are in a drought and healthy landscapes use less water!