Spring Time Fertilization
A spring time granular fertilization treatment is a very important application to jump start a lawn’s
re-growth, especially following one of the coldest winters we have seen since 2010 here in
Orlando. We had two consecutive nights of low temperatures in the mid 20’s with some
temperatures reading in the low 20’s. The cold has caused our grasses, such as St. Augustine,
Zoysia and Bermudagrass, to enter true dormancy for the first time in several years. Cold
weather with temperatures this low inhibits plant growth, slows cellular processes and can
cause some dieback of the crown of the plant. This has led most lawns to go partially or even
fully dormant.
What is Dormancy?
Dormancy is a survival mechanism that protects plants from cold temperatures, intense heat or
a lack of water. During this state, the plant is conserving its energy by not producing leaf growth
while the crown and the roots are still alive underneath the surface. Although it may look dead,
the plant is still alive.
What should I do now?
As soil temperatures begin to rise, you will notice that your lawn will begin to put off a bit of
green growth. This is a good time to mow your lawn a bit lower than you normally would to
expose the canopy to more sunlight. This practice will help your lawn green up faster because
the soil warms up faster. For example, if you are mowing St. Augustine at 4 inches, drop this
spring time cut down to 3 inches. After this mow, there will be some extra clean up work to do
because there will be more clippings. This is a good time to put down a good spring time
fertilizer blend. Going forward, gradually increase the mowing height to 4 and then to 4.5 inches
in St. Augustine lawns.
What is a good spring time fertilizer?
A good spring fertilizer to use on your lawn is a fertilizer that has mostly slow-release nitrogen
with a small amount of fast-release nitrogen. The fast-release nitrogen will encourage a quick
green-up, and the slow release will continue to feed your lawn as the temperatures continue to
rise this spring. Potassium is another nutrient that is important to help your lawn recover from a
cold winter. A good ratio to consider is a 2 to 1 nitrogen to potassium blend.
And if you need some help
If your lawn needs professional help this spring, our program is designed to provide complete
protection as well as healthy growth. Our custom blended fertilizers are specifically formulated
for Central Florida’s unique soil conditions. Our all inclusive 8-step program covers everything
your lawn needs, including weed control, fertilization, insect protection, and fungus prevention.