If you own a property in Tennessee, you likely know that your cool-season lawn needs some extra TLC during spring. After going through winter dormancy, your turf has endured a lot of stress and needs some help to recover before the summer season. That's why it's a good idea to fertilize your lawn three times in the spring. The first one in late winter/early spring will help it emerge from dormancy and recover from winter-related stress, while the second treatment in mid-spring will stimulate new growth. Finally, the late spring application will provide the nutrients it needs to prepare for the impending hot summer months. However, you don't want to forget to use pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments with your spring fertilizer treatments. These treatments help control weed growth and get rid of any pesky weeds that show up.

Apply the First Round of Fertilizer to Your Lawn in Late Winter/Early Spring

Lawn care professional spreading fertilizer in Gallatin, TN.

As the winter season comes to an end, it's time to think about preparing your cool-season lawn for the spring. You want to apply the first round of fertilizer between late winter and early spring, specifically between mid-January and mid-March. This application provides your grass with essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are vital for its recovery from any winter-related damage. With this nutrient boost, your lawn will have everything it needs to emerge from winter dormancy and start the growing season off on the right foot.

Apply the Second Round of Fertilizer to Your Lawn in Early to Mid-Spring

If you want to keep your cool-season lawn healthy and look its best for the rest of the spring season, it's important to apply a second round of fertilizer. The optimal time to do this is in early to mid-spring, which typically falls between mid-March and April. Applying the right amount of nutrients during this period is essential for supporting its growth and ability to green up quickly.

Apply the Third Fertilizer Treatment to Your Lawn in Late Spring

Dense, green lawn on property in Gallatin, TN.

In order to prepare your cool-season lawn for the hot summer temperatures, you should apply the third round of fertilizer in late spring, between late April and mid-June. This will give your lawn access to enough nutrients to withstand the stress caused by the summer heat. By providing your lawn with a boost of nutrients now, it can store them to use as fuel to fight off summer's heat and its stressors.

You Should Also Use Weed Control During Your Spring Fertilizer Applications

To prevent weeds from competing with your lawn for nutrients, it is highly recommended that you use weed control in combination with your spring fertilization treatments. During the first two fertilization applications, apply pre-emergent weed control to stop weeds before they surface. Pre-emergent weed control acts as a barrier that prevents newly germinated weeds from causing problems in the first place.

For all three spring fertilizer applications, use post-emergent weed control to treat any weeds that were already past a certain point in their growth cycle and sprouted even after pre-emergent weed control. Post-emergent weed control is applied directly to existing weeds, killing them and preventing them from spreading. By using both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control, you can keep your lawn healthy and free of weeds in the spring.

Common weeds in Tennessee include crabgrass, spurge, dandelions, and clover.

Give us a call today to sign up for our lawn fertilization service!

At Performance Lawns Inc., we understand that different types of lawns require different treatments. That's why we offer two distinct fertilization programs - one for cool-season fescue lawns and one for warm-season bermudagrass lawns. Both programs include fertilization applications, as well as pre and post-emergent weed control treatments that are pet-safe once dry.

Whether you own a commercial or residential property in Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lebanon, TN, or the surrounding areas, we're here to cater to your lawn. Give us a call today at (615) 708-5549 to sign up for our lawn fertilization service!