As the end of summer draws near, many homeowners may be tempted to put their lawn care routines on hold. However, this is the perfect time to do a fall nitrogen blitz to give your lawn everything it needs to get through the winter so it can green up quickly in the spring. A fall nitrogen blitz not only helps your lawn to recover from the sweltering summer months, but it can be a game-changer for your lawn’s health and appearance.
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What Is a Fall Nitrogen Blitz?
Once the temperatures get down to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, it’s time to start the fall nitrogen blitz. A fall nitrogen blitz involves spoonfeeding your lawn .5 lbs of fast-release nitrogen frequently to help it recover, grow, and store up the nutrients in needs to come out of winter strong.
What Types of Nitrogen Are Recommended for a Fall Nitrogen Blitz?
There are two types of fast-release nitrogen that are recommended for a fall nitrogen blitz:
1. Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is typically composed of 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur. This is considered a fast-release nitrogen fertilizer, meaning it provides nitrogen quickly to the lawn to help with rapid green-up when the temperatures get below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
This fertilizer is designed to slightly lower the pH of your soil, making it more acidic. This benefits lawns that have alkaline soils where the pH is too high for good nutrient uptake.
The sulfur in this fertilizer can help improve soil structure and fertility, making it one of the best fast-release nitrogen fertilizers to get a deep green color. If you’re someone that wants a super dark green lawn, this is the nitrogen fertilizer to use.
Need Ammonium Sulfate?
👉 BUY – 50 lbs Ammonium Sulfate
How To Apply Ammonium Sulfate for a Fall Nitrogen Blitz
You can use a push spreader or a hand spreader to apply ammonium sulfate prills to your lawn.
Since you want to put down .5lbs of nitrogen per 1000 square feet, this equates to putting down around 2-2.3 lbs of product per 1000 square feet of lawn. We’d recommend turning your hand or push spreader dial down to a low setting and applying the product to the 1000 square foot area in multiple directions to get even spreading of the fertilizer prills.
Make sure to water the lawn within 24 hours of applying.
2. Urea Nitrogen
Urea nitrogen typically contains 46% nitrogen and can be purchased in a solid prill form or a liquid form. One of the cheapest forms of pure urea is diesel exhaust fluid, which is made of only two ingredients – urea and water. This makes urea one of the most cost-effective forms of nitrogen that you can use for the fall nitrogen blitz.
You’ll need the following if you go the diesel exhaust fluid route:
👉 BUY – 2.5 Gallon – 2 Pack – BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid
👉 BUY – 2 Gallon Lawn & Garden Sprayer
We recommend using 10 oz of BlueDEF per gallon of water per 1000 square feet of lawn.
How To Apply Urea for a Fall Nitrogen Blitz
You can use a push spreader, hand spreader or a backpack sprayer to apply urea nitrogen to your lawn.
Depending on the form that you buy, the amount of nitrogen that you’ll want to put down is .5 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn.
If you use a solid prill fertilizer, make sure to water the lawn within 24 hours of applying. If you use a spray fertilizer (diesel exhaust fluid), there is no need to water the lawn after applying.
How Often Should You Apply Nitrogen for the Fall Nitrogen Blitz?
Healthy Lawn – If your lawn is healthy and green, applying fast-release nitrogen should be done every 2 weeks until the end of the season.
Lawn in Rough Shape – If your lawn has taken a beating from the summer temperatures and is yellow or has heat damage, you’ll want to apply fast-release nitrogen to your lawn once a week until the end of the season.
When To Stop
You can stop the fall nitrogen blitz feeding once you notice that your grass has stopped growing for the season. This usually happens once temperatures fall drastically, usually towards the end of October and into November.
How Does A Fall Nitrogen Blitz Help Your Lawn?
Here are the five main ways a fall nitrogen blitz can benefit your turf:
1. Promotes Root Growth
During the fall, grass plants shift their energy from blade growth to root development. Applying nitrogen in the fall provides the nutrients your lawn needs to establish a deeper and more extensive root system. Strong roots help the grass absorb more water and nutrients, making it more resilient to drought, disease, and extreme temperatures. A better root system will mean that your lawn will green up faster when spring arrives.
2. Prepares Your Lawn for Winter Dormancy
As winter approaches, your lawn begins to prepare for dormancy during the cold months. A fall nitrogen blitz helps to store energy in the roots and crowns, which will be utilized during the winter months. This stored energy supports the lawn through the cold season, helping it survive harsh conditions and reducing the chances of winter kill.
3. Faster Spring Green-Up
One of the most noticeable benefits of a fall nitrogen blitz is the vibrant green color your lawn will have when spring returns. The nitrogen applied in the fall is slowly released throughout the winter and early spring, providing a steady supply of nutrients to your grass. This continuous feeding allows for a quicker green-up as temperatures begin to rise, giving your lawn a head start to crowd out potential weeds.
4. Reduces Weed and Disease Pressure
A thick, healthy lawn is one of the best defenses against weeds and lawn diseases. Fall is the ideal time to strengthen your lawn with nitrogen, as it helps grass to grow more densely to crowd out weeds and resist diseases. Weeds like dandelions and crabgrass often struggle to take hold in a well-fed lawn, reducing the need for herbicides and other chemical treatments in the spring.
5. Saves Time and Effort in the Long Run
Investing in a fall nitrogen blitz can save you time and effort in lawn care throughout the year. A well-nourished lawn requires less watering, fewer weed treatments, and less overall maintenance, allowing you to enjoy your yard without constant upkeep.
Try a Fall Nitrogen Blitz for Your Lawn!
A fall nitrogen blitz is one of the best things you can do for your lawn as summer draws to a close. Not only will your lawn look amazing during the fall season, but it also helps to reduce winter kill and gives your grass the nutrients it needs to green up quickly in the spring.