Fertilizing in Florida Fall/Winter
We can’t fertilize with Nitrogen in most of Florida from June- Sept. (It’s the law)
So we throw down in October, but what do you do in November - January?
In the cooler months our St. Augustine, Bahia, Zoysia, and Bermuda lawns all slow down their growth. They go into “protect mode” and try to preserve nutrients. Sometimes our Bermuda and Zoysia lawns go dormant turning brown! (Don’t worry, it’s not dead.)
“N-P-K”
So what should you focus on? The “K” of the “N-P-K” numbering on your fertilizer. Every bag or bottle of fertilizer in Florida and the US is labeled with three numbers on the front which we call the “NPK”. Do you remember the periodic table?
N - Nitrogen
P - Phosphorous
K - Potassium.
We can’t put “N” down during the summer so once the ban is lifted I like to push one last push of Nitrogen with a mix like “30-0-5” or “20-0-10” mix in October as it stays warm. (Don’t get too picky on the exact amounts.)
But in the cooler months, there’s less sun as the days get shorter and more of your yard is covered in shade. That means that the absorption of Nitrogen heavy fertilizers will slow and any heavy N applications will just be WASTED. So we need to make a change. Instead of pushing growth in November-February we need to be supporting root growth and resiliency.
Potassium (K) is critical for stress resistance and helps the turf grass regulate it’s water intake. This hearty growth will help it withstand the drought and limited water of the season and water restrictions. It will also help it withstand fungus, bugs, weeds, and more.
What should you look for?
Look for a fertilizer with a lower “N” and a higher “K” in the “N-P-K” number on a bag of fertilizer. 7-0-20 or similar is a good baseline. (Again, don’t sweat the exact numbers.)
At Reagan Lawn Care we build a year long comprehensive plan that uses slow-release high “N” product in the spring, respect the N ban during the summer, and supplement with higher “K” in November through February to keep your lawn healthy and prevent stress from being deadly.
Ask us how we do it and for a sample plan. Contact us below to ask for our advice or get a quote.