In the spring and summer, you want a lawn that is lush and green. Who wouldn’t want to dig their toes into soft, dense grass that resembled a carpet? Don’t you feel your tension dissipate just by contemplating mow before or after fertilizer?
It takes some effort to achieve the lush, healthy lawn that you desire. You must take care of your grass to prevent unattractive brown stains and the impacts of any heavy activity. There won’t be much to dip your toes into if you ignore it.
However, you could be unsure about whether to mow your grass before or after fertilizer treatment. You don’t want to waste it, after all. Not to worry. You can learn all there is to know about timing your mow-around grass fertilizers here.
Mow Before or After Fertilizer
Regularly mowed and fertilized lawns expand rapidly and cover the yard in a thick layer of green. But neglected lawns typically thin out and turn into plant scars on the ground. There are no rules that must be followed for caring for a yard as mowing before or after fertilizer.
It is generally recommended to mow the grass first before fertilizing it. Doing this removes unwanted lawn waste and uncovers the soil, which makes the fertilizer work more effectively. You need to mow your lawn around every week during the harvest season.
It can feel challenging to time fertilizer and weed control measures around increased mowing frequency in warm weather. Any ambiguity should be resolved by using this mowing advice and techniques.
Spreading Fertilizer to a Lawn
Choosing whether to apply mow before or after fertilizer is a decision that is frequently overly complicated. In other words, we want as much fertilizer to get to the soil as we can. I usually advise cutting the lawn before applying fertilizer.
The kind of fertilizer used and how it is sprayed have a significant role. It helps in deciding the next steps for caring for your freshly treated lawn.
Fertilizer in Liquid
Liquid fertilizers cannot be sprayed on top of grass when it is actively growing. It needs to be watered right away after application to keep the nitrogen from harming the grass. Liquid fertilizer shouldn’t be used on most lawns because it’s better left for extra-large areas like golf courses.
Fertilizer in Granules
The best fertilizer for the majority of common lawns is granular fertilizer. With the help of a distributor or by hand, this fertilizer is applied. You can see approximately where it is administered thanks to this and water should be applied. The fertilizer penetrates the soil and keeps the grass blades from becoming stuck in it.
Summer Formulation
Within the United States, cool-season grasses can be found in areas with significant temperature changes. The majority of the United States, including the Midwest, Pacific Southwest, and East Coast, has one of these climates. These types of climates have hot summers and chilly winters.
Perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescues, and fine fescues are common grasses in these regions. It’s crucial to spray weed and feed in the spring and fall and to mow two days following application.
Southern Formulation
Southern grasses are those found in parts of the United States that have warm to hot weather all year long. The southern United States and states like Texas, Florida, and California all have these climates. In these climates, Bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, and Buffalograss are common grass types. Warm-season grasses need an early spring weed and feed treatment and can be mowed two days later.
Weed and Fertilize Before or After Mowing
Although you can spray weed and feed either before or after mowing, I advise doing so for the best results. The majority of herbicides either penetrate the soil and reaches the weed’s roots, or absorb along the weed’s foliage.
Weeds are actively developing before being mowed, and their foliage has a greater area for the herbicide to stick to. Weeds will experience shock upon mowing, and their growth will momentarily cease. In addition, the surface areas of their foliage will be significantly reduced.
Weed Killer Spray
Weed killers are referred to as herbicides in horticulture. Herbicides can be either selective or non-selective. Selective herbicides can be used on lawns; they eliminate specific undesirable weeds like broadleaf vegetation. Nonselective herbicides should never be applied on or near lawns since they kill all plants, including weeds, grass, and brush.
When Can You Mow After Fertilizing?
When fertilizer has been applied, the issue of when it is safe to mow crops arises frequently. You don’t want to risk all your hard work by mowing too soon. People say that their efforts will be ineffective since pressure from a mower will upset the freshly applied grains.
Your lawnmower’s spinning blades provide a wind effect that lifts the grass so it may be mowed. The grass blades are blown out of the side mower, egress to catch, or fall back to the ground. Since there is no pressure, it is extremely unlikely that fertilizer will be disturbed.
Even the water has not yet driven the granules into the soil. The leftover grass clippings act as mulch barriers for the recently applied nutrients to complete your fertilizer. The best course of action is to postpone mowing your grass for at least 48 hours after fertilizer.
When to Fertilize Freshly Cut Grass
Pick the correct time to mow if you prefer to fertilize first. The ideal time to apply fertilizer is in the early spring or late summer. Decide on the right fertilizer based on the season. For instance, fall fertilizers are high in potassium while spring fertilizers are high in nitrogen.
Don’t over-mow the lawn either. Short grass won’t photosynthesize, making you assume the fertilizer/method is ineffective and making it prone to disease. It’s recommended to avoid cutting the top third of the grass. Take a week off before cutting the grass again.
Can I Fertilize And Mow On The Same Day?
You can, indeed. However, wait a few days before fertilizing after mowing. Instead, let at least 10 to 12 hours pass before fertilizing after mowing. Grass blades that have just been cut have raw ends that need time to mend and regenerate a protected skin. Grass tips may burn if fertilizer is applied straight to this uncut grass.
Keep in mind that some fertilizers are intended for particular uses and times of the year. You shouldn’t mow the next day after applying a winter fertilizer because the grass can still be lifeless. It’s crucial to ensure distribution when applying fertilizer to avoid burning your lawn from overfertilizing.
FAQ’S
Should I apply fertilizer before mow the lawn?
It takes time for potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen to bind with your soil. This process will be disturbed if you take too drastic an action on your lawn. After fertilizing their grass, we usually advise our clients to wait 24 to 48 hours before cutting the lawn.
After mowing, is fertilizing okay?
It is ideal to fertilize a lawn after it has been mowed so that it has a few days to absorb the fertilizer.
When should your grass not be fertilized?
Applying fertilizer on an unusually hot day is not advised. Wait until the temperature returns to normal once the weather has cooled off. After fertilizing with a granular treatment, you can mow whenever you choose. Wait a day or two after receiving liquid therapy.
Is fertilizing in the morning or the evening preferable?
You may take advantage of the morning dew and milder temperatures to lessen the chance of scorching the grass. The nutrients will have the highest opportunity of reaching the roots and being promptly absorbed as you apply the fertilizer and water it in.
Do weeds survive the winter?
Sometimes weeds will sprout even on brown, dying grass. Spot treatment is the most effective method for removing these weeds. Spray weed killer only on the weeds to kill them rather than the entire grass. By doing this, you can avoid overstressing your already-dormant lawn and using less weed killer.
How can you tell whether fertilizer is effective?
Your grass begins to turn greener first as the fertilizer goes down over those 2-5 weeks. Then, a few weeks before the application, you’ll see a sudden increase in growth.
Final Verdicts
The perfect method is to mow the lawn before fertilizer to get rid of excess growth and debris like leaves. This facilitates faster fertilizer penetration into the soil. Your lawn won’t suffer any immediate harm from mowing after fertilization. Long-term issues could arise since your fertilizer might not act as you would like it to. Too soon after fertilization, mowing can reduce the fertilizer’s efficiency. It is recommended to fertilize your lawn and then water it to help nutrients absorb more readily in the soil. You can mow the lawn as usual once it has dried.