Grass is like any other living entity: It requires nutrients and regular meals to grow. 

The following guide from Scotts, a company known for numerous organic gardening products, will help you maintain a healthy lawn.

Fall 

Think of fall as breakfast for your grass: the most important meal of the day. 

Many experts say fall marks the single most important lawn feeding of the year, with one exception: Southern grasses, which benefit from fertilization during the June–July rainy season. 

Feeding right before the winter months gives grass the nutrients it needs to recover from summer damage and increases nitrogen storage for early spring.

Early Spring

Spring feeding is the lunch that strengthens roots, getting them off to a good start before the heavy growing season. 

If you’ve had crabgrass in the past, now’s the time to apply an organic combo: fertilizer and a pre-emergent weed killer.

Late Spring

By late spring, grass is busy growing and using up stored energy. 

If you’re bothered by dandelions and other emerging weeds, use an organic weed and feed combination product that provides your lawn with nutrients and helps control broadleaf weeds. 

If your lawn has only a few weeds, use an organic liquid spot-weed treatment. And if weeds don’t bother you, a dinner of lawn food will continue to maintain grass health.

Summer

 Heat, drought, foot traffic and insects can stress out your grass. Your lawn may appreciate a snack to help protect and strengthen it. 

If weeds or bugs don’t pose problems, you can substitute an application of straight lawn fertilizer for any of the meals on our menu. 

Photo courtesy of Scotts