Introduction
Ready to wake up your lawn after a long, cold winter? Knowing how to feed your lawn in spring is one of the smartest moves you can make for a lush, healthy yard all season long. Spring is the perfect time to give your grass a boost of nutrients so it can green up quickly, grow thicker, and crowd out weeds. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn exactly what your lawn needs in spring, how to feed it the right way, common mistakes to avoid, and bonus tips for vibrant turf.
Why Feeding Your Lawn in Spring Matters for a Healthy Lawn
Spring feeding sets the tone for the entire growing season. Over winter, your lawn goes dormant and uses up stored nutrients. By the time temperatures warm up and grass starts growing again, it’s hungry for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to fuel root development and new shoots.
A properly fed lawn greens up faster, fills in bare spots, and develops deeper roots that help it withstand heat and drought later in the summer. Spring fertilization also makes your turf more competitive against weeds, so you’ll spend less time pulling them later on. In short, feeding your lawn in spring builds a strong foundation for a lush, healthy yard all year.
Step-by-Step Guide to Feed Your Lawn in Spring
1. Know the Best Time to Feed
Timing is key. For cool-season grasses (like fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, or ryegrass), feed once the grass starts actively growing—typically when daytime temperatures are consistently in the 50s and 60s (10–15°C).
For warm-season grasses (like Bermuda, zoysia, or St. Augustine), wait until late spring when the lawn is fully green and soil temperatures reach about 65°F (18°C). Fertilizing too early can waste product and feed weeds instead of your turf.
2. Test Your Soil First
Before adding any fertilizer, do a simple soil test to check pH and nutrient levels. Many lawns already have enough phosphorus and potassium, but often need more nitrogen. A soil test will show you exactly what your yard needs, so you don’t waste money or accidentally over-fertilize.
You can buy a DIY soil test kit or send a sample to your local cooperative extension office for more detailed results.
3. Choose the Right Spring Fertilizer
Look for a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content since nitrogen fuels leafy growth and that spring green-up. Many spring lawn fertilizers are labeled as “weed & feed,” combining pre-emergent herbicides with nutrients to stop crabgrass and weeds while feeding your grass.
If you prefer organic options, compost, composted manure, or organic slow-release fertilizers are great choices that improve soil health over time.
4. Check the Weather Forecast
Pick a calm day when rain isn’t expected for 24–48 hours unless your product requires watering in right away. Fertilizing in wet conditions can lead to runoff and wasted product.
For best results, feed your lawn when the soil is slightly moist, not dry and cracked.
5. Mow Before You Feed
Mow your lawn 1–2 days before fertilizing to help the nutrients reach the soil surface. Avoid mowing right after feeding because you risk disturbing the fertilizer granules before they settle in.
6. Calibrate Your Spreader
For even feeding, use a broadcast or drop spreader and calibrate it according to the settings on your fertilizer bag. Filling your spreader on a driveway or tarp helps catch spills, so you can easily sweep them up.
Walk at a steady pace, and use a crisscross pattern—half in one direction, half in the other—for uniform coverage.
7. Apply Evenly and Carefully
Start along the edges of your lawn to create a clean border, then move back and forth across the middle in straight lines. Close the spreader when turning to avoid dumping extra fertilizer in one spot, which can burn your lawn.
8. Water if Needed
Some fertilizers need to be watered in right away to activate the nutrients and move them into the soil. Others break down naturally with rain and soil moisture. Always follow the instructions on your fertilizer bag.
If watering is needed, apply about ¼ to ½ inch of water after feeding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Feeding Too Early
Solution: Wait until your grass is actively growing, not just after the first warm day. Feeding too soon wastes fertilizer and may feed weeds instead.
Mistake #2: Over-Fertilizing
Solution: Stick to the recommended application rate on the bag. More is not better—too much can burn your grass and damage roots.
Mistake #3: Skipping the Soil Test
Solution: Test your soil every 2–3 years to avoid guesswork and save money by only adding what your lawn actually needs.
Mistake #4: Uneven Application
Solution: Walk at a steady pace, overlap slightly, and double-check your spreader settings. Missed spots and streaks can ruin that perfect spring green-up.
Mistake #5: Ignoring Weeds
Solution: If you have weed problems, use a weed & feed product or apply a separate pre-emergent herbicide before fertilizing to tackle both at once.
Extra Lawn Care Tips & Hacks
✅ Aerate Before Feeding: Aerating your lawn in early spring helps fertilizer reach the root zone more effectively. It also relieves soil compaction and promotes deeper root growth.
✅ Use Grass Clippings as Natural Fertilizer: Mulching your clippings adds extra nitrogen back into the soil naturally and reduces waste.
✅ Don’t Miss Our Related Guide: Check out our complete guide on how to apply slow-release fertilizers for season-long lawn health!
Conclusion
Feeding your lawn in spring is the best way to give your grass a strong, healthy start to the growing season. With the right timing, proper products, and a few simple techniques, you’ll see greener, thicker turf that stands up to heat, weeds, and foot traffic all year long.
Remember: test your soil, feed at the right time, mow beforehand, apply evenly, and follow up with proper watering if needed. Bookmark this guide to keep your lawn lush and vibrant every spring—your grass will thank you with healthy growth and fewer weeds to fight!