Key Takeaways<\/h2>
Fertilize in the fall. <\/strong>The best time is around Labor Day. If you have blue grama, skip fertilizing, and buffalograss doesn\u2019t need fertilizer.<\/p> Test your soil.<\/strong> This will tell you what nutrients it\u2019s lacking so you can purchase a fertilizer with the right mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.<\/p> Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen.<\/strong> In the fall, you also want to use a fertilizer with 5 to 10 percent potash to improve cold-hardiness.<\/p> The cost of fertilizing.<\/strong> Between $11 and $248 to buy a spreader and then $27 to $72 per application if you do it yourself, or $130 to $350 per application if you hire a pro.<\/strong><\/a><\/p> Follow the instructions.<\/strong> Use fertilizer carefully, following the instructions on the label. Use about 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.<\/p> Fertilize in the fall, around Labor Day. You don\u2019t need to fertilize buffalograss or blue grama.<\/strong> These warm-season grasses do pretty well on their own without fertilizer. But if you really want to fertilize, buffalograss will respond to low levels of nitrogen from June to early August.<\/p> Early to mid fall is the best time to fertilize in Fargo<\/strong> because it\u2019s when grass roots grow most actively. Additionally, fertilizing early in the fall repairs summer damage and prepares your lawn for the winter and the spring. Don\u2019t fertilize in late fall<\/strong>. You could delay hardening of the turf, resulting in injury in the winter.<\/p> You\u2019ll only stimulate grass growth at the expense of your grass\u2019s roots. And without strong roots, your grass won\u2019t grow healthy. You\u2019ll need to mow often and your grass will be more vulnerable to drought stress.<\/p> If you\u2019ve set your mind on fertilizing as part of your spring lawn care, you can do your other application in late May.<\/strong> Make sure you test your soil so you know what nutrients it needs.<\/p> Pro tip:<\/strong> Leave grass clippings on your lawn after each mow to help your lawn thrive. Your grass will draw nutrients from them.<\/p> The best fall fertilizer is high in nitrogen, low in phosphorus, and moderate in potash (e.g., 25-0-10). In late spring, you want to keep potash low.<\/p> The first step is to test your soil. Overfertilizing is harmful to your lawn and the environment. But in most cases, the best fertilizer for the fall is winterizing fertilizer. It\u2019s designed to prepare the lawn to deal with winter stress.<\/p> Ideally, buy fertilizer with some slow-release nitrogen, because it will feed the lawn from the fall to the spring. However, fertilizers containing slow-release nitrogen are also typically more expensive.<\/p> The next nutrient to look for is potash, which helps lawns tolerate winter stress.,<\/strong> meaning around 5 to 10 percent. You want a higher content of potash in the fall. <\/strong>However, if you want to fertilize in the spring, keep potash low. Regardless of the season, you\u2019re unlikely to need phosphate because it\u2019s typically abundant in Fargo soils.<\/p> You can use reduced fertilizer rates in the shade<\/strong> because they don\u2019t need as much nutrition. You could actually harm shady lawns by overfertilizing. For instance, too much nitrogen may cause lawn diseases and weak roots.<\/p> The cost of fertilizing your lawn is fairly minimal when you consider the benefits. You will spend anywhere from <\/strong>$11 for a small hand-held spreader to $248 for a top-notch spreader and then $27 to $72 per application if you do it yourself, or $130 to $350 per application if you hire a pro.<\/p> But if you want to fertilize on your own, you have to make sure you do it right. Can you do these jobs as well as a pro?<\/p> It doesn\u2019t seem so easy, does it?<\/p> You can save time and effort by hiring a pro.<\/a> Get your money\u2019s worth by getting a fall lawn care bundle, so that your lawn is fully taken care of.<\/p> Yes, never fertilize dormant grass, or you\u2019ll make it susceptible to diseases. Moreover, fertilizing too late in the fall delays hardening the grass, which may injure it in the winter. Then, fertilizing too early in the spring stimulates growth but weakens roots.<\/p> Grass can\u2019t absorb the nutrients from fertilizer if it doesn\u2019t get enough water. Here\u2019s more about watering your grass: How Often Should I Water My Lawn?<\/a><\/p> Organic fertilizers, like chicken feather meal, are always slow-release and contain a variety of nutrients. That means they can\u2019t provide a single specific nutrient readily to your grass. Their proportions are usually different from the exact nutrients your grass needs, especially in Fargo, where the soil is naturally rich in phosphorus. They\u2019re also more costly.<\/p> However, organic fertilizers also have advantages. They don\u2019t crust on the soil, they improve water movement, and they add structure. They also make the soil easier to work. And last but not least, they\u2019re the best choice for the environment, but there\u2019s a big but: only if you choose the correct proportions. An organic fertilizer that matches your soil test result is a great option.<\/p> Avoid weed and feed fertilizers because the best times to fertilize clash with the best times to control weeds. Plus, they\u2019re bad for the environment. Instead, you can hand-pluck weeds or use spot sprays of liquid herbicide directly on weedy areas.<\/p> The best grass seed for Fargo is typical North Dakota seed<\/a> like: <\/p> DIY fertilizing may appear cheaper at first, but only if you don\u2019t take into account the time and effort it takes to learn to fertilize properly. Plus, there are also all the other seasonal lawn care jobs you need to do, like dethatching, aeration, and overseeding.<\/p> LawnStarter provides reliable and affordable lawn care pros in Fargo. Get an instant quote.<\/strong><\/a><\/p> Expert sources<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t North Dakota State University<\/a><\/p> Oregon State University<\/a><\/p> University of New Hampshire<\/a><\/p> Douglas County Conservation District<\/a><\/p> Texas A&M University<\/a><\/p> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div> Main Photo Credit: Ron Reiring<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fertilize in early September. Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen and with at least 5 to 10 percent of potash. Follow the instructions on the product label.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":114241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1501,1440],"tags":[1503],"class_list":["post-114242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fargo-nd","category-north-dakota","tag-fargo-nd-lawn-care"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fargo-ND-downtown-overview.jpg?wsr","author_info":{"display_name":"Judith van der Weij","author_link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/judith-gallova\/"},"yoast_head":"\nThe Schedule: When Should I Fertilize in Fargo?<\/h2>
Why Fertilize in the Fall?<\/h3>
Avoid Fertilizing in Early Spring<\/h3>
The Right Mix of Ingredients<\/h2>
![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Fertilizer.jpg\")
Nitrogen is the Most Important Nutrient<\/h3>
Potash is Important for Winterizing<\/h3>
Fertilize Sparingly on Shady Lawns<\/h3>
The Cost: How Much Does It Cost to Fertilize in Fargo?<\/h2>
The Method: How to Fertilize Your Lawn in Fargo?<\/h2>
Prep Work<\/h3>
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Dethatching-Lawn.jpg\")
Steps for Fertilizing<\/h3>
![\"Fertilizing](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fertilizing-lawn.jpeg\")
FAQ<\/h2>
Is there a bad time to fertilize?<\/h3>
Why is water important after fertilizing?<\/h3>
Is organic fertilizer better?<\/h3>
Should I use weed and feed fertilizers?<\/h3>
What is the best grass seed for Fargo?<\/h3>
Get Help From a Pro<\/h2>