Anybody else putting their Winterizer on yet?

I'll probably do it at the end of the month

You can get out and do it now.

We're starting as well as most of the other commercial applicators.

Now until the end of the month.

what are you doing to winterize? Thanks

Fertilizing.

I am going to apply a 32-0-10 at 1# of nitrogen/1000ft2 when the grass stops growing...end of Oct or early Nov.

the fertilizer helps grass stay green longer while feeding the roots without the extra growrh of the grass. It also gives you earlier green up in the spring without excessive growth of the grass and reducess summer disease.

Also, you want to make sure your lawn gets plenty of water if it gets dry and windy in late fall.

I put the Scotts Winterguard(22-2-14) down right before the last rain - with a forecast of 50 degree average(colder) temps afterwards.
Since I already had my sprinklers blown-out, I'll have to rely on Mother Nature to work it into the soil.

How many applications of fertilizer did everyone put down this year. I put 4, my neighbors think I put too many, I think.

Most of my properties I only put down 3 this year. Even with the irrigation it got too dry.

The ones that we did fertilizer 4 times, we were irrigating at least 3 cycles per zone on days we were allowed to water.

If you're doing more than 4, IMO it's a waste. Most fertilizers are good for 6-8 weeks, if you have a good quality, slow release fertilizer.

At best, we have 24 growing weeks around the Twin Cities. 4 x 6-8, would be 24-32 weeks. I could understand a split app of fertilizer with crabgrass preventer in the spring, but even that is almost overkill.

The most important feeding is about 1 month ago, and then again in the next 2 weeks.

I'm personally using a 10-0-20, slow release. I float every other year between putting down a high nitrogen in the fall, low potash, to low nitrogen, high potash.

I have half of one of those big bags of the regular Scotts summer stuff. Should I put that down in a week or so, or would I be better off buying the wintergard and either discard the high Nit stuff or use next year?

I would use what you have.

IMO, The word "winterizer" on a bag of fertilizer is just a way to let home owners know what to put down in late fall and to add a few dollars to the price of the bag.

High Nitrogen at the end of Oct. will not hurt your turf and make it grow like mad come spring. The roots will take in the nitrogen and store it to make it stronger over winter. And it will give you a much quicker green up in the spring.

The main thing is to get something down before winter to help your lawn for next year.

I was at Fleet Farm Friday night looking at the fertilizer as I was walking by.

Scott's winterizer is a 25-0-10 (or something VERY similar to that) and I believe the summer blend is something like at 30-0-8. That's not a difference to worry about.

Scott's is a marketing company first. They're going to put words on labels so people can walk into a store and know instantly what they're supposed to buy.

Blowing and sucking up leaves now and going to mow for the last time this year later today.

I am putting my winterizer down this evening or early tomorrow, then I will cycle the sprinklers a couple times during the day and blow out this weekend.

Fall is here officially, were did the summer go?

I layed sod on Sept 26. should I winterize? I was told by the sod comapany I didnt have to. Would it be good to do or just leave it? Thanks

I planted a bunch of seed this year, early in the year in some spots and late in the year in other spots. Any suggestions on helping it to get through the winter?

I put down a slow release fert. when I planted so I'm not sure if adding some additional will do much or if its even going to be too much.

Ok my lazy and chemical free winterizing tip that will cause problems for some? Its a tip your lawn care service will never tell you.

If the leaves are not totally covering your lawn, run them over with a mulching mower and dont bag them. The lawn has now issue growing thru the chopped leaves which will serve the same as a winterizing fertilizer.

If your leaves are in a think dense pile over your entire lawn rake most of the piles off so your grass is not completely buried. then hit it with the mulching mower.

Chopped leaves are a great slow release organic fertilizer for you lawn. I have had awesome results doing this. It completely eliminates the need for your winter fertilizer.

Yes there are skeptics that say this wont work and you absolutely need the chemicals. You really dont but do as you will.

And I know very few people that put down winter fertilizers. They simply follow my suggestion above and have the best spring lawns around.

But realize my anti-chemical bias that people dont like.