When winter knocks on the garden gate, difficult times are approaching for your lawn. A balanced supply of nutrients is now one of the main pillars of the autumn care program. Since the lawn will be exposed to harsh weather conditions in the next few months, a modified composition is important when choosing the autumn lawn fertilizer. In autumn, the growth spurt caused by nitrogen is not desirable because it leads to soft blades of grass. The following lines convey what really helps your green business card. This is how you should fertilize your lawn in autumn.
The right autumn lawn fertilizer
In autumn, lawn care aims to prepare the noble grasses for frosty temperatures. Conventional fertilizer is unsuitable for this purpose because the composition is based predominantly on growth-promoting nitrogen. If growth is stimulated shortly before winter, this process permanently weakens the hardiness of the forest. Potassium meets the requirements much better. This nutrient supports metabolism and strengthens the resistance to freezing frost in every single blade of grass. At the same time, potassium lowers the freezing point in the cell sap, comparable to the effect of de-icing s alt. Therefore, look out for a special autumn lawn fertilizer that is high in potassium and low in nitrogen. Preparations with an NPK composition of 7+3+10 or similar are recommended.
Preparation work and correct fertilization
In order for a lawn to fully utilize the autumn fertilizer, proper preparation is important. How to do it right:
- Mow the lawn to a height of 4-5 cm in September/October
- Then scarify a heavily weedy green area lengthwise and crosswise
- Sweep the combed out moss and weeds completely from the lawn
- Then apply the autumn lawn fertilizer with the spreader according to the dosage instructions
- Finally, water the lawn thoroughly
If fertilizer is applied by hand, incorrect spreading and overdosing can occur. It therefore makes sense to invest in a spreader that can be adjusted exactly to the manufacturer's recommended dosage.
Tip:
While autumn leaves are often used in the bed as nutrient-providing mulch, the fallen leaves have no place on the lawn. Therefore, sweep the green area free of leaves every 2-3 days, otherwise diseases, rot and pests will spread.
Patentpotash – the cheap alternative
Depending on the size of the lawn, purchasing a special autumn lawn fertilizer can put a significant strain on the budget at the end of the gardening season. The bargain hunters among hobby gardeners therefore resort to inexpensive patent potash, also known as potash magnesia. Due to its high potassium content, the preparation not only strengthens the cell tissue of lawn grasses, but also has a beneficial effect on roses and berry bushes. Enriched with magnesium, Patentkali gives the noble grasses a rich green color that lasts into the next year. How to use Kalimagnesia correctly:
- The autumn fertilizer is available as granules and in liquid form
- Apply in October after mowing or scarifying with a pressure sprayer or spreader
- Subsequent raining is the top priority
If necessary, only mow again when there are no more granules to be seen. Patentkali must not be applied under direct sunlight or on dry lawns, otherwise burns may occur. If in doubt, lightly moisten the lawn beforehand.
Fertilize organically
In order to prepare the lawn for the coming winter in harmony with nature, it is not absolutely necessary to use mineral or mineral-organic fertilizers. On the contrary, organic fertilization impresses with the fact that it has a beneficial effect on the grass blades in the long term. While mineral lawn fertilizer is only effective for a short period of time, with organic fertilizer, legions of hard-working soil organisms work to make the nutrients of plant or animal origin available to the grass. At the same time, this process results in sustainable soil improvement, from which the lawn benefits impressively after surviving the winter. Comfrey manure and pure wood ash have proven to be particularly potassium-rich organic fertilizers. Both products can be made yourself, which is also good for your wallet. After preparatory mowing or scarifying, apply the organic autumn lawn fertilizer. Irrigation is not absolutely necessary, but is recommended in dry conditions. When calculating a dosage, please note that over-fertilization can also occur when using organic nutrients. Do not administer more than 2 liters of plant manure per square meter. With a distribution of 30 grams per square meter of lawn area, you are in the green with pure wood ash.
Tip:
The manufacturers have recognized the desire of environmentally conscious hobby gardeners for an organic autumn lawn fertilizer and now offer corresponding products, such as Azet from Neudorff. If you don't have the opportunity to make comfrey manure or pure wood ash yourself, you have an alternative at hand.
Lime and fertilize in a double pack
If the lawn ends the gardening year as a densely woven area of moss, this deficiency indicates acidic soil. You won't solve the dilemma with fertilizers alone, because the greenery requires compensation with lime. To be on the safe side, carry out a simple pH value test. If the result is well below 5, this is the final proof that the lawn soil is too acidic. Before the potassium-rich autumn lawn fertilizer is used, the green area is limed as follows:
- Mow, scarify and sweep the lawn on a warm, dry day in September
- Spread limestone powder, vital lime or rock powder with the spreader
- Then water the green area
- Administer autumn lawn fertilizer only after a waiting period of 3-4 weeks
- Then water again sufficiently until no more lime grains can be seen
The dosage depends on the result of the pH test and the type of lime used. On light soil, a dosage of 150 grams per square meter solves the problem, while on heavy soil up to 400 grams of lime is required. It's good to know that experience shows that correcting acidic lawn soil with lime lasts for 2 to 3 years. Once it is known that the green area is prone to moss formation, a light maintenance lime in the spring effectively prevents the problem.
Recommended autumn lawn fertilizers
To make your search in the dizzyingly extensive range of lawn fertilizers for autumn easier, we have put together a selection of recommended products for you here:
Cuxin DCM Lawn Fertilizer Autumn
The organic-mineral fertilizer contains potassium for frost hardiness, iron and magnesium for a rich green lawn color. Thanks to its low lime content, the preparation also has a preventive effect against moss. 20 kg of fertilizer is enough for 400 square meters and costs around 38 euros.
Beckmann Premium Lawn Fertilizer Autumn
With an NPK composition of 6+5+12, the fertilizer is ideally suited to the requirements of a lawn in autumn and winter. The price of around 45 euros for 25 kg or 700 square meters is at an acceptable level considering the high quality.
Substral Winterfit lawn fertilizer
With an effect lasting 100 days, the mineral-organic preparation helps your lawn through the cold season. The best time for application is during the months of August to October. With a price of 20 euros for 2 kg, which is enough for 250 square meters, the product is in the lower midfield.
Patenkali (Kalimagnesia)
The all-round fertilizer for the autumn lawn is mainly made up of potassium and magnesium. This guarantees robust frost hardiness and ensures green blades of grass. With a price of 28 euros for 25 kg, the preparation trumps other autumn fertilizers in terms of a favorable cost-benefit ratio.
Conclusion
So that the lawn thrives as a velvety green carpet again next year, careful care in autumn is important. From September onwards it is important to balance out the stresses of summer and prevent the stresses of winter. With a potassium-focused autumn lawn fertilizer, you can set the course for another lush, green lawn season next year. Anyone who is afraid of investing in expensive special fertilizers can use the inexpensive Patentkali. Environmentally conscious hobby gardeners choose an organic fertilizer, such as comfrey manure or pure wood ash. However, all efforts will be in vain if the greenery is completely covered in moss. Since this dilemma indicates that the soil is overly acidic, the affected lawn is limed in advance in order to receive a well-measured dose of autumn lawn fertilizer after a waiting period of 3-4 weeks.
