What lawn feed should I use in winter?

What lawn feed should I use in winter?

As summer ends and autumn is in full swing, temperatures drop, and grass growth slows, your lawn fertiliser needs will change. The aim in autumn is to feed your lawn with nutrients to keep your grass as healthy as possible and protect it from winter frosts, snow, and disease.

Feeding your lawn the nutrients it needs with a winter lawn feed using grass fertiliser will prepare it for the colder months and ensure it emerges in much better condition come spring! Using the right winter lawn feed gives your grass the nutrients it needs to resist common winter grass diseases and keeps it healthy during the cold winter months.

Can you fertilise a lawn in winter?

In the UK, temperatures will begin to drop below 8 degrees as early as October in some regions. As grass seed requires eight degrees and upwards to germinate, this will begin to eliminate seeding. We don't recommend using lawn fertiliser in lower temperatures since it will not be as effective.

We recommend avoiding fertiliser application when there is any frost/snow on the ground, as this will slow down the dissolving process of your fertilisers and delay its effect on your lawn. Once the early frosts arrive - usually in early November - it’s best not to fertilise your grass since your lawn is dormant and won’t benefit from it at this stage.

What fertiliser should I use to prepare for winter?

As always, we recommend using a slow-release fertiliser like our SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter, providing a more extended, steadier feed for your lawn. This fertiliser works over four months to keep your lawn in good health and only requires one application. It would be best to consider applying this product early in the winter to benefit from its long coverage. This fertiliser is suitable for application from August to the end of October, but for best results, it’s best to use it from early to mid-October.

Quick Release fertiliser for a boost of nutrients

We know that winter care for your lawn isn’t always at the top of your to-do list. Yet if you remember to do it, albeit a little later than you’d like, a QUICK RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser will provide fast coverage for your lawn. It works over six weeks to feed your lawn to help it maintain its health. You can apply two applications in one season - six weeks apart with no overlapping.

Another option to consider is our fast-acting, nutrient-rich Make it Strong liquid lawn fertiliser. This liquid winter lawn feed gives your grass a boost of nutrients that will lock in its strength and build resistance against any unwelcome winter grass diseases. Quick and easy to apply, this strengthening winter lawn fertiliser gives your grass the nutrition it needs to overcome the cold of winter and continue healthy growth come spring!

What organic winter lawn feed can I use?

For those interested in the organic approach, our REVIVE: Organic 365 can also be used as a slow-release fertiliser. This organic lawn feed works for up to 20 weeks, feeding your lawn an organic blend of beneficial nutrients. This fertiliser requires slightly warmer temperatures to encourage microbes to digest the pellets, so we recommend applying this as soon as possible, preferably before colder temperatures arrive.

All it takes to activate our granular fertilisers is water. So, time when you’re going to apply it on a day when rain is forecast, if possible, and let nature do the work for you! If rain isn’t forecast and you have a few dry days coming up, water the fertiliser in yourself until the granules are completely dissolved.

We have helpful articles in our Fertiliser Help & Advice and Frequently Asked Questions sections for further reading.