When should I start applying lawn fertiliser in the UK?

When should I start applying lawn fertiliser in the UK? featured image
As snow and frost melts away, it can reveal a rather poor looking lawn that is in need of a good feed!

Most lawns will suffer from yellowing grass and moss and will generally look a bit flat emerging from winter weather. As spring is on the horizon, you may be starting to consider feeding your lawn with fertiliser to improve its appearance. Knowing when to start applying lawn fertiliser in the UK ensures you are off to the right start to get the most out of your lawn this year, and if you stick to it, for all the years that follow!

When to fertilise your lawn in the UK

Your lawn is considered ‘dormant’ for most of the winter, meaning it doesn't grow much in the colder months. From mid-October, grass growth begins to slow down considerably, and most (if not all) winter fertilisers have the purpose of protecting your current grass and not encouraging new growth.

As milder weather arrives, you may want the greenness of your lawn to return and wish to tackle any moss and weeds that have arisen, as well as thickening up some areas of your lawn that may be thinning.

Grass growth begins to speed up again when temperatures are 8-10 degrees and above. Although we may not reach these temperatures consistently until April, and without these temperatures, it is still early to sow grass seed, you can begin prepping your lawn by feeding it.

What can I use on my lawn now?

For established/existing lawns (6+ months old), you can use a Feed, Weed and Moss Killer, which will feed your lawn nutrients to enhance its growth while eradicating weeds and moss at the same time. You apply this fertiliser in the same way as all our other granular fertilisers; you must water it thoroughly until it has dissolved completely, and this will activate its ingredients and ensure your grass gets all the nutrition it needs!

Once watered in, this lawn fertiliser will then begin to work over two weeks to kill off weeds and moss whilst also feeding/greening your grass. Areas of your lawn with many weeds and moss will likely show bare patches once killed off by weed and moss killer. But an easy fix for these areas is to reseed them with fresh grass seed, which will grow back within 6-8 weeks after sowing.

Granular Lawn Fertilisers

QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed is a fast-acting fertiliser that feeds your lawn everything it needs over the course of six weeks to prepare for seeding. This fertiliser is ideal for use on an existing lawn or on bare soil and needs to be watered in fully so it can feed your lawn correctly. Alternatively, there may be very few weeds or moss in your lawn, and you may not be planning to overseed it – but you want to bring the greenness back into your lawn.

QUICK RELEASE: Spring / Summer is a nitrogen-rich fertiliser that provides a quick boost of greenness to kickstart your summer lawn. Although the effects last six weeks, you’ll begin to see your lawn green up in less than two!

Liquid Lawn Fertilisers

Our liquid fertilisers will boost your lawn's health with a quick feed of nutrients, and you will see a fast increase in your lawn's health, greenness, and growth. These fertilisers get to work instantly, so you see results in a number of days and will feed your grass for 6-8 weeks.

Make it Grow does exactly what it implies; this liquid fertiliser packs your grass with the nutrients it requires to grow but does so generously that it will make your grass grow better, thicker and healthier!

Our Make it Green liquid fertiliser gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to enhance its health, increase its greenness and keep it growing beautifully all spring and summer.

How to use lawn fertiliser uk

Our granular fertilisers can be applied by hand (when wearing gloves), or you can use a spreader. All spreaders will have different settings, so make sure to contact the manufacturer of your spreader to match it to the correct application rate for your fertiliser.

Our liquid fertilisers have different mixing/dilution rates depending on the fertiliser. You can find more information on how to use our liquid fertiliser here.