Complete guide to lawn feeding

A Complete Guide to Lawn Feeding

You can’t beat the feeling of a lush green lawn underfoot, and giving your lawn the right food at the right time is one of the best ways to keep it looking good. Our complete guide to lawn feeding tells you how and when to feed your lawn for the best results.

Why you should feed your lawn

Healthy lawns look good, withstand wear and tear better and are less prone to disease. They also have less moss and fewer weeds, as these tend to creep in when lawns grow patchy and weak. Feeding your lawn the right nutrients at the right time is the key to healthy growth.

Grass takes up nutrients from the soil via its roots and uses them to produce leaves. When we mow our lawns, we take away part of the leaf blades, forcing the grass to take up further nutrients from the soil to produce more growth. Soil nutrients can also be washed out of the soil during heavy rains, especially nitrogen which is very soluble in water. This can all result in nutrient-poor soil and weak, pale, patchy lawns filled with weeds.

Lawn feeds can solve this problem, restoring the necessary nutrients for a healthy, lush green lawn.

Untreated lawn in poor condition

When to feed your lawn

Spring and autumn are the most important times to feed your lawn, promoting new growth early in the year and then preparing the grass for winter.

Spring lawn feed is applied in early spring, once the weather starts to warm up and the grass springs back into growth. Spring lawn feeds are high in nitrogen, which promotes strong leaf growth to get lawns into good shape for summer.

If your lawn starts to look pale and patchy in summer, you can apply an additional feed, giving an extra boost of nutrients to help in repairing lawn damage. However, always check the product packaging for guidance on how often to feed your lawn and take care not to overfeed. Applying fertiliser more frequently than the manufacturer’s recommendations can produce a spurt of leaf growth at the expense of good root development, and over time may actually weaken the grass, allowing weeds and moss to creep in.

Autumn lawn feeds help to prepare the grass for winter by promoting root growth and hardening leaf blades to cope with icy temperatures. These lawn feeds are high in phosphates, potassium and magnesium, and have less nitrogen than spring and summer feeds so as not to encourage new leaf growth which could be damaged by frosts.

A beginner’s guide to lawn feeding

If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by all the different types of lawn feed, don’t worry! Start by simply applying a liquid lawn feed any time from March to September. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes!

Once you’ve had some experience in feeding your lawn, you can move up to the next level. Feed in spring and summer with a lawn treatment, using a lawn spreader to make sure you spread the feed evenly and without burning the lawn. If you’re applying lawn feed after September, remember to use an autumn feed instead.

The final step in your journey to lawn care expertise is to add in the full range of lawn care techniques, including scarifying and aerating as well as a spring and autumn feed.

Recommended products for lawn feeding

Miracle-Gro^® Complete 4 in 1

Miracle-Gro^® Healthy Lawn

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Miracle-Gro^® Fast Green Lawn Food Concentrated Liquid

Miracle-Gro^® Fast Green Lawn Food Spray & Feed

Miracle-Gro^® Lawn Builder

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Miracle-Gro^® Soluble Lawn Food

Types of lawn feed

As well as having different lawn feeds for specific times of year, there are also lawn feeds available to suit your lawn’s specific needs and your own lifestyle.

Products to weed and feed lawns

If you’re after a single product that will feed your lawn and also kill weeds and moss, choose a ‘weed and feed’ product. This can be used from March to September and is high in nitrogen and potassium, producing healthy green lawns with results visible 7 days after application. It also kills lawn weeds within 3-5 weeks and moss within 2 weeks.

If moss is your lawn’s main problem, then a moss killer is the answer. It contains nitrogen to promote healthy growth, plus iron sulphate which helps to green the grass while killing moss. It can be used any time between April and September.

Fast-acting lawn feeds

Got a garden party planned, but your lawn isn’t looking its best? Choose a fast-acting lawn feed which starts to show results within 24 hours and keeps your lawn looking healthy and green for up to 6 weeks. The spray bottle can be connected straight to your hosepipe so you can feed and water the lawn at the same time.

If you’re short on time to care for your lawn, water soluble lawn food comes in pre-measured sachets which can simply be added to a watering can or a feeder. High in nitrogen, plus potash, phosphates and iron to encourage thick, healthy growth and strong roots, it will start to green your grass in just 5 days.

Seasonal lawn feeds

Spring and summer lawn feeds are high in nitrogen, promoting healthy green growth. This slow-release feed can be used any time between March and September, encouraging strong root development and steady lawn growth throughout the growing season.

Autumn lawn feeds are slow-release formulations high in potassium and phosphates to promote root growth and harden the leaf blades to help them get through winter weather. They contain less nitrogen than spring or summer feeds, so as not to encourage lush leaf growth that could be damaged by frosts. Autumn lawn treatments can be applied any time between September and November. As well as promoting root development and hardening the grass for winter, it also contains iron sulphate to kill moss.

How to feed your lawn

Granulated lawn feeds can be spread with a lawn spreader. Check the packaging for information on quantities and don’t apply more feed than instructed, as this can burn the grass. As a general rule, you should apply fertiliser when the weather is fair, and the soil is damp, but the grass is dry. Water the feed in well after applying. Once the product has dried, it’s safe for children and pets to use the lawn again. Granulated products are generally a more cost-effective solution for large gardens than liquid feeds.

Liquid feeds are ideal for small gardens and can be applied with a watering can fitted with a sprinkle bar. They often produce faster results than granulated feeds. Follow the instructions on dilution rates, as applying a too-concentrated feed can burn the grass. As with granular feeds, keep children and pets off the grass until the area has dried.

Using a lawn treatment

Frequently asked questions about lawn feeding

What is the best time of year to feed my lawn?

Spring and autumn are the most important times to feed your lawn. A spring lawn feed high in nitrogen will encourage the growth of a healthy thick green lawn ready for summer. An autumn lawn feed high in potash will promote strong root growth and harden the grass for winter.

What’s the difference between spring and autumn lawn feeds?

Spring lawn feeds are high in nitrogen to promote the growth of a lush green lawn. Autumn lawn feeds are high in potash and phosphates which encourage root growth and harden the grass for winter. They contain less nitrogen than spring feeds so as not to promote leaf growth that could be damaged by frost.

What happens if I overfeed my lawn?

It’s not a good idea to overfeed your lawn by applying fertiliser too often or when the lawn doesn’t need feeding. This can trigger the grass into producing lots of leaf growth at the expense of developing good roots, and over time can lead to weak grass prone to disease and weeds.

What are the signs that my lawn needs feeding?

Thin, patchy lawns with pale yellowish or brown grass are all signs that you should feed your lawn. Lawns that need feeding are also likely to contain more weeds and moss than healthy lawns, as the weeds will take over any bare patches or areas where the grass is not growing strongly.