|
Fall is the most important slow-release fertilizer application. If you choose to fertilize, you will want to do this by the end of October.
A soil test can let you know if fertilizer is needed and at what rate. Aerating, adding compost, and seeding the lawn with Pacific Northwest-adapted grass seed or an eco-lawn blend will revive a lawn that has more moss or weeds than grass.
Slow-release fertilizers use minerals that are digested by the soil, feeding the lawn for the next few months. It’s important to look at the label closely to make sure you’re getting “slow-release” because many fertilizers available are “quick-release,” and are more likely to lose their nutrients through rain and irrigation runoff. These nutrients can get into our local stormwater system and end up in lakes, rivers, streams, and the Salish Sea (Puget Sound). Lawn fertilizers can cause algae blooms in our local waters, hurting wildlife and affecting our ability to recreate safely. Many of those fertilizers also contain weed and bug killers, spreading pesticides throughout the yard. Choose an organic, “slow-release,” fertilizer for the health of your lawn, family, pets, and our community.
Check out our Fertilizer fact sheet for more information.
If you’re creating a green and healthy lawn, remember to leave grass clippings on the lawn every time you mow, also known as 'mulch mowing', to provide at least one quarter of the nitrogen needed, annually.
| 
