Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The following table and calculator will help you determine how much slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to apply to your lawn. Application rate depends on the square footage of your lawn, what type of grass you have and the time of year.
Note: The higher amounts of fertilizer in the table below should be used only if you're prepared to mow more frequently. Do not exceed monthly or yearly maximums. Contact your local extension office or watershed organization for more information.
| Pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cool-season grass | Warm-season grass | |
| September | 0.5 to 0.9 | 0.5-0.9** |
| October | 0 to 0.9 | 0 |
| Early November | 0 to 0.9 | 0 |
| April | 0 | 0 to 1.0* |
| May | 0 to 0.5* | 1.0 |
| June | 0 | 1.0* |
| July or August | 0 | 1.0 |
| Per year | 2 to 3.5 | 2 to 4 |
*Optional or secondary applications. Contact your local extension office or watershed organization for more information.
**Only make this application if your lawn is overseeded. Only Bermudagrass lawns should be overseeded. Make this application after the Bermudagrass has entered winter dormancy and only if the overseeded grass needs the additional nitrogen to support establishment.
The cool season grasses tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass should be fertilized within the per-year nitrogen range listed in the table above. Fine leaf fescues do not require as much nitrogen per year. Fertilize them with 1-2 pounds of nitrogen per year.
The warm season grasses Bermudagrass or St. Augustinegrass should be fertilized within the per-year nitrogen range listed in the table above. Zoysiagrass and centipedegrass do not require as much nitrogen per year. Fertilize them with 1-2 pounds of nitrogen per year.
With a properly calibrated spreader, using the rate stated above, you will need pounds of fertilizer for your entire lawn.
At the pound nitrogen rate you will apply pound(s) of phosphorus and pound(s) of potassium per 1,000 square feet.
