Importance of Late Fall Liquid Fertilization

With fall upon us, it time for Tall Fescue to heal from the brutal summer conditions. Aeration allows nutrients, water, and oxygen to penetrate deep into the soil, while seeding is a must for Tall Fescue grasses, which don’t regenerate and must be reseeded each year to establish new growth. Together, both are crucial to your lawn’s health.

Tall Fescue is not the only plant germinating this fall. It is more important to establish the grass than to kill weeds at this time. Winter annual weed germination—henbit, chickweed, wild garlic/onion, and bittercress—is normal. Weed control herbicides cannot be applied to new turf. This is why our final application of the year is so important.

Round 7 is a liquid application of fertilizer and broadleaf weed control. Controlling winter annuals as immature plants is critical for maintaining a clean lawn during the winter and is a great start to the spring. Winter annuals are much tougher to control as they mature and can be a nuisance once they have gone to seed. Plants like bittercress produce a seed head that will not go away until mowing begins, which is why you should always control these plants as soon as possible.