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The importance of “Winterizer”

 Gurnee lawn 10/24/13


 Lawn Doctor Lawn on left, competitor on right 10/24/31

Most people already know the importance of a late season fertilizer as part of their lawn care program.  This is often referred to as “winterizer” and applied during the late fall months of the year as the leaves are falling or have already fallen.  I would like to explain a little about why the late fertilizer or “winterizer” s so important.  It provides quickly available nitrogen, allows for root growth and greatly influences the lawns ability to green-up and grow with the first warm days of spring.  



Lake Forest lawn 10/24/13

Our late fall fertilizer is a high source of nitrogen fertilizer with a very low percent of slow-release. This allows for most of the fertilizer to be immediately available for turf root uptake with the typical normal moisture levels and dews found this time of year.  Moisture allows the soluble nitrogen to be absorbed by root tissue from the soil until the soil temperatures drop into the forty degree range and the plant undergoes winter dormancy.  


The turf will continue to thrive producing green leaf tissue as well as root and rhizome growth.  The root and rhizome growth is what is most beneficial for your lawn during this time of the year.  The healthier and stronger roots will enable the turf to withstand greater stresses during the next growing season.  Bluegrass will begin to thicken and repair thin spots with rhizome growth, which are underground root shoots that produce new turf plants.  


Gurnee customer lawn clippings 10/24/13

A late fall fertilizer will also be the most important application for your lawn to green-up early in spring. By absorbing high amounts of nitrogen in late fall the plant will store this energy source until spring when the soil temperatures will begin to rise.  Since the plant is already full of stored nitrogen the turf will begin to grow and green-up at the earliest hint of warming temperatures.  








   
Antioch lawn 10/24/13

For further information regarding the importance of fall fertilizer or to request a free on-site estimate visit us online at:     www.lawndoctorantioch-waukegan.com
                   
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