It’s November, which means your playing season is winding down (if it’s not already finished) and temperatures are dropping.
This is the ideal time to make late-fall fertilizer applications on cool-season sports fields.
Why Late Fall?
- Fertilizing turfgrass at the end of the fall encourages root growth, supporting the storage of nutrients and carbohydrates for energy reserves.
- Late fall fertilization also supports an earlier spring green-up without excessive shoot growth.
- Sports fields tend to be more resilient to spring diseases, injury, and summer stress when they’re fertilized at the end of the fall.
- In addition to the long-term benefits of enhanced turf density and vigor in the spring, late fall fertilization also extends turfgrass color into the winter.
When Should I Make My Application?
There is a specific window for late fall fertilizer applications: Wait until after your last mow of the year and before the ground freezes.
Ideally, the field will still be green but no longer growing when you make your application.
How Should I Make My Application?
The tried-and-true strategy for late fall feeding is to use a high-nitrogen, quick-release fertilizer. Specific programs vary, but recommendations are generally between 0.5 and 1.25 pounds of nitrogen per thousand square feet.
Your ATS rep can provide you with specific product, rate, and timing recommendations tailored to your field. Reach out to them today!
