The fall season’s mild weather makes it the best time to plant flowers, trees, and shrubs and fertilize the soil to revitalize the existing landscape. Like all aspects of gardening, however, timing is everything. Some techniques can also make your fall fertilization more effective. Here’s what you should know about this practice.

A Guide to Fertilizing in the Fall

Why Fall Fertilization Matters

Lingering warmth from summer and increased rainfall from September through November encourage new growth and extend the life of your plants. Stimulating root growth in flowers, plants, trees, and grass in the fall gives them the nutrients they need to survive harsh winter weather.

Fertilizing the soil in October and early November will provide excess nutrients to the roots of established plant life, which can be stored for new growth in the spring. The result will be a more vibrant and disease-free landscape when warm weather returns.

How to Achieve the Best Results

If possible, start by obtaining soil samples from your flower beds and lawn. The closest Farm Service Agency's extension office can guide you through the testing process. The results will show you which nutrients the soil is lacking for optimal growth. In some cases, the results could demonstrate that the soil is already adequately fertilized. Adding too many nutrients can cause contamination that stunts growth rather than promoting it.

Use these soil results to purchase the right fertilizers for your needs. Fertilizer bags are labeled with three numbers that indicate their nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium ratios.

Lawns grow back green and healthy when they are fertilized twice—once in early fall and again in late fall. As a general rule, you should fertilize perennial flowers only during the early fall. The trees and shrubs should be fertilized in the late fall.

Homeowners in Cincinnati, OH, should turn to Northgate Greenhouses for all of the gardening supplies they need for fall planting and fertilization. Their award-winning gardening professionals can help choose the right fertilizer for your soil while recommending perennials, succulents, trees, and shrubs to bring your landscape to life. Call (513) 729-1134 to speak with a friendly team member, or visit them online to learn more about their seasonal plants.