Homeowners usually make one of two mistakes with fertilizer: they put down one big bag in spring and call it a year, or they feed the lawn so often it grows soft and weak. Here is what works for cool-season lawns in Bucks County, Montgomery County and New Jersey.

Smaller amounts, spread across the season

Grass uses nutrients best in smaller doses. That is why professional programs split the year into several applications instead of one or two big ones. Most of our customers are on a five-step program that runs from early spring through fall, with each step timed to what the lawn needs at that point in the season.

Fall matters most

For cool-season grass, fall feeding is the most important of the year. The grass is building roots and storing energy for winter, and a well-fed lawn in fall greens up faster and thicker in spring.

Go light in summer

Heavy feeding in July and August pushes top growth when the grass is already stressed by heat. That can make summer diseases and drought damage worse.

Follow the rules on timing and runoff

• Never fertilize frozen or snow-covered ground.
• Sweep any granules off driveways, sidewalks and streets so they do not wash into storm drains.
• New Jersey limits when fertilizer can be applied in late fall and winter and restricts phosphorus unless a soil test shows it is needed. Licensed applicators follow these rules for you.

Start with a soil test

A soil test shows your pH and which nutrients are actually low, so you are not paying for what the lawn does not need. A professional soil test is included with the Rockport Turf Management program. Learn more about our lawn fertilization program, available in Newtown, Lower Makefield, Princeton and towns across our service area.