Winter is one of the toughest times for our lawns, and ensuring that the grass gets through the colder months and has enough food to flourish in spring is important.
Luckily, winterizer is designed to do just that. Knowing when to apply a winter fertilizer and what brands to choose are critical in ensuring the success of your prized lawns.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own we pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info see our disclosure statement.
What is Winterizer Fertilizer?
“Winterizer” is a term that has been used for almost 30 years now by some of the biggest fertilizer brands. The term refers to special blends of fertilizer that are designed to be applied to lawns from mid August through to the end of November. Another common term used is winter fertilizer or winter lawn fertilization.
Depending on what brand you choose, each winterizer contains different ingredients, but most well known brands contain mostly Nitrogen Fertilizer.
Winterizer is designed to do two things:
- Help your lawns store food for the winter
- Ensure that there is enough food stored to encourage rooting and growth in the spring
It should be noted that winterizer is not designed to encourage the growth of grass, it is simply designed to prepare your lawn for the winter and ensure it has enough food to start its rapid growth in spring.
Best Winterizer
Sunday Lawn Care
Not all lawns are created equal, and that is why Sunday do a free soil test and design a fertilizer for your unique conditions.
The best part? It costs a lot less than you think.
Save $20 With Coupon Code: EHG20
Read our hands on review of Sunday Lawn Care here.
When To Apply Winter Fertilizer
You should apply winterizer when the grass stops growing in the fall, but while it is still active in the root system. You can tell that your grass is still active by the the strong green color.
Your location will depend on when exactly this is, but it is usually mid-late November. On rare occasions, it could even be early December.
When you stop needing to mow your lawns regularly, it is time to apply winterizer.
The calendar below shows a handy visual representation of when to apply winterizer as well as other important lawn care tasks.
How To Apply Winter Lawn Fertilizer
It goes without saying that you should read the instructions that come with your winterizer, however the following are some general tips to get the most out of it.
- Use a fertilizer spreader to ensure even coverage.
- It is generally advised to use a little less than the label instructs, this reduces the chance of any un-adsorbed nitrogen leaching into groundwater.
For an in-depth guide on fertilizer spreaders, and how to use them – see this guide.
I recommend using this handy lawn care planner to help you keep your lawn looking great.
The Best Winterizer Fertilizer
When it comes to choosing the best winterizer fertilizer it really comes down to personal choice, however, I have always had great results with Espoma EOFW30 Fall Winterizer. I get consistent results and my lawn stays nice and healthy throughout the year, no matter the conditions (even when the nights are below freezing).
Another great option is Sunday Lawn Care – this is a subscription service where they supply a fertilizer that is designed for your exact lawn type and location.
Best Winterizer
Sunday Lawn Care
Get your lawn ready for fall and winter with this customized nutrient designed for your lawn.
It includes a free soil test, and they formulate a fertilizer designed specifically for your lawn.
Save $20 With Coupon Code: EHG20
Reliable Winterizer
Espoma EOFW30 Organice Fall Fertilizer
- Made from feather meal poultry manure and sulfate of potash
- Extra potash for next year’s spring greening
- 8-0-6 formulation30 lbs
- Feeds up to 5,000 sq ft
- Made from feather meal poultry manure and sulfate of potash
FAQ
When should Scotts Winterguard be applied?
Early fall is the best time to apply Scotts Winterguard. This helps your lawn build deep, strong roots to sustain it through the winter and be ready for a possibly hot and dry summer.
