When should warm-season grasses be fertilized?

• A. Between Mid-May and Mid-August
• B. Between January and March
• C. Between September and November
• D. Throughout the Year

Answer: (A)

Warm-season grasses grow best when temperatures are warm and the plant is actively growing, so fertilization should occur during that growing period. In Kansas, the active growth window for these grasses is roughly mid-May through mid-August. Feeding them then helps them quickly take up the nutrients and put them into new growth and root development.

Fertilizing outside this window isn’t efficient. In winter or when the grass is dormant, the nutrients won’t be used and can even cause problems like nutrient leaching or disease. Fall fertilization can also promote late-season growth that won’t harden off before cold conditions arrive. So the mid-May to mid-August period aligns with when the grass can best use the fertilizer to stay healthy and dense.