Fertilizers vary in the availability of nutrients. Some of the materials that make up the fertilizer are water soluble readily available. Therefore, they might better be applied at half the suggested rate but more frequently. Organic sources of nutrients take longer to show an effect, but extend their availability over a longer period of time. Synthetic sources of nutrients and water insoluble fertilizers have extended the period of nutrient availability but are usually slower to show results.
Most fertilizers contain various mixtures of two or more sources of nutrients.
Fall fertilizing will provide greater benefit to turfgrass development than traditional spring feeding. In the fall, the grass plants store carbohydrates and develop tillers, roots and rhizomes, thereby thickening the turf. This provides strong competition against weeds and crabgrass the following spring. Apply the fertilizer in early September and repeat in mid- to late October. Delay the traditional spring fertilizing until mid- to late May. Liming Ground or agricultural limestone is required on most Connecticut soils to maintain a pH of about 6.5.