The Grass Doctor

Can i put down starter fertilizer after grass seed has germinated?

i dethatched my backyard and placed seed down but i didn't use scotts starter fertilizer. The new grass has started to grow and i was wondering if i still could put the starter fertilizer down or should i wait a few weeks and place winterizer down.

Public Comments

1. From the following link, it sounds like it would be okay. You might want to put it on one little area, water it, and see how it looks in a couple of days: http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/77-497-starter-fertilizer/scotts-starter-fertilizer-770347.aspx
2. WAIT FOR WINTERIZER....MIGHT BURN YOUNG GRASS.
3. When I plant grass seed, I fertilize it when I sow the seed and again after it comes up. Neither of these fertilizer applications are heavy. The whole point of fertilizing it at this stage is to get the grass established as quickly as possible. You need to get the roots down deep enough so that the seedlings will not burn off if you get a dry spell, and you want enough cover to prevent washouts in heavy rain (to bracket the extremes). And you want a lawn as soon as possible. I would strongly suggest fertilizing now to give your grass a boost before it goes dormant for the winter. I should point out that grass is not picky about what type of fertilizer you use. If the grass gets nitrogen it will turn green and grow. It is only a question of the amount of fertilizer you apply. The next step is to mow the grass as soon as it gets to the heighth where you usually mow. This helps stimulate the grass to "tiller", that is start sending out rhizomes to spread, instead of just growing up.
4. Yes, then depending on where you are wait 2-3-weeks, as long as there is no frost you should be good to put down winterizer.
5. yes,,,,dont use regular fertalizer untill spring on new grasses