What Is the Best Time of Year to Fertilize Plants?

What You Need to Know

Fertilization timing should match your plant's active growth period : feeding dormant or stressed plants wastes product and can cause damage. Cool-season lawn grasses peak-grow in spring and fall, so the most important feeding is in September-November when roots are building energy reserves. A light spring application is secondary. Warm-season grasses grow from late spring through summer : begin feeding when soil temperature hits 65°F and stop 6 weeks before first frost. Vegetables should be fed at planting and throughout production. Root crops get a single pre-plant application. Fruiting crops need ongoing feeding every 2-3 weeks. Trees and shrubs: one application in early spring before bud break is usually sufficient. The exception is fruit trees, where a second application after fruit set may be beneficial. Houseplants follow daylight : feed from March through September when days are long, and stop when days shorten. The winter rest period is essential. General rules for all plants: water before applying fertilizer, apply in the morning when temperatures are cool, and never feed a drought-stressed plant.