When to Feed for a Greener Lawn

Get seasonal tips and learn how My Scotts® Lawn Care Plan can help you build a customized program.

Build Your Personal Lawn Program

One of the most important things you can do for your lawn is to feed it. A well-fed lawn is healthier, which means it has a better root system to combat heat, cold, drought, mowing, foot traffic, and other stresses. While feeding your lawn once a year will improve its condition, feeding it 4 times a year will make it even healthier and more beautiful.

Turn your lawn into the best on the block by putting it on this schedule. (Be sure to follow all label directions.)

Early Spring

Why feed: Your lawn wakes up hungry in the spring! Feeding it strengthens roots and gets it off to a good start.

Timing: February to April, when your grass greens up and begins to actively grow (around the time your lawn first needs to be mowed)

Make your feeding routine a cinch by purchasing the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program, which will supply everything you need to nourish your lawn (and kill weeds) from early spring through the fall. The Early Spring product feeds while preventing crabgrass and other listed grassy weeds.

Other options:

In the North, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food if you had a problem with crabgrass last year. If you also had a problem with broadleaf weeds, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action, which kills weeds like dandelion and clover while also preventing crabgrass and feeding your lawn. If you didn't have problems with crabgrass and other weeds, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food.
In the South, if weeds tend to be a problem, feed your lawn with Scotts® Turf Builder® Bonus® S Southern Weed & Feed₂. Fire ants also an issue? Apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Triple Action instead, as it prevents and kills fire ants for up to 6 months in addition to killing weeds and fertilizing your lawn. If you don’t have problems with weeds or fire ants, use Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Lawn Food.

Late Spring

Why feed: By this point your grass is busy and using up stored energy, so you need to keep it well nourished.

Timing: April to June, 6 to 8 weeks after the early spring feeding

If you have purchased the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program, apply the Spring product now. It will help your lawn grow strong roots while killing dandelion, clover, and other listed weeds.
In the North, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Weed & Feed₃ if broadleaf weeds (think clover, violets, creeping Charlie, oxalis) are a problem. If they aren’t, apply another round of Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food.
In the South, follow up your early spring feeding with an application of Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Lawn Food.

Summer

Why feed: Summer is tough on grass, thanks to heat, drought, foot traffic, and insects. Feeding helps protect and strengthen it.

Timing: June to August, 6 to 8 weeks after the late spring feeding

Following the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program? Apply the Summer product now to help make the most of each watering and encourage deep root growth.
In the North, when dealing with issues with insects like chinch bugs, chiggers, or fleas, feed with Scotts® Turf Builder® Summerguard® Lawn Food with Insect Control, which strengthens against heat and drought while killing listed bugs.
In the South, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Summer Lawn Food to nourish grass while using less water (when used as directed).

Fall

Why feed: Your lawn is looking for the nutrients it needs to recover from summer damage while getting ready for its winter nap. Feeding now will strengthen roots and increase nitrogen storage for a healthy, green lawn next spring.

Timing: August to November, right before winter hits, 6 to 8 weeks after the summer feeding

Apply the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program Fall product now if you’ve been following that regimen. This will help promote strong root growth for a better lawn next spring, while killing many broadleaf weeds.
In the North, give grass a headstart on strong root growth by using Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food twice in the fall: once around Labor Day and a second time 6 to 8 weeks later.
In the South, use Scotts® Turf Builder® Bonus® S Southern Weed & Feed₂ to feed and control weeds if you have a St. Augustine, centipede, or zoysia lawn. If you have a bermuda lawn, use Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Weed & Feed₃ instead.