Why Your Lawn Needs Different Fertilisers for Different Seasons

Not all fertilisers are created equal, and when it comes to lawn care, timing is everything. Using the right fertiliser at the right time of year can make the difference between a patchy, pale lawn and one that’s consistently green, healthy, and resilient.

Here’s why your lawn needs different nutrients in autumn, winter, spring, and summer, and what happens if you get the balance wrong.

What Does Fertiliser Actually Do?

Fertiliser provides your lawn with essential nutrients that might be lacking in your soil. The three most important ones are:

• Nitrogen (N): Encourages green, leafy growth

• Phosphorus (P): Supports root development and seedling establishment

• Potassium (K): Builds resilience against drought, disease, and cold

Each season demands a different nutrient balance to support what your lawn is naturally doing at that time of year.

Autumn Lawn Fertiliser: Root Strength and Recovery

Use: September to November

Autumn is about helping your lawn recover from summer stress and prepare for winter.

Autumn fertilisers are:

• Lower in nitrogen to avoid soft, frost-sensitive growth

• High in potassium for stronger, hardier roots

• Often include phosphorus to support root development and post-scarifying recovery

Whether or not you’ve overseeded, this is the most important time to feed for long-term health.

Winter Lawn Fertiliser: Protection Mode

Use: December to February

While your lawn is mostly dormant in winter, some slow-release fertilisers or specific winter blends can help maintain health and protect roots - especially in milder areas or under stress.

Winter fertilisers are:

• Very low in nitrogen

• High in potassium to maintain root strength and disease resistance

• Sometimes contain magnesium or iron for colour without growth

Use when conditions allow (e.g. no frost, no snow, and not frozen ground)

Spring Lawn Fertiliser: Wake-Up Call

Use: March to May

Spring feeding kickstarts growth after winter and helps fill in thin patches naturally.

Spring fertilisers are:

• High in nitrogen to boost green top growth

• Moderate phosphorus and potassium to support balanced recovery

Applied correctly, a spring feed encourages lush, even growth and reduces the need for early overseeding.

Summer Lawn Fertiliser: Maintain and Protect

Use: June to August

Summer is all about helping your lawn cope with stress — from heat, drought, and foot traffic.

Summer fertilisers are:

• Packed with fast and slow release nitrogen to maintain green growth all summer

• Higher in potassium to support water retention and disease resistance
  

They keep your lawn healthy without overstimulating growth that can’t be supported in dry conditions.

Why Seasonal Fertiliser Matters

Using the right feed at the wrong time can cause more harm than good. Here’s what can go wrong:

• Spring feed in autumn = soft, frost-damaged growth

• Summer feed in winter = wasted nutrients

• Autumn feed in spring = slow, underwhelming growth

• No feed = weak, patchy lawn vulnerable to weeds and moss

Final Thoughts

Your lawn’s needs change with the seasons, and so should your fertiliser. Tailoring your feed to the time of year gives your grass everything it needs to stay healthy, green, and resilient, all year round.

Want to Make Lawn Feeding Simple?

Our Seasonal Pack Subscription delivers the right fertiliser at the right time, tailored to your lawn size, with clear instructions for every season.