Fall is a good time to fertilize your lawn because it allows for root growth without pushing a lot of new foliage.

When summer stress periods occur, plants are weaker and less able to survive. Applying fertilizer in late August or early September will provide the plant with adequate nutrition to overcome any summer stresses. In addition, if you fertilize in late October or early November, when top growth is minimal but when soil temperatures are still warm enough for nitrogen absorption, plants will resume growth and green-up early the following spring without the excessive shoot growth associated with early-spring nitrogen applications.

For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides
-- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service