Fertilizing Schedule for a Thick, Green Prairie Lawn
A well‑planned fertilizing schedule helps Prairie lawns grow thick enough to out‑compete weeds while staying resilient to Saskatoon’s temperature swings. Timing, product choice, and how you mow and water all work together to determine how effective those applications are.
When to fertilize in Saskatoon
For most established cool‑season lawns in the Saskatoon area, three applications per season is a practical, effective baseline: roughly mid‑May, around July 1, and again in mid‑August. This spacing supports recovery from winter, maintains color and density through summer, and strengthens the turf going into fall without overloading it.
Fertilizing later than mid‑August is usually discouraged because it encourages soft, late‑season top growth that may not harden off before frost and winter conditions, making the lawn more vulnerable to damage. Stopping nitrogen applications on time helps the plant shift energy into roots and winter hardiness instead of tender new leaves.
Choosing the right fertilizer
In spring, a balanced or “starter” fertilizer is typically used to help grass recover from winter stress, rebuild roots, and green up evenly. Products with a mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are often selected at this stage, especially if the lawn is thin or has bare areas being overseeded.
During summer and late summer, higher‑nitrogen blends are commonly chosen to maintain color and density, since nitrogen is the primary driver of leafy growth and overall turf thickness. Using slow‑release nitrogen sources can reduce surge growth, mowing frequency, and the risk of burning while still feeding the lawn steadily.
Make fertilizer work harder with mowing and watering
Fertilizer delivers the best results on grass that is cut at a healthy height—usually around 5–9 cm (2–4 inches) for cool‑season turf—with sharp mower blades that slice rather than tear the leaves. Maintaining this height range encourages deeper roots, better shade on the soil surface, and helps the lawn use added nutrients more efficiently.
Proper watering is also critical: feeding a well‑watered but not waterlogged lawn helps nutrients move into the root zone without burning or stressing the plants. Combining deep, infrequent watering with well‑timed fertilizing reduces waste, improves nutrient uptake, and supports a thicker, greener Prairie lawn overall.