How & When to Fertilise Your Lawn — A Seasonal Guide

Why Fertilising Matters

A well-fed lawn is more drought tolerant, more disease resistant, recovers faster from wear, and maintains a richer green colour. But fertilising at the wrong time — or with the wrong product — can do more harm than good. This guide walks you through exactly when and what to apply for each season.

Understanding Fertiliser Types

• Granular controlled release — slow, steady feeding over 2–5 months. Apply 3–4 times per year. Best for maintenance feeding. Examples: ProTurf NPK, Landscape Maintenance, Landscape All Round.
• Liquid fertiliser — fast response, absorbed through leaves and roots within 24 hours. Best for quick green-up or stress recovery. Examples: Greenmaster Liquid High N, Vitalnova Stressbuster, Greenmaster Spring & Summer.
• Biostimulants — not traditional fertilisers, but boost root growth and soil health. Use alongside your regular program. Examples: Vitalnova Blade, Sportsmaster WSF Seaweed.

Seasonal Fertilising Guide

🌱 Spring (September–November)

Spring is the most important time to fertilise warm-season lawns as they wake from winter dormancy. Apply a fast-acting fertiliser to kick-start growth and colour.

• Warm-season lawns (Kikuyu, Couch): Apply Greenmaster Spring & Summer or ProTurf NPK as temperatures rise above 15°C
• Cool-season lawns (RTF, Ryegrass): Apply a balanced granular fertiliser like Landscape Maintenance
• New lawns: Use Landscape New Grass & Renovation for establishment feeding

☀️ Summer (December–February)

Summer is peak growing season for warm-season grasses. Maintain feeding every 6–8 weeks and watch for heat stress.

• Continue with a controlled release granular fertiliser every 2–3 months
• If your lawn shows signs of heat stress (yellowing, thinning), apply Vitalnova Stressbuster for rapid recovery
• Boost colour with Greenmaster Iron Effect — deep green in under 3 hours

🍂 Autumn (March–May)

Autumn is the time to prepare your lawn for winter and encourage strong root development before growth slows.

• Apply a high-potassium fertiliser like ProTurf Hi K to harden turf and improve disease resistance
• For cool-season lawns, apply a balanced feed to support continued growth through the cooler months
• If oversowing with ryegrass, apply Landscape New Grass & Renovation at sowing time

❄️ Winter (June–August)

Warm-season lawns are dormant in winter — do not fertilise them as nutrients will be wasted. Cool-season lawns can be lightly fed if actively growing.

• For cool-season lawns still growing: apply Greenmaster Pro-Lite Cold Start to maintain colour and growth in cooler temperatures
• Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers on dormant warm-season lawns

General Fertilising Tips

• 💧 Always water in granular fertilisers after application to activate and prevent burning
• ☀️ Don’t fertilise in extreme heat — apply in the morning or evening when temperatures are below 30°C
• 🔬 Use a spreader for even granular application — uneven spreading causes patchy results
• 🪲 Weed before fertilising — fertiliser feeds weeds too, so treat first
• 📊 Less is more — over-fertilising causes excessive growth, thatch buildup and can burn your lawn

Shop Fertilisers

Browse our full range of lawn fertilisers including granular controlled release, liquid feeds and biostimulants — suitable for all lawn types and budgets.