When it comes to garden care, Miracle-Gro have been creating reliable products for over 150 years; their EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care is a basic yet effective fertiliser that also offers good value for money. With an NPK ratio of 8-0-6, this is a low-phosphorous, high-nitrogen/potassium formula. Potassium is useful in autumn to improve the strength and resilience of plants, whilst nitrogen is more commonly used in spring to help with growth and the lush green appearance of the grass. It comes as a 20 kg bag and should be applied at a density of 35 g/m². This is best achieved using a spreader, rather than attempting to get the measurements right by hand. At this application rate, one bag will cover approximately 570 m². Fertiliser comes in either liquid or granular form. When it comes to the best winter lawn fertiliser, granular fertiliser is best.

Generally, it’s less important to feed plants high amounts of nitrogen during winter because the focus is not on creating growth spurts, but conserving strength and making strong root systems that will survive the winter. Phosphorous It’s recommended that you fertilise your lawn at least twice a year: once in the spring, and again in the autumn/winter. Springtime fertilisers contain a different composition of nutrients to winter fertilisers, which is why it’s important to use different products. A winter lawn fertiliser will contain ingredients that have been specifically chosen to protect your lawn from harsh winter weather, helping to prepare it for growth in the springtime. If spilt on paving, concrete etc., brush off immediately to avoid discolouration. If no rain falls within 48 hours of treatment, irrigate treated area. Complete Lawn, Feed Weed and Moss Killer is effective against broad-leaved weeds of the following species: The RHS recommend over the use of a Autumn & Winter fertiliser on your lawn and plants over the winter months as a protective measure for the winter weather and get them off to a great start in the spring. If spilt on paving or concrete, brush off immediately to avoid discolouration. If no rain falls within 48 hours of treatment, irrigate treated area.Liquid feed is either a concentrate that can be added to water, or it’s pre-made. This fertiliser is generally fast acting and can be applied to the lawn using a watering can.

Prepare the soil – Loosen the top couple of inches of soil, remove debris, fertilise with a decent starter fertiliser, avoid using weed killers before and after sowing.The best winter lawn fertilisers balance nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, providing the best ratio for grass to thrive. In a winter fertiliser, look for a high potassium content . This will help your grass grow stronger roots and stems ready to spring into action in the warmer months.

Granular fertilisers are applied dry and then watered into the soil. To apply a granular fertiliser properly, you should use a fertiliser spreader. These can either be simple handheld tools, or more complicated push-along/tow-along contraptions. Spreaders help ensure the correct distribution rate, which is a lot harder to calculate when spreading by hand. Nitrogen is pretty vital during all stages of a plant’s growth. It’s one of the main components of chlorophyll, which helps plants convert the sun’s energy into food. Chlorophyll is also responsible for giving plants their green colour, so nitrogen can help grass get greener and healthier.

According to Substral, the slow-release granules stay active for approximately 100 days, meaning they are constantly adding nutrients to the soil. Not all fertilisers contain phosphorous, as too much phosphorous in the soil can actually build up and have a negative impact on the environment and plants. If your soil has a phosphorous deficiency, your grass will require a fertiliser with phosphorous. If not, you may want to avoid adding too much.

You may want to test your soil to find out what the current nutrient levels are, for a better idea of which what nutrients you need to add to the soil. There are several laboratories that you can send a sample of your soil to for testing. Remember that nutrients get used up, so the soil’s properties can change over time. It’s best applied with a rotary spreader – a drop spreader can result in uneven application which may in turn cause burnt patches to appear on the lawn. Depending on your grass type, lawn condition, and the time of year, your lawn will benefit from higher concentrations of certain elements than others. For reference, an NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratio of 6-5-10 works well in winter . This is high in potassium and reasonably balanced in nitrogen and phosphorus.

My Top Recommended Winter Lawn Fertilisers

Nitrogen 4%– This helps to gently feed but not over stimulate growth. Lowering Nitrogen maintains a feed supply to the lawn whilst being insufficient to stimulate an early, weak and disease susceptible growth. Sow the grass seed – Spread evenly by hand in small areas or use a seed spreader for larger areas, disperse evenly and not too close together, ideally 5-10mm deep in the soil. Potassium is an extremely useful nutrient, especially beneficial to grass over winter, because it helps grow strong roots and stems. Looking for a relatively high potassium ratio in a winter fertiliser is a good idea. Whether you’re looking to repair pesky thin or bare patches, improve your existing grass, or create a brand new lawn area, our seed blend is designed to produce a tough, durable lawn that is able to thrive under a number of conditions. This premium mix will deliver results that will last all year round while withstanding traffic, children, garden parties, sports and different weather types.