Fertilization
October is a great time to lime, seed and fertilize your lawn. You can seed a new lawn in early October or reseed (overseed) an established lawn this month to make it thicker and healthier.
Weed Prevention and Control
Now is also a good time to control weeds growing in the lawn, however you cannot weed kill and seed the same day. You will need to wait until any new seed has germinated and been mowed at least twice before applying a weed killer.
Prevent winter annual weeds from germinating in the lawn by applying a weed preventer such as Gallery in early October. Avoid this if you plan to seed now. You will have to wait 60 days to seed, which means you would probably need to wait until spring to seed the lawn.
Seeding
Aerate and/or dethatch your lawn prior to seeding if the thatch is more than ½ inch thick. Water the soil a day or two before you plan to aerate or rototill (for a total renovation) or start your project a day or two after a good rain.
Use Merrifield Select 14-18-14 to fertilize your lawn when seeding. It is high in phosphorus, which aids in germination and encourages strong root development. Follow-up with Merrifield Premium 24-0-12 in November or December.
