Winterizer & Winterizer II with Weed Preventer
What Is Winterizer?
Winterizer by Fertilome is an important part of any lawncare program. While your typical fertilizers are busy enhancing the vibrancy and size of blooms, or increasing the rate of green growth, a winterizer product is focused on the health and recovery process of your plants. Specifically, winterizer’s NPK ratio of 10-0-14 is heavy in Potash (or Potassium). Potash is the nutrient element shown to boost root development and vigor, helping even established shrubs and trees better prepare for a harsh winter. When used properly, winterizer will lower your cold-season maintenance and get you back in the green more quickly once spring rolls around.
Winterizer tends to be seen as a lawn-care lover’s product, but it can help just as much with your trees, shrubs, and garden beds. When you think about it, your grass will likely recover in a relatively short timeframe compared to something like a 20-year-old tree, or a 5-year-old shrub. Whatever you tend to favor in your landscaping, you’ll find it useful to have a bag or two of winterizer laying around.
When To Use Winterizer?
You should apply winterizer from the end of September through November. This gives you a 60-day application period, which should be spent making sure everything else is healthy and prepared. In my own routine, I’ll use August – mid September as my landscape’s resting and cleaning period. I take out any dead plants, check for disease & pests, and target those diseases & pests with the appropriate products. My fertilizer programs are pretty much over, as you don’t want to encourage new growth so close to the frost season.
As mentioned before, there is a wide timeframe for winterizer application. This is because you can never be too sure of the heat in Louisiana, and it’s best to base your application on the weather. A good rule-of-thumb is to wait until daytime temperatures are a steady 75-85 degrees. If temperatures remain in the 90s for more than a week or two, you’ll likely see burning from winterizer even with ample watering. When using winterizer, you’re trying to target the “sweet spot” between the heat of summer and the dormancy of your plants. Dormant plants will stop absorbing nutrients like the ones found in winterizer, so waiting until it’s too late may not burn your plants, but it will end up being a waste of money. If you’re reading this article in October or early November, this is your sign to grab a bag as soon as possible!
How To Use Winterizer?
Like with most granule products, winterizer is best activated with a thorough “watering-in” and should be applied only to an already relatively healthy lawn. If you’ve been experiencing drought, water-use restrictions, or just been slipping on your watering routine, try to get some moisture back into the landscape. Even within the timeframe to use winterizer – it may be best to wait a week or two and give yourself the chance to start thoroughly watering your lawn again.
Once your lawn is happy, healthy, and hydrated, you can safely apply your winterizer product. While we must say to thoroughly read and follow instructional materials, you’ll be instructed to use a spreader. Louisiana Nursery sells and rents spreaders, and this will be by far the least labor-intensive way to DIY a winterizer – or any granule product – for your lawn. However, we know not everyone will take this route. If you plan on hand-spreading this product, you can still benefit from the listed spreader measurements on the back of your winterizer bag.
Using the spreader measurements as a guide, evenly spread the winterizer granules across the lawn. A good rule-of-thumb is to be extra careful of over-application on trees and shrubs. Less is often more, and it’s better to give your plants a small boost than it is to accidentally overdo your chemical programs.
Two Options Available at Louisiana Nursery
Winterizer (Classic)
For Established Lawns
In a 20lb bag, covering 5,000 sqft, the classic Winterizer is a bargain at $29.99! If the goal is to ensure your trees, shrubs, & grass survive the freeze and come back swinging, you can’t go wrong with plain ole Winterizer.
Winterizer & Weed Preventer II
For Southern Grasses
A new formula from Fertilome incorporates an herbicide to the mix! Winterizer with Weed Preventer is an All-In-One product for protection and prevention. Lower your winter into spring lawncare maintenance with this 16lb bag for $29.99, available at all locations!
