Can I Apply Fertilizer to Wet Grass

Applying fertilizer at the right time or in the right amount is necessary for a lush green and healthy lawn. However, sometimes, you might face a problem, like when it starts pouring at the time of applying fertilizer. The question at that point is, can you apply fertilizer now?

The answer is yes, you can fertilize your wet lawn, but there are some reservations you must consider before doing that. Adding fertilizer to the wet lawn grass gives it more nutrients for its growth. Explore this article to learn the advantages and disadvantages of fertilizing wet grass, along with the methods to apply fertilizer in wet grass.

Can You Put Fertilizer on Wet Grass

Yes, fertilizing wet grass is possible. Putting fertilizer on wet grass will help improve its effectiveness. Make sure the grass is not waterlogged, and remember to use diluted or liquid fertilizer. Foliar fertilizer is not suitable for wet grass, keep it away from the grass. 

On the other hand, fertilizing wet grass is not highly recommended. Sometimes it harms the grass through uneven soil distribution, nutrient loss, and foliar absorption. You have to consider many factors before deciding whether you want to fertilize wet grass or not. Fertilizing wet grass is not recommended. So, watch out for your grass’s situation and then decide. 

What Happens If You Fertilize the Wet Grass

If the grass of your lawn is wet but not soggy, then applying the fertilizer will help it get the same nutrients as the dry grass. But if the grass is soggy, water standing in its base or fertilizing the grass in the soil will lose its potency by about 60% or more. If you have foliar grass in hand, applying it to the grass will harm it because it is uncommon.

It will not stick to the blades of the grass if the grass is wet. You must wait almost 24 hours if the lawn is wet and only have foliar fertilizer to provide it. After fertilizing the lawn, wait 24 hours or more to water the grass. There are a lot of problems that you can face after fertilizing wet grass. Some of them are as follows:

1. Loss of Nutrients

Fertilizers act like mobiles, they cannot stay at the place where you apply them. They move from one corner of the lawn to the next corner due to the wind and water. While applying fertilizer to the wet grass, there is a high possibility that the nutrients will wash away due to the water. If the fertilizer loses its nutrients, then it’s not sensible to apply it to the grass because the grass will remain nutrient-less. 

2. Uneven Distribution

If the grass faces loss of nutrients, that can cause an uneven distribution of the grass. Imagine if the fertilizer moves from the eastern part of the lawn to the western part, that means the eastern part will have more fertilizer than the western part. You applied fertilizer to the whole lawn, but some regions will have more fertilizer, and some will have deficiencies. Ultimately, you will get uneven distribution if the fertilizer in your lawn due to the wet grass. 

3. Pollution of Water Bodies

Washed fertilizer often goes into the bodies of water if you fertilize the wet grass. If your house is near streams and rivers, the washed fertilizer goes into them and pollutes them. The people who need fertilizer for one heed or the other will be toxic. The fish and other living things in the water are also affected. So, fertilizing your wet grass will impact the lives of the water organisms. 

4. Overfeeding Your Lawn

Most gardeners or lawn owners like to fertilize their lawns again after noticing the washed previous fertilizer. It must sound good to you, but the problem is that sometimes adding the fertilizer again into the lawn makes the amount of fertilizer and nutrients more than the need for the grass. You will see the burning of lawn grass due to the extra chemicals. Even if you do the test of the soil, that will be a wrong result due to the uneven distribution of the fertilizer. 

Fertilizer Types for Wet Lawn

The fertilizing need of your lawn grass depends on the fertilizer you provide to wet grass. Some suitable fertilizers that work best to fertilize wet grass are:

1. Liquid Fertilizers and Teas

If your lawn grass is wet, adding liquid fertilizer and compost or manure teas is the best choice. But make sure that before applying the fertilizer, the grass is not soggy, a little damp condition is preferable. If you notice the water is standing in the base of the grass and the grass looks soggy, then adding the fertilizer will do nothing good because the fertilizer will wash away with the water. 

2. Granular Fertilizers

Granular fertilizers are good to use on the wet grass. They came in various forms like pellets, dust prills, etc. These dry pellets of Granular fertilizers are applied to slightly damp lawns. In addition, light rain or slight dampness can help distribute them. However, these are also not suitable to apply during heavy rain or wet soil. 

Can You Fertilize in the Rain

No, fertilizing the grass during rain is possibly not a good idea. Summer storms and spring showers are the most common things that are the welcome sights of the heat and drought. Taking them for granted is easy, but most gardens cannot survive without a natural rainstorm. When discussing whether it is good to fertilize the lawn before or after the rain, remember that rain is good for the lawn grass to grow efficiently. 

If you fertilize the grass before the rain, all the fertilizer will wash away with rainwater, and if you fertilize the lawn grass after the rain, there will be no problem if the lawn is not too wet. But if there is too much rain and the water is standing in the base of the grass, that can wash away all the nutrients you provide. 

Remember that some fertilizers have herbicides, insecticides, or even grass seeds, these ingredients can wash away the grass with water, and there will be no harm. But if the fertilizer has all the nutrients necessary for the lawn grass, then if they wash away with the rainwater, that will be a loss for the lawn grass. But if the lawn is a little wet before or after rain, then fertilizing it is best.

Methods To Apply Fertilizer in Wet Grass

When fertilizing grass, it is essential to follow the proper techniques to ensure adequate absorption and minimize wastage:

Seeking professional

Seeking professional advice for clarification on the right fertilizer program for your lawn is necessary. Lawn care specialists can accurately assess your lawn’s needs and recommend the most suitable type and quantity of fertilizer.

Do Not Over-Apply Fertilizer

Applying too much fertilizer can destroy your lawn and harm the environment. Do consult a professional to obtain the required levels when using fertilizers.

Proper absorption

Proper absorption is critical for adequate fertilization. The fertilizer must reach the soil and roots to ensure maximum nutrient uptake by the grass. Merely spreading it on the surface may result in poor absorption and wastage.

Apply Fertilizer after Rain Lightly

If wetness from rain or irrigation is already on the grass, sprinkle water on this field before applying manure. This promotes deeper penetration of manure into soil, making nutrients more available for plant use.

Water Afterwards

After applying the fertilizers, lightly water your garden. This will cause them to dissolve quickly into the soil, making nutrients immediately available to the plant and ensuring their intake.

Conclusion

Fertilizing the wet grass is not a good idea. So, it’s better to stop fertilizing your wet lawn. Doing this can risk losing nutrients, harming the environment, and burning the grass. However, there are a few guidelines to consider before fertilizing the wet grass. Make sure to follow the instructions that you read here, and remember not to over-fertilize your wet grass. Also do wait for dry conditions to obtain excellent results of fertilizing in the form of lush green lawn.

FAQs

1. What Is the Best Time to Fertilize Your Wet Lawn?

There is not a single specific answer to this question. Many factors affect the fertilization of wet grass, and it also depends on your grass type. There are two types of grass: cold-season grass and warm-season grass. Fertilize warm-season grass in late spring or early summer, when it absorbs all the fertilizer nutrients. 

2. Should I Fertilize the Grass Before or After Rain?

If you fertilize the lawn before the rain, too much rain will wash away all the fertilizer nutrients before they soak into the soil. Only fertilize after rain when the grass blades have completely dried. 

3. Is it a good idea to spread fertilizer on wet grass?

Applying granular fertilizer is good for slightly wet grass but not for saturated ground. However, it is best to wait until the water is completely dissolved in the ground before applying fertilizer. In addition, it’s okay to spread dry granular fertilizer during the light rain.