As turfgrass growth is beginning to slow, it’s time to consider fertilizing your lawn. Applying fertilizer now should not increase vertical growth dramatically as long as moderate rates of nitrogen are used and will help your lawn retain it’s color and health. Apply 0.75 to 1.0 lbs. N/1000 sq. ft. with a product that contains 50% or more slow release fertilizer. Slow release products include sulfur- or polymer-coated urea, urea formaldehyde, methylenediurea, dimethylenetriurea or natural organic nitrogen. Try to schedule the application prior to a rain or irrigate following application to move the fertilizers off the leaf blade. If fertilizer was applied with a preemergence herbicide earlier in the spring, a fertilizer application is not needed yet.