The Best Times to Put Down Scotts WinterGuard

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company groups lawn fertilizer products according to four steps. Step one is for early spring, when you plant the lawn. Step two, for late spring, both feeds your lawn and controls weeds. The third step, applied during the summer, protects your lawn against harsh heat and sunlight. WinterGuard products are similar to step four fertilizers in that you will use them twice during the fall -- early in the season, then six to eight weeks later -- but WinterGuard formulations are slightly different than those in step four. Fall fertilizing encourages stronger, deeper rooting for a healthy lawn in the spring.

Turf Builder WinterGuard has a 32-0-10 formulation, which means it contains 32 percent nitrogen to encourage green, leafy growth, according to North Carolina State University's Cooperative Extension; no phosphorus and 10 percent potassium, which protects your lawn against disease and drought. Apply it to a wet or dry lawn. Although watering is not necessary, it will help your lawn turn green faster.

Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard with Plus 2 Weed Control has a 26-2-12 formulation -- 26 percent nitrogen, 2 percent phosphorous to encourage root and bud growth and 12 percent potassium -- in addition to an herbicide that kills more than 50 different weeds. Scotts recommends applying it to a wet lawn, when weeds are growing. However, this product should not be used on bent, carpet grass, dichondra, lippia or St. Augustine lawns, according to Scotts.com.

Scotts Lawn Pro Super WinterGuard With Plus 2 Weed Control is a 27-3-12 formulation, making it higher in nitrogen and phosphorous than the Turf Builder products. Apply it while your lawn is wet, but wait 24 hours to water or mow and 30 days to seed or sod. Scotts recommends not using this product if rain is expected sooner than 24 hours after application. Wait until after the fourth mowing if your lawn is newly planted, but do not treat bahia until after November 1.

For all three products, use a 3 1/4 setting on a broadcast or rotary spreader. Turf Builder WinterGuard uses a 6 1/4 setting on drop spreaders and a 27 1/2 setting on Scotts Easygreen spreaders. It is the only product of the three appropriate for the Easygreen spreader. Turf Builder WinterGuard with Plus 2 Weed Control uses a 5 setting on drop spreaders. The Lawn Pro products use a 5 1/4 setting on drop spreaders. Available sizes include 5,000- and 15,000-square-foot coverage. Multiple your yard’s length by its width to computer its square footage.