Hi Dennis,

Thanks for your question. ALL fertilizers will work fine on your lawn, so pick one that you like and use that. You don't need to apply one with any weed control or crabgrass preventer, unless you want to take this extra step.

If you are planning to mulch/recycle your clippings back into the turf, follow the following:

• Spring fertilizer application - you can use plain fertilizer or one with a crabgrass preventer; apply by the end of April.
• Summer application: not necessary
• Fall application: Apply a non-weed-control product by September 15

Anytime you fertilize, use a push-type fertilizer spreader set to the correct setting on the bag and the spreader you're using. Water in all fertilizer with at least 1/2" of water. 

If you're collecting your clippings, then increase your fertilizer applications to three per year - spring, summer (using an organic-type) and fall. But if you're mulching your clippings back into the turf, twice a year is sufficient.

Avoid applying fertilizer in the summer because it can burn the turf; if you feel the lawn needs fertilizer, then use an organic type and water it in immediately following application.

Here's the lawn care fact sheet from CSU Extension: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/lawn-care-basics/

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Hi again,

Sorry, I should have clarified that better.

If you want to do a crabgrass preventer, put it down NO EARLIER than late April. If you are just applying fertilizer, then sometime in May is perfect.

We typically tell folks in the lower elevation to do their crabgrass preventer by mid-April, so late April is a good rec for Estes. That said, we're well ahead of schedule this year...