When the Soil Gets Cold, Nitrates Stay Ready

During winter, turfgrass and many landscape plants slow their growth dramatically, which means they can't efficiently use nutrients that require warm soil and active microbes to become available. This is where nitrate-based fertilizers have a clear advantage. Unlike urea or ammonium forms of nitrogen, nitrates are already in a plant-available form. Plants can absorb them immediately through their roots, even in cooler soils, making nitrates far more reliable when biological activity in the soil is reduced.

Another key benefit of nitrate fertilizers in winter is predictability and safety. Ammonium and urea fertilizers depend on microbial conversion (nitrification) to become usable, a process that nearly stalls in cold conditions. This can lead to nitrogen sitting unused in the soil or volatilizing before plants can benefit. Nitrates, by contrast, don't need conversion, reducing the risk of uneven feeding, nitrogen loss, or delayed response. When applied correctly, they provide consistent uptake without forcing excessive top growth, which is especially important during periods when plants are vulnerable to stress.

Finally, nitrate fertilizers support root health and color without overstimulation, which is the primary goal of winter nutrition. Rather than pushing lush growth that can be damaged by frost, nitrates help maintain chlorophyll production and metabolic function, keeping turf and plants healthier through dormancy. This makes them ideal for late-season and winter applications where precision matters more than speed. In short, nitrate fertilizers align better with cold-weather plant physiology, making them a smarter, more efficient choice when temperatures drop.

We offer winter-formulated fertilizers with our Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control Programs.