A slew of lawsuits clearing the way for waived NFL players to re-enter college football has sent shockwaves across the sport. Reaction first poured in from top college coaches like LSU’s Lane Kiffin, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Oregon’s Dan Lanning. Now, NFL executives are joining the fray, led by Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard, who didn’t mince words when asked for his thoughts by reporters on Tuesday. “No, that’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard,” Ballard said. “Your entire life, you fight to get up to the NFL. OK, but now we’re gonna go back? That makes a lot of freakin’ sense.” The Colts’ 53-man roster is locked in with no players attempting a return to college. Meanwhile, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Jack Pyburn tried heading back to LSU before the Kansas City Chiefs stepped in to claim him off waivers. While he was one of the biggest names publicly expressing interest in playing for Kiffin, he won’t be heading back to LSU after all. Instead, he stayed in the NFL after putting together a dominant preseason for the Buccaneers, where he recorded four sacks in three games. After being waived during the NFL preseason, defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae’Quan Wright attempted to return to college football to play for Kiffin at LSU. As of now, their eligibility is caught in a legal battle over a new SEC policy. The SEC’s new policy bans certain former pros from returning to college sports, threatening severe penalties for programs like LSU that break the rule. It’s a move that highlights just how chaotic this entire situation has become. Public scrutiny surrounding Kiffin and LSU’s portal moves has yet to shake the locker room. Starting tight end Trey’Dez Green is embracing the added talent and told reporters that he’s staying focused on whatever helps the team win, even if it means sharing reps with Wright. Ballard is the first NFL general manager to speak out so bluntly, but when Rams coach Sean McVay was asked about NFL players returning to college last week he said: “I feel like I took a freakin’ gummy.”
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A small backpack and a regular tote bag are roughly the same size, so it’s only natural that bag designers would create bags with two sets of straps, one for toting and one for backpacking. A particularly good example of this hybrid design, which is great for everyday use, is this Osprey tote pack that has a big discount thanks to REI’s Labor Day sale.
The Osprey Arcane Tote Pack is on sale for $60 at REI, 55% off its normal $135 price tag. REI members can save an additional 20% on an outlet item through Sept. 7, a discount that would bring this pack down to just $48, 64% off its suggested retail price. The $60 price tag is good on both toffee orange heather and black colorways, with the latter having an original price of $120.
Whichever color you choose, your new bag will be made with durable 480-denier polyester that’s made from 10 recycled plastic bottles and coated with a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment made without PFAS. The main compartment has a large, zippered roll-top opening, and it contains a 16-inch padded laptop sleeve, small zipper pocket, and key clip. This internal assortment strikes a nice balance between dedicated pockets and simple design. On the outside, you’ll find a zippered horizontal pocket and a button closure pocket on the side. The whole thing holds 21 liters of stuff, weighs less than 2 pounds, and qualifies as a carry-on on most airlines.
“I use this bag every day for the office,” one shopper wrote, because “I can fit a ton of stuff in it.” The roll-top means you can “shove a light jacket or cardigan on top,” and the whole thing “feels professional while still being casual enough to accompany me to happy hour.” It’s a great bag for “day trips or road trips.”
Another customer gushed that they “love this bag” because it “can transition from tote to backpack perfectly.” And while “it’s a touch small, that just means that I can’t overstuff it and it’s never too heavy.”
The Osprey Arcane Tote Pack is a good tote, a good backpack, and a great everyday bag for everything from everyday commuting to traveling to hiking. Its versatility makes it a good value, but this $60 price tag makes it one that you simply can’t afford to miss if you need a new bag. Just make sure you grab one ASAP, as REI deals this good often sell out.
In November 2001, the film Domestic Disturbance, starring John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Teri Polo and Steve Buscemi was released to the public. But it was months earlier that the movie made news that was arguably more memorable than the film itself.
At a bar in Wilmington, North Carolina, called the Firefly Lounge, Buscemi, Vaughn and screenwriter Scott Rosenberg got involved in a fight after one of the locals called out Vaughn when one of their girlfriends started talking to the movie star. They took the brawl outside, and Buscemi was stabbed above the eye and in the jaw, throat and arm, according to a police statement at the time (per ABC News).
Vaughn plays a villain in the film, which is an interesting role to look back on for Vaughn fans used to see him act in comedies. Salon wrote at the time that Vaughn was “menacing in that aggressively regular-guy way,” adding, “Domestic Disturbance needs a sharp, wily villain, but instead we get a Rotary Club yobbo.” Buscemi was dimly lit during the scenes he was in to cover up the injuries he sustained in the bar fight.
Buscemi took some accountability for the altercation in an interview with Playboy Magazine (per IMDB). He said, “Too much alcohol got consumed that night — by everybody, me included. They were local people; we were outsiders.” Buscemi added, “I don’t remember what was said or how it started. I only know that if I hadn’t been drinking, I would not have gotten into any trouble.”
The movie got a 1.5/4 stars from famed critic Roger Ebert, who wrote, “The physical details are so unlikely they seem contrived even in a thriller.” Unfortunately, it was the offscreen drama that gave this film its greatest notoriety. Buscemi would recover, both physically and in his career, as he went on to star in acclaimed movies and television shows, including The Sopranos a few years later.
Vaughn officially pivoted to comedies in the early 2000s, making Domestic Disturbance an outlier for the actor both for his portrayal on screen and for what happened behind the scenes.
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I used to think rooftop tents were mostly overpriced status symbols—the outdoor equivalent of driving around town with a spotless set of traction boards bolted to your truck. Then I started really testing them.
After trying at least half a dozen rooftop tents over the years, my opinion has changed. Having the right one can eliminate a surprising amount of the friction that keeps people from camping more often. Your tent and sleeping setup are already on the vehicle, you’re off the wet and uneven ground, and when you arrive at camp after dark, setup can take minutes instead of turning into a headlamp-lit argument with tent poles. The $4,000 iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio might be the best example I’ve tested.
iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Rooftop Tent
Graham Averill
I’ve had it mounted on my F-150 for two months, using the truck for everyday driving and road trips between nights at camp. (And yes, enjoying how rugged it makes my truck look.) Its clever fold-out design keeps the shell compact enough to sit neatly over my short bed while opening into a surprisingly spacious three-person tent. Better still, once I learned the routine, I could set it up in less than two minutes and pack it away just as easily by myself.
It’s expensive, and it’s not perfect. But after years of testing rooftop tents, the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio gets closer than anything I’ve used to fulfilling the category’s ultimate promise: making it easier to go camping.
iKamper makes some of the most recognizable rooftop tent on the market, and they’ve put years of experience into designing their new SkyCamp 4.0 series of tents, maximizing the interior footprint and adding some smart updates that make the tents even more user friendly. In addition to the Trio that I tested, iKamper makes a two-person Duo and a four-person Quad. I chose the Trio because it’s compact enough to fit neatly over my F-150’s short bed, but still has plenty of space for me, my wife, and our dog.
iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Rooftop Tent Interior
Graham Averill
iKamper’s SkyCamp tents use a fold-out design that expands the sleeping space beyond the exterior foot print of the shell, which means they take up less room on top of your vehicle without sacrificing any interior space. This is the secret sauce of the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio. It’s compact enough to fit on a Subaru, but spacious enough to host a poker game if you need to wait out a rainstorm at camp.
For the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio, iKamper managed to increase the sleeping space by 75 square inches while reducing the width of the exterior shell for a more streamlined package. The result is a tent that fits better on more vehicles. I’ve had larger hardshell rooftop tents on my truck in the past, which are great when you’re stretching out at night, but they’re too long to fit over my 5’6” bed, so I have to install them so they sit above the truck’s cab.
This increases drag and raises the center of gravity creating a potentially less stable platform when you’re driving through hairy terrain. But the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio fits neatly over the bed of my truck so I can install it in-line with my cab’s roofline, reducing drag and lowering the center of gravity.
iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Rooftop Tent Floor
Courtesy Image
The SkyCamp series also has cork flooring, which adds insulation and reduces condensation, as well as the new DuraCore shell, a two-sheet design that adds a layer of air insulation making these tents legitimate four-season options for those that won’t stop camping when the temperature drops. They also come standard with electrical and HVAC ports if you want to run heaters or air conditioners. I haven’t reached that point of luxury yet, but I’m curious about the potential.
I really like the new integrated lights, because it means you don’t have to string lights or hang a lantern, which is one less thing you have to worry about packing when you’re trying to get out the door. Just bring a power source or battery and you’ve got built-in illumination.
The Trio is also really spacious, with plenty of headroom and large doors and windows which keep the tent bright and airy during the day. It’s a small detail, but I also really like the world map that occupies the one wall that doesn’t have any windows. It’s like your tent comes with a piece of art. Who doesn’t like art?
The iKamper SkyCamp Trio is spacious, comfortable and fits well on my truck, but what really won me over is how easy it is to set up when I roll into camp. Unlock the side latches and push the shell open, then pull the ladder towards you, which expands the floor and erects the canvas tent. After that you just have to add some poles to the windows and door. It’s so easy you can knock it out in just a couple of minutes and never have to ask for help.
Even better, this tent is just as easy to take down. A lot of rooftop tents require two people working together to tuck the fabric into the shell as you’re packing it away, but the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio is so well-designed, I can handle this duty solo.
iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Rooftop Tent
Courtesy Image
I’ve also been impressed with how the tent hasn’t impacted my truck’s driving performance. I’ve had it on my truck for more than two months, driving it daily around town and on road trips and I haven’t noticed any drop on my gas mileage. I have it mounted almost level with my cab, so it’s a very streamlined setup that stays below the wind for the most part.
It also has a curved top shell which helps prevent too much drag, even if it’s sitting on top of your car’s roof. Keeping it low over my truck bed also helps stabilize the load. I drive curvy mountain roads often and I never feel any sway while digging into curves.
I only have a couple of complaints about this tent. First, at nearly $4,000, it’s not cheap. But honestly, you get what you pay for when it comes to rooftop tents. There are cheaper versions out there, but some of them are difficult to pitch and made with materials that won’t withstand weather.
I had a softshell tent on one of my vehicles for more than a year, and within a few months it was caked in mildew. After two months of being exposed to constant Southern Appalachian storms, the iKamper still looks brand new.
iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Rooftop Tent
Courtesy Image
My main issue with the iKamper SkyCamp series is that it eliminates the ability to carry other gear on top of your vehicle. I like the curved top shell in terms of reducing drag, but it means you can’t mount roof-rack bars on top of the tent. Some hardshell rooftop tents accommodate bars, allowing you to carry paddle boards, surfboards or kayaks on top of the tent. That’s not an option with the iKamper SkyCamp series.
And if you buy an iKamper SkyCamp, you should think hard about your mattress choice. You have two options to choose from: a thin foam mattress or an optional 3-inch air mattress. If you’re looking for the easiest setup, stick with the foam. If you want a more plush situation, the air mattress is the way to go. But keep in mind that you need to deflate it completely before you can close up your tent. It’s honestly the most difficult part of the process when it comes to closing up camp.
Overall, the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio is the best rooftop tent I’ve ever tested, and I think it is a superior option for a lot of people. The small footprint allows it to be mounted on a wide variety of vehicles, but there’s still plenty of room inside the tent. It’s easy to install, fast to set up, and a breeze to pack up when it’s time to go home.
Of all the rooftop tents I’ve tested over the years, the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 is the one that actually makes it easier to go camping…while also looking really cool when I’m driving around town.
Yes—if you camp often enough to justify spending $4,000 on a tent. I’ve tested at least half a dozen rooftop tents over the years, and the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio is the best I’ve used. Its biggest advantage isn’t any single luxury feature; it’s how much easier it makes getting to camp, setting up, and packing everything away again.
Once you learn the process, the Trio can be set up in less than two minutes, and I can pack it away by myself just as easily. Its fold-out design also creates enough sleeping space for three people while keeping the exterior shell compact enough to fit a wide variety of vehicles. On my F-150, it sits neatly over the short bed and roughly in line with the cab instead of towering above it.
The $4,000 price is difficult to ignore, and the curved shell prevents you from adding roof-rack bars for kayaks, paddleboards, or other bulky gear. I’d also stick with the foam mattress if fast setup and breakdown are priorities, because completely deflating the optional air mattress adds hassle when you’re trying to leave camp.
But a rooftop tent should ultimately make it easier to sleep outside more often, and that’s exactly what the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio does. If you’re a frequent car camper who values a fast setup, generous interior space, and a compact footprint, this is the rooftop tent I’d buy.
Sure, you can just pitch a tent like our forefathers did and save yourself a lot of money. But there’s a lot to be said about getting off the ground. Rooftop tents are generally more comfortable than traditional tents because they provide a sleeping surface that’s always flat and level. You don’t have to clear every rock and stick from the ground before you pitch your tent. And they typically handle weather better than traditional tents because the floor doesn’t get soaked during a storm, and you don’t have to worry about the corners of your tent flooding in the rain.
I live in the Southern Appalachians where it’s almost guaranteed to rain at some point during a weekend camping trip. Getting off the ground eliminates the hassle of those conditions.
But the main reason I like rooftop tents is they streamline logistics and make it easier to go camping. You don’t have to pack the tent or the mattress, because they’re already on your vehicle. They’re also generally much easier to set up than a traditional ground tent. That’s not always the case—I’ve used some soft-shell rooftop tents that are just as complicated to erect and pack up than a ground tent—but that’s where the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio shines.
I’ve used several different rooftop tents over the years from a variety of different companies, and the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio has proven to be the easiest to set up and take down. Once you get the hang of the process, you could easily pitch this tent in under two minutes. And packing it up is just as simple.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been testing and reviewing gear for more than two decades, publishing articles about everything from backyard grills to golf club sensors for Men’s Journal and other magazines. I’m an avid car camper and I’ve had the opportunity to test at least half a dozen different rooftop tents in recent years. I installed the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio on my truck two months ago and have spent several nights sleeping in this spacious tent. I’m always looking for gear that makes living an adventurous life easier, and this new rooftop tent from iKamper does just that.
The incomparable Jim Carrey has come a long way since his days doing sketch comedy on In Living Color. Since then, he’s starred in some blockbuster films that have drawn critical acclaim and lots of applause from his fandom. From projects like The Truman Show to How the Grinch Stole Christmas to The Mask, Carrey has become a bona fide star who has managed to entertain millions. And as of September 1st, one of his hits is now available to stream on Netflix.
Looking back at the legacy of this classic in question, it may come as a shocker to some that the film’s writers actually envisioned other A-listers to take on the comedy’s starring role. However, having seen Carrey’s portrayal, it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking on the task.
‘Liar Liar’ Is Now Streaming on Netflix
Netflix logo.
(Photo Illustration by Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Liar Liar first debuted in 1997 and raked in $302,710,615 at the global box office. It follows attorney Fletcher Reede and his fractured relationship with the truth. When he’s cursed and prevented from lying for a day, he struggles to maintain his status quo with his legal career and further alienates his ex-wife and son. There are plenty of hijinks throughout the movie, emboldened by Carrey’s unique brand of comedic delivery.
Critics by and large loved Liar Liar, reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes “Certified Fresh” score of 83%. Duane Byrge with The Hollywood Reporter stated:
“Carrey has never been better – that is to say funnier, or more controlled. He’s reached a higher performance plateau here, playing a real human being we care about rather than a goon figure.”
Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and Hugh Grant Could Have Starred in ‘Liar Liar’
Apparently, the writing duo behind Liar Liar, Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, didn’t envision Carrey for the role. As the story goes on SYFY, they wrote the movie with Tom Hanks or Steve Martin in mind. Guay claimed to want “somebody who can do physical comedy and who is at home with tugging at the heartstrings [and] has some a certain amount of dramatic heft.“
Furthermore, when it became clear that neither Hanks nor Martin was likely to take on the Fletcher Reede role, Hugh Grant came up in conversation. However, he was dealing with some controversy at the time of casting. Then director Tom Shadyac and Carrey heard about the movie, and they decided to join forces again for Liar Liar, previously working together on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Once again, Liar Liar is now streaming on Netflix.
It looks like The Four Horsemen will be doing a disappearing trick on streaming, shifting from Starz to Amazon Prime Video, thanks to a deal between Lionsgate and Amazon.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third film in the Now You See Me series, made its streaming debut on the smaller streaming platform earlier this year, but is anticipated to reach a larger audience through Prime as early as next month. Here’s everything you need to know about when you can expect to stream the 2025 film as an Amazon Prime subscriber.
‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ Amazon Prime Video Release Window, Explained
Lionsgate has its own streaming service, Starz, which is contractually the first stop for the studio’s theatrical releases once the film leaves theaters and its Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) window finishes its exclusivity period.
Lionsgate also has a “Pay-1” streaming deal with Amazon Prime Video, where films will reach the much larger streamer after debuting on Starz, which is also an add-on channel on Prime. Major Lionsgate titles, such as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), are some of the most famous examples of the theatrical-Starz-Prime trajectory (per The Hollywood Reporter).
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t joined Starz on March 14, 2026. There’s not much data on the average or median window of time between a film debuting on Starz and its shift to Prime, but we can look into early titles subject to the Pay-1 deal as a guideline.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, perhaps the best example of the Pay-1 deal between the two streaming services, debuted on Starz on May 14, 2024, and later became available to stream for all Prime subscribers on November 14, 2024, which is exactly 6 months.
Should history repeat itself with Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the film should be on Amazon Prime Video around October 14, 2026, the same gap between the last Hunger Games movie and its Starz-Prime window. It should be underlined, however, that Prime hasn’t formally announced a date for Now You See Me 3’s arrival, so this is very much subject to change.
College football will bring a wide range of emotions to fans across the nation this fall, but those attending games in person will certainly not go home hungry. Programs across the country are expanding concession menus and souvenir offerings for 2026, blending regional food culture with traditional college football experiences. New food offerings are already gaining attention online, like Wisconsin’s offerings at home games this fall. Badger Bakers lead this season’s lineup in Madison, offering classic, sweet corn, and poutine loaded potatoes alongside Takis-crusted sweet corn. Cal is also featuring distinct corn dishes with street corn ribs, while adding edamame dumplings and a chicken Philly cheesesteak to its stadium menu. Fans heading to games this season are also walking away with much more than a cup with a university’s logo on it. Stadiums across the country are providing upgraded collectible items or food that could be shaped like anything ranging from team mascots, to university symbols and landmarks. Take a look at some of the built-in souvenirs fans will be able to bring home. USC is selling beer in a Trojan sword-shaped vessel at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, along with a carne asada fries drum bucket, beverage jugs, and popcorn buckets. Michigan is introducing a nacho container shaped like Michigan Stadium. Meanwhile, Boise State is celebrating 40 years of the blue turf as fans who order a food item that comes in a basket will receive it in a souvenir stadium bowl that features orange bleachers surrounding the blue turf. Among the featured food additions this fall, the University of Houston is serving “tachos”, tater tot nachos, inside a Cougar paw bowl. UCF has added a sword-shaped pretzel to its menu, a snack fit for a knight. Specialty foods tailored to regional cuisine are also being introduced, particularly in Texas. The University of Texas is offering a footlong hot dog topped with smoked brisket and nachos at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Staying in the lone star state, Baylor will offer a “Baylor line dog,” consisting of a Nathan’s hot dog topped with Texas chow chow, cheese and chicharrones, deep-fried pork skin. The Bears will also offer a “bear claw”, a Texas-sized pastry topped with cinnamon and a green-and-gold glaze. Settling for a bag of peanuts is quickly becoming a thing of the past as stadiums and campuses offer dishes tailored to local tastes, collectible containers and more. For fans heading to games this season, the food on the concourse is now ingrained in the college football experience.
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With proper care, regular maintenance, and the right fertilizer, you can keep your lawn and garden lush all spring and summer, and even into the fall. However, before winter hits, it’s important to plan for how you want your lawn and garden to look next spring after the snow melts away.
Preparing early will give you the chance to treat the lawn and garden with a winter fertilizer that is specifically designed to help it survive through winter and thrive in the spring. If you haven’t applied winter fertilizer to your lawn or garden in the past, keep reading to find out why this step is highly recommended by gardening pros and how to choose the best winter fertilizer for your yard.
What is Winter Fertilizer?
Most people have a basic idea of what fertilizer is, even if they have never used it before. Basically, fertilizer is any natural or synthetic substance that can be added to soil or plants to help supply essential nutrients and promote healthy growth. Typically, fertilizer will have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and a variety of micronutrients. But what is winter fertilizer?
“Winter fertilizer is lawn food designed to prepare your grass for the colder months ahead,” explains Matthew Koch, Ph.D., Research and Development Fellow at Scotts Miracle-Gro. “It provides an essential pre-winter nutrient boost that helps your lawn recover from summer stress, strengthen its root systems and store energy for winter.”
While regular fertilizer makes ample use of phosphorus to target active root and bloom initiation, winter fertilizer does not use phosphorus at all. Instead, it relies primarily on potassium to serve as a natural antifreeze, and a moderate amount of nitrogen to increase carbohydrate reserves in the roots.
Applying winter fertilizer to your lawn and garden gives your yard what it needs to recover from summer stress and prepare for the colder months ahead. The nutrients in winter fertilizer will help to promote healthy root growth while keeping the plants protected throughout the winter season.
“Summer heat, drought and foot traffic can take a toll on grass, so fall feeding helps replenish essential nutrients as winter returns,” Koch notes. “Those nutrients can also be stored by the grass and tapped into when growth picks back up in the spring, helping set the stage for a thicker, greener lawn.”
Selecting the best winter fertilizer for your yard comes down to the specific nutrients that your lawn and garden need to prepare for the long winter months ahead. With this in mind, you should avoid using the same fertilizer you have been using over spring and summer, since these formulas are typically high in phosphorus and contain more nitrogen than necessary for the dormant lawn and garden.
“Giving your lawn and plants a feed that’s high in phosphorus as we move into fall and winter will cause weak, leggy growth,” mentions Chrissie Handley, Lawn Care Specialist at Online Turf. “Instead, look for a feed that’s high in potassium to help strengthen the plant for dormancy.”
The best winter fertilizer formula is a high-potassium, moderate-nitrogen blend with little or no phosphorus (such as a 32-0-10 or 18-0-6 ratio), applied in late fall before the grass goes dormant.
Applying a winter fertilizer to your lawn can help it bounce back in the spring.
Before you begin the application, ensure you have the correct fertilizer for your grass type, and carefully read the product label for the recommended timing and spreader settings. Next, clear the lawn and garden by raking or picking up mulch and heavy piles of leaves, so that the nutrients can actually reach the soil instead of getting trapped in yard waste.
Ideally, you should aim for a time when the grass and garden are dry and free of morning dew or frost to help prevent the granules from sticking and burning the blades of the grass or plants. When you’re ready to begin, use a lawn spreader to distribute the fertilizer evenly across your yard, walking at a steady pace to ensure consistent coverage.
“Apply the fertilizer in granules and water-in heavily, or let the rain water it in. Granular feed needs to be watered-in, otherwise you risk burning areas of the lawn,” Handley explains, “if you have a liquid feed, apply directly to the base of plants so it can be absorbed directly by the roots.”
Choosing the right time to apply your winter fertilizer is important for ensuring the health of your yard. “Despite the name, winter fertilizer should be applied in the fall, before winter weather sets in,” notes Koch. The exact time you should apply the fertilizer depends on your local climate and the forecasted weather. Waiting too long will expose your plants to frost and winter weather before you get the chance to prepare them.
Generally, as long as the weather cooperates, you can apply winter fertilizer anytime from August through November to help your lawn recover from summer stress. That fall preparation also helps your lawn green up faster and come back stronger once spring arrives.
Winter fertilizer is one of the best lawn and garden treatments you can do in the fall to set your yard up for success in the spring. “Think of it as laying the foundation for next year’s lawn,” says Koch. “The work you put in now can make a real difference when your grass starts growing again in the spring.”
It will give you a lush, healthy lawn that you can enjoy in the fall, while also giving your grass the nutrients it needs to make it through the colder months and come back strong in the spring. Even if you are simply applying it to the soil in your gardens, winter fertilizer can help promote healthy growth of your annual plants and improve the nutrient conditions for any new additions you plant in the spring.
What is the Difference Between Winter Fertilizer and Fall Fertilizer?
Depending on where you get your information, you may hear the term “fall fertilizer” used instead of “winter fertilizer,” and wonder what the difference is between the two and whether you have missed a step in your lawn and garden care routine. However, this is merely a difference in word choice based on when the fertilizer is applied.
“Winter fertilizer and fall fertilizer are essentially two terms for the same type of seasonal lawn feeding,” Koch explains. “While ‘winter fertilizer’ may sound like something you apply during the winter, it’s actually applied in the fall to prepare your lawn for the colder months ahead, which prompts some people to refer to it as ‘fall fertilizer.’”
