Would a late summer fertilizer application harm a brown, dormant lawn?

Question:

Would a late summer fertilizer application harm a brown, dormant lawn?

Answer:

Fertilizing a dormant lawn will not harm it.  However, the turfgrass may not receive the full benefit of the fertilizer application.  If the granular fertilizer remains on the soil surface because of a lack of rain, some of the material may actually volatilize into the air.  It would be best to wait until growing conditions improve before fertilizing the lawn.  Mid-September is an excellent time to fertilize Kentucky bluegrass lawns in Iowa.  Lawns can also be fertilized in late October/early November.