Growing a healthy and thick lawn is not a joke. You need to feed and tend your yard as you would your body. Giving your grass the right amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) at the right time. But do you ask yourself whether these are the only nutrients your grass needs? Or, do you often wonder if your grass needs other nutrients, such as sulfur? If you have, the right question to ask yourself is; how often can I apply sulfur to my lawn?
Apply five pounds of sulfur for every 1,000 sq ft of lawn 1-2 times a year for good results. If you use sulfur twice yearly, ensure at least three weeks elapse before the second sulfur for grass application.
So, again, let’s answer our main question with as many details as possible. But before I even start, let me tip you that sulfur is a powerful pesticide and antifungal for grass, aiding in strong root development. So, you know this in advance. 🤣
How Often Can I Apply Sulfur to My Lawn?
Because sulfur has slow-release elements, it can take several months or even years before your grass shows the full effect, even if it initially looked dead. Therefore, it is advisable to apply sulfur for lawn multiple times but at least 2x a year.
As much as you may fall for its benefits, avoid overapplying sulfur for grass. Consider sulfur lawn treatment to boost grass health, not primary nutrients. Otherwise, applying more than 10 pounds of sulfur on 1,000 square feet is considered toxic.
Benefits of Applying Sulfur to Your Lawn

Applying sulfur to your lawn has many benefits. Chief among the benefits is reducing soil pH. If you suspect or confirm after a test that your soil has a high pH, applying garden sulfur will help reduce it.
But that is not the only advantage of using sulfur for grass. Here are additional benefits of using lawn sulfur:
- Applying sulfur on grass helps your lawn to grow denser, more vibrant, greener, lusher, and healthier.
- Sulfur lawn treatment prepares grass for rough times and makes it more drought-tolerant.
- It feeds the grass the needed nutrients, making it less susceptible to lawn pests, fungi, and grass diseases.
- It fosters speedy recovery from diseases and pest infestation.
- Applying sulfur to grass strengthens your lawn to withstand freezing temperatures during winter.
- It helps your grass to heal faster after reseeding or from thin brown patches.
How Do I Know My Lawn Needs Sulfur?
Grass that needs sulfur is telling. It shows evident signs that communicate the need to apply sulfur. The first sign that your turfgrass suffers from sulfur deficiency is grass takes too long to reach maturity.
If you have mature grass in your lawn, you will know it lacks sulfur for lawn when it starts to turn yellow or discolors. However, these signs could mean something different thus, to be sure your grass needs sulfur lawn treatment, conduct a soil pH test.
When doing a soil test, you must check for anything below 0.6 or above 0.7, the ideal soil pH for most turfgrasses. Your lawn will only be healthy if the soil pH is 0.7.
You will need more than one soil test for the best results. You need roughly 5-10 random soil test samples to be sure of your lawn soil pH. For fresh soil, dig up to 6 inches deep. But for soil that has been cultivated, a depth of 3 inches is still okay.
If you are wondering where to buy sulfur for lawn, you can get it in most online stores like Amazon.Â
How to Apply Sulfur to Your Lawn
Sulfur does not go well with other plants, such as fruit trees. Therefore, avoid applying garden sulfur if you have a variety of fruit trees in your yard. The point is; too much sulfur on the lawn will burn your grass.
Another helpful best practice is applying sulfur lawn treatment on established lawns, not newly-installed sods. Alternatively, apply sulfur directly to the soil before laying new sod or seeding. You can also use plugs when applying lawn sulfur.
For best results, apply five pounds of sulfur for every 1,000 sq ft of lawn, preferably during spring or fall. If you must use sulfur lawn treatment twice, wait at least 21 days before the second application.
Although you can put garden sulfur on your lawn multiple times a year, applying it at least two times will still be ideal.
Pro Tips for Applying Sulfur to Your Lawn
- For proper precision and excellent results, apply garden sulfur when there is no wind blowing or when the humidity is high. The ideal temperature for lawn sulfur is 82 oF and below.
- As mentioned, sulfur does not go well with some tree species, especially fruit trees. So, avoid applying sulfur for grass if you treasure an orchard.
- Use sulfur plugs if you are applying on an established lawn. Plugs are great for feeding your grass with the right ingredients without burning the grass.
- Be careful which chemicals you mix with sulfur; they can react with some oils, such as neem or other reacting elements.
- If you apply sulfur lawn treatment twice yearly, ensure at least three weeks have elapsed from the previous application.
Sulfur for Grass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does sulfur make grass green?
A: Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK), essential nutrients for grass, will not dissolve if the soil is too acidic or alkaline. Applying sulfur for grass will help revitalize it and make it look greener, thicker, and healthier.
Q: What are the dangers of sulfur?
A: Sulfur is good for the grass, but overexposure may cause eye, nose, and throat irritation.
Q: How long does sulfur last?
A: Generally, sulfur lasts 10 days.
Final Thoughts
If someone approached you with a question, how often can I apply sulfur to my lawn? Are you in a position to give the person a convincing answer? From this discussion, we have seen that although you can apply sulfur for grass multiple times a year, applying five pounds of sulfur for every 1,000 sq ft of lawn once or twice a year is still okay.
Follow the professional tips when applying sulfur lawn treatment, and you will be the proud owner of a lush and healthy lawn that people in your neighborhood envy.