Bryan with a NaturaLawn of America Clip Tip. We've been asked why a summer fertilizer application is necessary, when the lawn may be dormant and looks dead. The answer is because it helps return the lawn to good health when growing conditions improve. If you fertilize the lawn now, it preps the lawn for when fall arrives. As always, use slow-release organic fertilizer when feeding your lawn as it feeds your lawn the way mother nature intended. You may not see the results in the summer, but in the fall, when your grass starts growing again, you will see the difference.