Upon installation, apply a pre-plant starter fertilizer directly under the sod. These California Native grasses do not respond to fertilizer the same way as traditional turfgrass. They require less than half the amount of nitrogen this is commonly applied to traditional turfgrass. Apply fertilizer in the early fall before the heavy rains arrive. Follow with an early spring (late February or early March) application. A third application may be necessary in the late spring or early summer depending on nutrient levels of your native soil. Watch for signs of low fertility, uneven growth and loss of color are a good indication that an area needs fertilizer.