Best Overall
Espoma EOLB30 Organic Spring Lawn Booster Fertilizer
Best Bang For The Buck
Milorganite 0636 Organic All-Purpose Lawn Fertilizer
Best Plant-Based
Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed
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Whoever said , “ The sens is always greener on the other side , ” credibly was n’t using the correct stuff . When it comes to keeping a G in top experimental condition , all that ’s really needed is thebest lawn fertilizerfor the climate and a few date circled on the calendar .
Once the ideal formula has been mold , merely apply as apprize and follow up as directed on the package . This usher will outline the fertilizer fundamentals and proffer reviews of some of the highest - rated products on the market ; we vetted and/or tested them hand - on ourselves .
Before You Buy Lawn Fertilizer
With the rise of lawn - tending culture over the retiring C , a stream of science and marketing has arisen anticipate ” the gross lawn . ” Use caution . While these truly amazing products can support a beautiful , salubrious patch of smoke , the same merchandise used improperly can wipe out the grass , make the great unwashed sick , and worsen a boniface of environmental problem .
Before buying and applying lawn fertiliser , discover out which kind and how much fertilizer the grass needs . Asoil test , either a do - it - yourself outfit or a mail - in packet boat through a local extension service , will provide the entropy you need . Avoid any enticement to apply more than the test solvent commend . Doing so could screw up the grunge chemistry , and maybe worse .
How We Chose the Best Lawn Fertilizers
The lawn plant food industry is flush with specialty products for every conceivable need . singular formulation bristle for winterization , spring green - up , summer sustentation , pot and feed , lawn newcomer , northern and southerly grass formula , and so much more . We want to cut through the racket and urge lawn food that would be broadly utilitarian for the all-inclusive range of lawns , including strong and cool - season grasses and acid - loving lawns .
As for expression , we exclusively boast constituent and lifelike mathematical product for a duo of intellect . constitutive fertilizersare nonburning , promote healthy soil ecology , minimize nutrient overflow , and render an extended unfaltering feed . Nonorganic fertilizers can do these things as well , but as a category , organic fertiliser do so with a high level of consistency from product to product .
Our Top Picks
A good grand fertiliser is necessary when building a firm , healthy lawn . In the reviews in front , we share more ware information about our top weft and why we take them to be some of the best lawn fertilizers available .
Those count to make their lawn front good for spring will need to view this option from Espoma . With an NPK proportion of 8 - 0 - 0 , it ’s designed to make lawn reckon their best at the beginning of the time of year . ( For an in - depth verbal description of NPK , please see theNutrientssection after the product description . ) The rule contains feather repast and pasteurized poultry manure , which combine to provide a healthy dot of nitrogen for greener grass . The merchandise comes in a 30 - pound bag and can be used on newly sodded or established lawn .
The manufacturer urge using this plant food in February , March , or April for cool - season sess and in January or February for warm - season grasses . It ’s important to note that this formula does n’t contain any potassium , so it ’s not a corking selection for those with centipede grass or St. Augustine forage .
Get the Espoma lawn fertilizer atAmazon , Ace Hardware , orWalmart .
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
Milorganite has been a staple in the K fertiliser industry since its release in the 1920s . This recycled lawn food is derived from heat - address , nutrient - fat germ that filter and process organic subject in municipal sewer water . This option is also a slow - release fertiliser that can be apply to a lawn at any sentence of the class and is suited for area where drouth are vulgar .
The fertilizer boasts a 6 - 4 - 0 NPK analysis , with 2.5 percent Fe further mystifying rejuvenation . It can also be used on plants , shrubs , trees , and flowers , make it very versatile . One app feeds for 10 workweek and does not need to be watered in . The 32 - pound sign bag covers 2,500 square feet .
Get the Milorganite lawn fertilizer atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orWalmart .
BEST WEED AND FEED
For all - around nutrition for your pot , trust Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed . This lawn fertilizer and dope killer removes common broadleaf lawn green goddess with the help of its WeedGrip applied science while thicken the grass itself . The 14.29 - pound bag of weed and feed covers over 5,000 straightforward feet , make it ideal for enceinte lawn or multiple applications . Be advised that this product will want to be applied when the temperature outside is between 60 and 90 arcdegree Fahrenheit , and the lawn should be dampish upon diligence with a broadcaster .
This granular weed and provender from Scotts works on most grass varieties including fescue , Kentucky Bluegrass Region , Bahia , rye grass , centipede , Bermuda , and zoysia . However , it is not recommend for quick - season grass varieties like St. Augustine , carpeting , and dichondra .
Get the Scotts Turf Builder lawn plant food atAmazon , Lowe’s , The Home Depot(11.32 - Ezra Pound bag ) , orTarget(11.57 - pound bag ) .
Photo: istockphoto.com
BEST LIQUID
Dyna-Gro Liquid Plant Food
fluent fertilizer is an effectual solution for dry or patchy lawns , and it ’s easy to apply than some other types of plant food on the market . This choice from Dyna - Gro is no exception . Its normal is made with a 7 - 9 - 5 NPK ratio and includes fertile micronutrients like calcium , magnesium , boron , cobalt , chlorine , manganese , iron , Mo , atomic number 30 , and sodium and is also high-pitched in nitrogen and phosphorus .
limpid lawn fertilizersare ideal for grass growth , but this Dyna - Gro pick can also be used on indoor or outdoor plants , hydroponics , and jolting soil varieties . As this is a super concentrate , the dilution calculate on the plant variety , with most applications requiring ½ or ¼ teaspoon per gallon of water . However , the brand allow for precise ratio for use on different plant varieties and can be applied with a sprayer .
What our quizzer says : Mark Wolfe , Bob Vila DoC writer , notice inThe Best Fertilizer for Indoor Plantsthat : “ we liked that this fertilizer contained a well - round off balance of micronutrients in summation to the NPK content . The plants produce a healthy flush of new foliage with no symptoms of emphasis , disease , or insect plague . We also observe that the manufacturer offers passport for different practical app rates to fit a salmagundi of growing situation . ”
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Dyna - Gro lawn plant food atAmazonorGreenhouse Megastore .
BEST ORGANIC
The Andersons Innova 7-1-2 Organic Lawn Fertilizer
This in high spirits - N plant food feeds lawns at a deadening , regular tread with a 7 - 1 - 2 NPK content and amino dot . The flora - found formula does not moderate troubling biosolids , manure , recycled permissive waste , or animate being parts . The nonburning granules preclude damage and are organise for low dust so that they are well-to-do to apply and wo n’t trigger sneezing . The 40 - quid bag feeds up to 11,000 square feet of lawn .
Innova 7 - 1 - 2 is Organic Materials Review Institute ( OMRI ) listed for use in certified organic trading operations and has a low - runoff formula that is safe to apply near waterways . It stimulate a healthy soil ecosystem by render easy digestible carbon to fuel soil bug . This product is as close as it issue forth to the constituent ideal .
Get The Andersons lawn fertilizer atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
BEST FOR GREENER GRASS
Scotts Natural Lawn Food
Those looking for a cryptic , dark dark-green color for their grass will want to consider this all - natural fertilizer from Scotts , an make brand in lawn care . When begin a novel and beautiful lawn , whether by seed , sod , or plugs , the right filth victuals is all-important . Scotts Natural Lawn solid food delivers a pocket-size boost of phosphorus for rapid beginning establishment and a strong VD of atomic number 7 for healthy leaf growth . The 29.1 - hammering bag feeds 4,000 square foot of lawn .
It can be applied with either a fall or a broadcast broadcaster and should be watered following app . you could also save body of water by applying the fertiliser decent before rain is forecast .
Get the Scotts instinctive lawn fertilizer atAmazon , Ace Hardware , Tractor Supply Co. , orWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
BEST FOR THICKER GRASS
Safer Brand Lawn Restore Natural Lawn Fertilizer
Difficult growing conditions can cause a snowball effect where reject Gunter Grass run to run through territory . When that happens , it takes a combined effort to turn matter around . First , describe and accost the beginning of the problem — often fungus , insects , or competition from a growing tree diagram — and then treat the surface area with Safer Brand Lawn Restore fertilizer . The portmanteau word of constitutive works food ingredients is design to increase soil biological activity while it nourishes the grass . The 20 - Egyptian pound bag treats 5,000 solid foot of lawn .
Safer Brand Lawn Restore is derived from natural fertilizer ingredients including feathering repast , soybean meal , blood repast , lucerne meal , molasses , and sulphate of caustic potash . The food are not pee - soluble but instead are released by the action mechanism of grime - building microbes . It builds soil as it feeds plants while protect the surround from the effects of nutrient overflow .
Get the Safer Brand lawn fertilizer atAmazon , Ace Hardware , Tractor Supply Co. , orWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
MOST VERSATILE
Down to Earth Organic Bio-Turf 8-3-5 Lawn Fertilizer
This Down to Earth plant food has an NPK proportion of 8 - 3 - 5 with a eminent proportion of nitrogen to encourage early - time of year lawn growth ; the potassium content help relieve seasonal stress because of temperature changes and drought . Its opus includes hydrolyse feather meal , line repast , meat repast , bone repast , and langbeinite , cause it a highly various Cartesian product that can even be used to feed crop such as maize , tomatoes , leafy putting surface , and lawns .
This fertilizer is approve for utilisation in organic gardening by the OMRI . The 6 - punt package can nourish a lawn of up to 1,000 square feet , and larger bags are also available .
Get the Down to Earth lawnfertilizeratAmazonorWalmart(50 - British pound sterling bag ) .
Photo: amazon.com
Or, DIY Your Own Lawn Fertilizer
bring in your own organic lawn plant food is a cost - efficient and eco - friendly way of life to keep your lawn healthy . To make a basic DIY organic fertiliser , amalgamate adequate parts of osseous tissue repast , blood meal , and kelp meal in a large container . All of these ingredients can be found online or at a well - stocked garden supply stock .
For every 100 square infantry of lawn , circulate around 5 pounds of the mixture equally . The bone repast provides atomic number 15 for root ontogenesis , the ancestry meal adds nitrogen for leaf development , and the kelp meal contains a range of shadow minerals that improve grunge health . Water your lawn well after apply the fertiliser to facilitate the nutrients penetrate the soil . Alternatively , you could also use compost tea leaf , made by soaking compost in water for a few daylight and using the liquidity as a fertilizer .
Jump to Our Top Picks
Our Verdict
Since potent , tight - acting lawn food derive with the inherent jeopardy of burning the lawn or foul the surround , we urge take in a natural approach . There are other vernacular lawn fertilizer choice on the grocery store , includingScotts Turf BuilderandPennington UltraGreen Weed & Feed . However , they do not get together our sustainability guidelines and are not recommended in our top pick due to their potentially harmful ingredients and minus impact on the surround .
What to Consider When Choosing Lawn Fertilizer
Shopping for fertilizer for green goddess is anything but nonrational . Just ahead , recover out more about what a lawn really needs and the good way to provide lawn fecundation .
Nutrients
Three finger’s breadth are printed on all lawn fertilizer labels . bang as the NPK ratio , the number stand for the share of basic nutrient ( nitrogen for N , phosphorus for Lucifer , K for potassium ) the fertiliser contains . If a fertiliser ’s NPK ratio is 12 - 0 - 10 , for case , it contains 12 percent nitrogen , no phosphorus , and 10 pct potassium .
Generally speak , nitrogen helps plants stick green , phosphorus promotes root growth , and atomic number 19 guards against drouth and disease . depend on the character of turf , the soil ’s native chemistry , and the mood , one combination will be better than others . The best way to determine the exact needs for a lawn is by beginning the fertilisation program with a soil test and then finding the fertiliser that safe fill in what ’s miss .
Organic vs. Synthetic
Once the best NPK number has been determined , it ’s time to decide between a synthetical or organic fertiliser .
Formula
There are two fertilizer formula : liquidity and granular .
Fast vs. Slow Release
The decision between fast- and slow - release fertilizer formulas do down to grass metabolism . Two instances whenfast - release lawn foodcan be beneficialare during early natural spring and when planting a fresh lawn . A quick dose of nitrogen fertilizer helps overwintered grass grow unexampled leaves early in the time of year , which helps it to grow more roots quicker . Similarly , quick - release lawn dispatcher can help young Gunter Wilhelm Grass seedlings or newly set up sod become established more quickly .
On the other hand , slow - going lawn food is estimable for farsighted - term maintenance . This character of plant intellectual nourishment ensure a steady supply of the correct nutrient throughout the time of year . Slow - release Mary Jane fertilizer is like a repast for the lawn , but fast going is more like a snack .
Grass Type
Mostwarm- and cool - season grassesshare many of the same nutritional requisite . They thrive on a steady supply of nitrogen throughout the farm season to support fast - spring up foliage . Phosphorus may not be necessary and should only be applied found on the direction of a soil tryout . atomic number 19 need to be replenished regularly to back drought resistance and overall health . The usual healthy proportion is on the order of 4 - 0 - 2 .
Two grass types that buck this trend arecentipedeandSt . Augustinegrasses . These warm - climate metal money squander enceinte total of potassium than other eatage . They postulate roughly adequate amounts of atomic number 7 and potassium but near - zero phosphorus . see for 15 - 0 - 15 , or something similar , for these grasses .
Tips for Using Lawn Fertilizer
The first and most significant step in fertilizing the lawn is to ascertain out what the lawn is lacking . By screen the soil chemistry , nutritive imbalances that can be right with direct practical app become evident . Otherwise , you ’ll take chances over apply nutrients that are already present or neglecting a nutrient deficiency . Once the examination results are in hand , then match the results to the good useable fertilizer .
FAQs
find oneself answers to the most usually asked question about lawn fertilizer below .
For coolheaded - season Grass like tall meadow fescue and Kentucky bluegrass , fecundate when the dirt reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit or when it has commence active growth . For warm - season sens like Bermuda gage , zoysia , and centipede grass , fertilize when the pasturage has turned at least 50 percent green after the wintertime month .
An idealistic lawn fertilizer schedule reckon on the fertilizer formula , character of smoke , climate , weather , and soil nutrient levels . Overfertilization is a far greater peril to the lawn itself and to the surroundings than not fertilize . With constituent lawn fertilizers , two lotion are typically adequate , unless directed otherwise by soil - test results .
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The best way to cognize what your lawn require is to test the dirt . Avoid using balanced analysis plant foods like 10 - 10 - 10 or 15 - 15 - 15 plant food for lawn . Although these product hold some of the nutrients that grass needs , they do not propose them in the right sum . Instead , use lawn fertilizer with an analysis that equates a 4 - 0 - 2 or 4 - 1 - 2 ratio .
innate lawn fertilizers are made with beast and/or flora byproducts as the alimentary source rather than mine mineral or chemical products . The nourishing analytic thinking of born fertilizer tends to be low than that of established fertilizer , but natural product offer extra benefit such as increase dirt constitutional matter , boosting beneficial stain microbes , offer for an prolonged feed , and minimize nutrient runoff .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
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We ’ll help you lay out up your first garden — whether that ’s a few batch on your patio , a raised bottom , or an in - ground plot out back — and take the right plants for your soil and region .
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