Overview
Probably wasn't using the appropriate terminology when they said, "The grass is always greener on the other side." All you actually need to maintain a beautiful yard is the best lawn fertilizer for your area's climate and circumstances, as well as a few days marked on the calendar. Simply apply as suggested and follow up as instructed on the packet once you've decided what's best. You will learn the basics of fertilizer in this book, which also provides reviews of some of the top-rated goods available.
Top Picks
1. Best overall: The Andersons Innova Organic Fertilizer
2. Runner-up overall: Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass
3. Best value: Scotts Turf Builder Weed And Feed
4. Best purchased product: Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer
Reviews
1. The Andersons Innova Organic Fertilizer
Why we love it
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USDA BioPreferred and OMRI listed
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Contains no manure, composted waste, biosolids, or animal products.
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Slow-releasing capsules
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Odor-free
Take note
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Premium cost
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Heavier and bigger than conventional fertilizer
The Andersons Innova feeds lawns gradually and steadily with amino acids and a 7-1-2 NPK concentration. There are no unsettling biosolids, manures, recycled materials, or animal byproducts in the plant-based recipe. The low-dust, non-burning granules are designed to prevent damage and are simple to apply without making you sneeze. The 40-pound bag may feed a lawn up to 5,600 square feet.
OMRI has approved Innova 7-1-2 for use in certified organic enterprises, and it has a low runoff formula that is suitable for use close to waterways. Providing readily assimilated carbon to support soil bacteria, it promotes a healthy soil ecology. This product most closely meets the organic ideal.
2. Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass
Why we love it
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Designed for extended root growth
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The best choice for freshly planted or sodded lawns
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70 percent faster than unfed lawns in establishing grass
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Affordable and portable
Take note
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For some soils, a high phosphorus level may not be necessary.
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Calls for soil preparation in order to stop nutrient runoff
Whether you are seeding, sodding, or using plugs to establish a new lawn, the appropriate soil nutrition is crucial. In comparison to an unfertilized lawn, Scotts Turf Builder 24-25-4 Starter provides a significant boost of nitrogen for healthy foliage growth and phosphorus for quick root establishment. The tiny granules are made to dissolve quickly to provide prompt distribution during the six-week germination and establishment phase of the grass. Five thousand square feet of new turf are fed with the 15-pound bag.
This standard Scotts fertilizer comes in a small, lightweight bottle and provides potent plant nutrition. When applied improperly, it can cause runoff pollution but works quickly. To optimize the benefits of the fertilizer and prevent nutrient loss, soil preparation is a crucial step.
3. Scotts Turf Builder Weed And Feed
Why we love it
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Products with dual functions save time and money.
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Fertilizer 28-0-3 for maintaining grass and 2,4D for weed control
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Small and light package
Take note
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Water- and time-sensitive
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For young grass seedlings, not safe
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After application, leave the grass alone for 24 to 48 hours without people or animals.
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed handles two lawn maintenance duties at once for a perfect lawn with less effort. The grass will be nourished by a quick release 28-0-3 fertilizer, while broadleaf weeds like clover and dandelion will be eliminated by a 2,4D herbicide. 5,000 square feet of grass are treated by the 14.29-pound bag.
This product is simple to use, but it must be done quickly. To ensure that the dry weed killer component clings to weed leaves, the grass must be moist at the time of application, either through dew, recent rain, or irrigation. For the first 24 hours following application, there shouldn't be any irrigation or rain in the forecast; once that time has passed, it should be watered in. Pets and people should stay away from the treated area for 24 to 48 hours.
4. Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer
Why we love it
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Derived from repurposed waste material
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Feeds gradually and reduces contamination from nutrients
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For intense greening, 2.5 percent iron
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Quality pricing range
Take note
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Contains detectable quantities of polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS) (PFAS)
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Contains 4% of what many soils don't need, phosphorus
Since its introduction in the 1920s, Milorganite has been a mainstay in the lawn fertilizer market. This repurposed lawn food is made from nutrient-rich microorganisms that have undergone heat treatment and filter and digest organic debris in municipal wastewater. With an iron content of 2.5 percent, the fertilizer's 6-4-0 NPK analysis encourages deep greening. It doesn't need to be watered in and one application feeds for 10 weeks. 2,500 square feet are covered by the 32-pound bag.
Milorganite is believed to keep garden pests like deer and rabbits away in addition to providing continuous, deep-greening nourishment to the lawn. But one reason for concern is that it contains amounts of PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals," which have been linked to a number of chronic health issues, just like other biosolids-based fertilizers.
FAQs
1. When should your lawn be fertilized?
When the soil hits 55 degrees or when it has started active growth, fertilize cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. When the grass has turned at least 50% green following winter dormancy, fertilize warm-season grasses including bermuda grass, zoysia, and centipede grass.
2. How frequently should your lawn be fertilized?
The type of grass, climate, weather, and soil nutrient levels all affect how frequently grass has to be fed. The risk of overfertilization to the ecosystem and the grass itself is far larger than the risk of under fertilization. Unless a soil test indicates otherwise, two applications of organic lawn fertilizer are usually sufficient.
3. What lawn fertilizer ratio is ideal?
Testing the soil is the best approach to determine what your lawn requires. Avoid using balanced analysis lawn fertilizers like 10-10-10 or 15-15-15. These items do contain some of the nutrients grass needs, but not in the proper quantities. Use grass fertilizer instead with a 4-0-2 or 4-1-2 ratio according to analysis.
Your front lawn acts as a welcome mat to your house, and your backyard doubles as a playground for your kids and a place to host guests and relatives. Finding the best lawn fertilizer will enable you to keep your grass lush and green, providing a welcoming backdrop for any activity.
We'll go over the best fertilizers for lawns, as well as the things to take into account while choosing the best fertilizer for your lawn.
