10 Best Lawn Fertilizers in 2020
In order to have the best garden in your neighborhood, you may sometimes need to help nature along a bit. Even if your garden has the nutrients it needs, it may require some encouragement to grow more vibrantly or quickly. If you haven’t already, considering garden fertilizer to liven up your lawn could be just what you’re looking for to give it the extra nutrients it needs to look its best, especially during the colder months when nature needs a helping hand.
Finding the right garden fertilizer for you can be daunting with so many on the market. This review guide will help you to decide which garden fertilizer will suit your needs.
Cleaning up your lawn? Grab a leaf mulcher!
View the Best Rated Lawn Fertilizer, Below.
1. Safer Brand Lawn Restore
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Safer Brand Lawn Restore is an organic 10-0-6 fertilizer that promises to provide a perfect balance of the natural elements within your soil. Working immediately, it will only take between 3-5 days for your lawn to be healthier and brighter. This fertilizer contains only plant-based nutrients to your soil, with no poultry litter, manure or biosolids. This means the fertilizer is odorless. Containing enough fertilizer to cover up to 5,000 sq ft, it is fit for use on your garden in both the warm and cold seasons.
Why We Like It
- organic
- fast working
- odorless
- multi-seasonal
- no animal product waste
Our Verdict
This fertilizer creates a healthy ecosystem within your soil, so your garden to thrive in any season. Safer Brand Lawn Restore will help your grass to grow without the spread of weeds.
2. Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard
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This fertilizer is perfect for gardens that suffer from recurring weed issues. It controls up to 50 different lawn weeds, including dandelions, clovers, and chickweeds. Made specifically for the winter seasons means you can keep your lawn looking great in those colder months where plants would typically struggle to grow. Ensuring your grass will grow thicker, and with fewer weeds, this fertilizer will provide you with the perfect lawn. While saving you all the hard work, you will have more time to enjoy in your garden.
Why We Like It
- Controls 50 types of weeds
- Works in the winter season
- Good source of nutrients
- Builds deep, strong roots
- Prepares lawn for spring
Our Verdict
With the ability to keep weeds at bay, this fertilizer will save a lot of hard work in maintenance. Investing in this fertilizer in the winter will not only make your garden look great in the harsher weather but will provide a stronger foundation for success in the spring.
3. Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food
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Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food both strengthens your lawn and reduces future problems. Similar to their winter version, this fertilizer creates stronger and deeper roots, making your lawn more resilient. It also aids the ability for water and nutrients absorption in comparison to a natural lawn. Featuring Scotts exclusive All-In-One Particle technology to ensure an even and consistent green, healthy lawn. Unlike some garden fertilizers, this is made for all grass types so you can be sure that it will successfully improve your lawn if you are unsure of the type of grass you have.
Why We Like It
- Copes with any weather
- Strong enough to deal with activity
- Increasing efficiency at absorbing water
- Equips lawn to deal with future problems
- Suitable for all grass types
Our Verdict
This fertilizer is the perfect all-rounder as it is made for all seasons. If you only want to use one kind of fertilizer all year round, then this is the one for you.
4. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble
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For use between April and September, this fertilizer will help your lawn become more vibrant in the warmer months. Easy to apply straight from your watering can make for an even distribution and means lawn can be watered and fed at the same time, saving you time. Helping your lawn grow richer and greener in under a week, you will be less likely to have to combat weeds, as their seeds grown in the gaps where the grass is thinner. Because the fertilizer is dissolved in water, it means that there is reduced risk of scorching in the summer heat.
Why We Like It
- Combined feeding and watering method
- Only needs applying once a month in summer
- The feeder can attach straight to hosepipe
- 500g sachets mean no measuring
- Contains essential nutrients
Our Verdict
This is a convenient way to apply nutrients to your lawn with minimal effort as it can fit in with your usual watering routine.
5. Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple
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This fertilizer is excellent for gardens with ant infestations, killing and preventing fire ants for up to 6 months. However, it is worth noting that this fertilizer is only for use on St. Augustine grass, Centipede grass, and carpet grass. Also killing dollar weeds and clover to the root, meaning the problem will be prevented in the future.
Strengthens lawn to protect against heat and droughts makes this fertilizer great for the preparation of dealing with dry climates. Covering 4000 sq. Ft. makes it perfect for more extensive gardens. For best results, apply when grass and weeds are actively growing.
Why We Like It
- Effective against ants
- Tough against weeds
- Prevents future problems
- Protects in droughts
- Kills weeds to the root
Our Verdict
If you suffer from ant or insect infestations, this fertilizer is the way to go. These issues are especially important if you have small children who play in the grass and risk getting bitten.
6. Scotts Snap System
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Scotts Snap System fertilizer works on any grass type to help build strong, deep roots and protects against future problems. This fertilizer is only for use with Scotts Snap Spreader and only takes a ten-minute care system to produce successful results. It comes with EdgeGuard Technology with a collapsible handle for easy use and storage. The spreader means you can apply the fertilizer to your grass with ease, without having to deal with heavy bags. Designed for use during any weather in any climate.
Why We Like It
- Easy to evenly apply
- Quick care system
- Wil produce a thicker, greener lawn
- Any grass types
- EdgeGuard technology
Our Verdict
This system is fast and easy to apply, making it possible to care for your lawn and produce a healthy garden quickly, perfect if you have a busy schedule.
7. Scotts Green Max Lawn Food
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Boasting fast action, this fertilizer promises to make your lawn greener in just three days. Providing your garden with the essential nutrients it needs to thrive with dual action, 2 in 1 formula both feeds and supplements the soil with iron. Thickening your grass to fill bare spots means fewer opportunities for weeds to grow and is able to work on any grass types in any season. You only need to feed your lawn every 6-8 weeks for a low maintenance garden care, and the product is child and animal-friendly which is excellent for families with pets.
Why We Like It
- Child-friendly
- Fast acting
- Auto-fills bare patches
- Unique 2-in-1 formula
- Any grass types
Our Verdict
Because this fertilizer is so fast acting, it's perfect if you have left it until the last minute to improve your lawn, or if you have a garden event coming up and you want to add some extra color to the grass in your garden to impress your guests.
8. Pennington Signature Series
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Also containing Iron for adding a deep green color to your grass, this fertilizer feeds grass for up to 4 months, releasing nutrients continuously for this time without burning, meaning you don’t have to worry about your lawn for weeks after applying once. Also working on any kind of grass means you can be sure this product will give you great results in your garden. With 15.5 pounds of fertilizer covering over 5000 sq. Ft in combination with its continuous feeding means this fertilizer will last you a long time making good value for money.
Why We Like It
- Continuous feeding
- 4 months in between feeds
- All grass types
- Long lasting green with no burning
- Fast acting
Our Verdict
Keeping your lawn looking green and healthy has never been easier with Pennington Signature Series. Due to its continuous feeding, you don’t need to worry about the maintenance of your lawn for months.
9. Milorganite 0636 Organic
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Just like Safer Brand Lawn Restore, Milorganite fertilizer is also organic. An organic nitrogen fertilizer made up of heat-dried microbes. This fertilizer can be used on shrubs, trees, vegetables, and flowers as well as lawns which is useful if you have other plants in your garden that need looking after. Also safe for pets and children makes this fertilizer the most versatile. It can be applied at any time and is suitable for use in all seasons making your vegetables and flowers looking their best all year round. This fertilizer is also packed full of Iron to produce a deep green color to your garden.
Why We Like It
- Suitable on vegetables and flowers
- Organic
- All Climates
- Contains iron
- Can be used as a seed carrier
Our Verdict
This fertilizer stands out because of its compliance with the EPA's Exceptional Quality standards, maintaining standards that comply with the strictest criteria in relation to environmental, health and safety regulations.
10. GreenView Fall Lawn Food
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GreenView Fall Lawn Food is great for the approach to cooler weather, with no-phosphate enhanced efficiency that promotes faster growth. This enhanced efficiency fertilizer helps roots to grow faster, improving the absorption of nutrients. Aids water retention to protect against heat and drought, this fertilizer is best applied in fall. Feeding your lawn for up to 8 weeks, GreenView will enrich your soil with the nutrients it needs to increase root strength and produce thicker, greener grass. Be revitalizing the soil, the fertilizer will aid in faster and stronger growth than unfed soil.
Why We Like It
- Reduces the need for watering
- Improves nutrient absorption
- Promotes early spring green-up
- Quick release formula
- Provides protection for winter-ready grass
Our Verdict
This fertilizer not only prepares your garden for withstanding the winter months, but it also reduces the need for watering which makes it convenient in climates where rain is sparse.
Buyer’s Guide
Garden fertilizer is perfect for giving your lawn a boost. No matter what the season you can have perfect grass all year round. When you are buying fertilizer for your lawn, there are certain things to consider, making sure you find the product that is best for you and your garden. We have listed the best garden fertilizers on the market, now it’s time to decide which one will work for you. Every kind of fertilizer offers different benefits which can make it difficult to choose between them. This guide will help you decide which fertilizer you need for your garden.
Organic Garden Fertilizer
The benefits of organic garden fertilizer are that you can use it on any part of your garden, including your vegetables. You can also be sure that it will be safe for children and pets. Because they are made of all-natural ingredients, these fertilizers can take longer to work than synthetic versions. However, they are eco-friendly, they have better long-term effects, and they usually require fewer applications than synthetic fertilizer.
There is less chance of over fertilizing your garden with organic fertilizer, meaning that it is gentler all-round. It cost more than synthetic fertilizer which may be a factor when deciding which to buy if you are on a budget.
Synthetic Garden Fertilizer
Fertilizers made from chemicals are much faster acting, which is great if you have limited time to get your garden looking its best. It can also be cheaper which is great for those on a budget. They can be stronger and act against more robust elements, killing weeds and insects. Unlike organic fertilizer which can actually attract more insects.
Because the synthetic fertilizers are made from chemicals, they contain the exact amounts of nutrients needed for your garden. However, these chemicals can be toxic which is no good for gardens where children and pets play.
It is easy to over fertilize when using chemical fertilizer which can make your garden worse than it was before. If your garden needs a bit more care or has insect or weed problems, the tougher, synthetic fertilizers are best.
Granular Fertilizer
Using granular fertilizers makes it easier to create an even application as you can see where you are spreading them. They come in two different types:
- Quick release, which provides nitrogen to your lawn straight away. This will last between 3-4 weeks before the need for reapplying depending on temperature and rainfall. This kind of fertilizer is water soluble.
- The other kind of granular fertilizer is water-insoluble. This version can last much longer, up to 12 weeks which makes it easier to maintain your garden through this method. While the time estimate may vary depending on rainfall, you don’t need to apply this kind of granular fertilizer nearly as often. Because they are slower releasing, they also produce a more even growth, and the burning that can be caused by nitrogen is less likely with this method. This option is the best for long-term benefits.
Liquid Fertilizer
Liquid fertilizers are the most fast-acting kinds of fertilizers. They are convenient as they often come as a concentrate that mixes with water which means you can integrate the application into your usual watering routine, saving you from doing both jobs separately. Plants also absorb this kind of fertilizer much faster thought leaves and roots, giving them a better appearance more quickly, but this means you need to reapply more often. Usually every 2-3 weeks.
This can be a great option if you are in a hurry but means you will have to remember to keep applying regularly. This kind of fertilizer is great for plants in containers as well as working on lawns. This option is excellent for a quick fix. Added advantages are that because they are so quickly absorbed, the plants react to the nutrients faster.
This can give them an extra boost to get them going, making it a good fertilizer to use at the start of a new growing season. Liquid fertilizer can be used as a supplement to granular fertilizer, especially during rainy seasons, as water dilutes the concentration of nutrients in the soil.
All Purpose Fertilizer vs. Specific Fertilizer
Only needing to buy one kind of fertilizer for all areas of your garden during all seasons can be really useful for obvious reasons. If you have a vast selection of different plant, then this may not be the right option for you, as different plants need different nutrients. Vegetables, for example, need potassium and phosphorous, which is different from regular grass.
This means that you may not get the best out of all of your plants if you’re using one fertilizer that isn’t specifically designed for this purpose. Also, if you are using the fertilizer for vegetables, you need to make sure the fertilizer is specifically designed for use on edible plants.
By purchasing specific fertilizer for each area, you can be sure to get the best out of your garden and help it to reach its full potential. If you are only worried about your lawn, then an all-purpose fertilizer will be just fine.
All-season Fertilizer Vs. Season Specific Fertilizer
Like all-purpose fertilizer, all-season fertilizer is great for convenience as you only need to use one kind all year round. However, season-specific fertilizers are specially designed to equip your garden with the best help they need in that given climate. For example, fertilizers made for use in warmer seasons often come with the benefit of aiding water retention in roots which means less watering required.
They also prepare plants for hot weather and droughts. Alternatively, the fertilizers made for use in fall or winter are designed to prepare the plants for spring.
Buyers Guide Questions
What is Lawn Fertilizer?
Lawn fertilizer will create healthy grass and reduce the growth of weeds and pests by enhancing the soil with the right nutrients that are absorbed through the roots that plants need to grow. There are lots of different kinds of fertilizer, but essentially, they all help your garden to become more resilient and look more vibrant.
What do the Numbers on Lawn Fertilizer Mean?
The numbers explain the number of nutrients contained in the fertilizer. The first number is always the quantity of nitrogen the fertilizer contains, the second is the amount of phosphate, and the third is potash. These are the primary nutrients in all fertilizers, although some contain extra ingredients for specific uses such as Iron.
How to Apply Lawn Fertilizer with a Spreader?
Spreaders are the most efficient way to apply your fertilizer. To learn how to use one, watch this video.
Conclusion
Fertilizers are great to provide you with the best quality garden. There are lots of types of fertilizers for all different needs for making your garden look better and become healthier. Whether you want to spend time growing flowers and vegetables, or you just want a great lawn for the kids to play on all year round, there is bound to be a fertilizer that suits your needs.
This guide has broken down all the facts, explaining all the different benefits of fertilizers and how they work. With our product review, you can easily work out which fertilizer is best for you and your garden.