The Best Lawn Fertilizers of 2023

Ahead, get our top tips and recommendations for choosing the best lawn fertilizer for your yard—and don't miss our top picks!

By Amy Lynch and Mark Wolfe | Updated Apr 24, 2023 4:59 PM

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Choosing the Best Lawn Fertilizer

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Whoever said, “The grass is always greener on the other side,” probably wasn’t using the right stuff. When it comes to keeping a yard in top condition, all that’s really needed is the best lawn fertilizer for the climate and a few dates circled on the calendar. Once the ideal formula has been determined, simply apply as instructed and follow up as directed on the package. This guide will outline the fertilizer fundamentals and offer reviews of some of the highest-rated products on the market.

  1. BEST OVERALL: Espoma EOLB30 Organic Lawn Booster Fertilize
  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Milorganite 0636 32-Pound Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer
  3. BEST PLANT-BASED: The Andersons 7-1-2 Innova Organic Fertilizer
  4. BEST FOR GREENING: Scotts Natural Lawn Food
  5. MOST VERSATILE: Down to Earth Organic Bio-Turf 8-3-5 Fertilizer
  6. BEST FOR THICKER GRASS: Safer Brand Lawn Restore Fertilizer
The Best Lawn Fertilizer Options

Photo: amazon.com

Before You Buy Lawn Fertilizer

With the rise of lawn-care culture over the past century, a stream of science and marketing has arisen promising ”the perfect lawn.” Use caution. While these truly amazing products can support a beautiful, healthy patch of grass, the same products used improperly can kill the grass, make people sick, and aggravate a host of environmental problems.

Before buying and applying lawn fertilizer, find out which kind of and how much fertilizer the grass needs. A soil test, either a do-it-yourself kit or a mail-in packet through a local extension service, will provide the information you need. Avoid any temptation to apply more than the test results recommend. Doing so could screw up the soil chemistry, and maybe worse.

How We Chose the Best Lawn Fertilizers

The lawn fertilizer industry is flush with specialty products for every conceivable need. Unique formulations abound for winterization, spring green up, summer maintenance, weed and feed, lawn starter, northern and southern grass formulas, and so much more. We wanted to cut through the noise and recommend lawn foods that would be broadly useful for the widest range of lawns, including warm and cool-season grasses and acid-loving lawns.

As for formulations, we exclusively featured organic and natural products for a couple of reasons. Organic fertilizers are nonburning, promote healthy soil ecology, minimize nutrient runoff, and provide an extended steady feed. Nonorganic fertilizers can do these things as well, but as a category, organics do so with a high level of consistency from product to product.

Our Top Picks

A good yard fertilizer is necessary when building a strong, healthy lawn. In the reviews ahead, we share more product information about our top picks and why we consider them to be some of the best lawn fertilizers available.

Best Overall

The Best Lawn Fertilizer Option: Espoma EOLB30 Organic Lawn Booster Fertilizer
Photo: amazon.com

Those looking to make their lawns look best for spring will want to consider this option from Espoma. With an NPK ratio of 8-0-0, it’s designed to make lawns look their best at the beginning of the season. (For an in-depth description of NPK, please see the Nutrients section after the product descriptions.) The formula contains feather meal and pasteurized poultry manure, which combine to provide a healthy dose of nitrogen for greener grass. The product comes in a 30-pound bag and can be used on newly sodded or established lawns.

The manufacturer recommends using this fertilizer in February, March, or April for cool-season grasses and in January or February for warm-season grasses. It’s important to note that this formula doesn’t contain any potassium, so it’s not a great choice for those with centipede grass or St. Augustine grass.

Product Specs

  • NPK ratio: 8-0-0
  • Weight: 30 pounds
  • Coverage: 5,000 square feet

Pros

  • The nitrogen-rich fertilizer formula contributes to greener grass
  • The formula contains 3 percent calcium to protect against disease
  • The 30-pound bag covers an area of up to 5,000 square feet

Cons

  • This formula doesn’t contain any potassium, so it’s not ideal for centipede or St. Augustine grasses

Get the Espoma lawn fertilizer at Amazon or Ace Hardware.

Best Bang For The Buck

The Best Lawn Fertilizer Option: Milorganite 0636 32-Pound Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer
Photo: amazon.com

Milorganite has been a staple in the yard fertilizer industry since it was originally released in the 1920s. This recycled lawn food is derived from heat-treated, nutrient-rich microbes that filter and process organic matter in municipal wastewater.

The fertilizer boasts a 6-4-0 NPK analysis, with 2.5 percent iron that promotes deep greening. One application feeds for 10 weeks, and it does not need to be watered in. The 32-pound bag covers 2,500 square feet.

Product Specs

  • NPK ratio: 6-4-0
  • Weight: 32 pounds
  • Coverage: 2,500 square feet

Pros

  • The formula is fortified with iron for a dark-green lawn
  • This brand has a long history of top-notch performance
  • Each application lasts for 10 weeks

Cons

  • This formula contains phosphorus, which many soils do not need

Get the Milorganite lawn fertilizer at Amazon or Lowe’s.

Best Plant-Based

The Best Lawn Fertilizer Option: The Andersons 7-1-2 Innova Organic Fertilizer
Photo: amazon.com

This high-nitrogen fertilizer feeds lawns at a slow, steady pace with a 7-1-2 NPK content and amino acids. The plant-based formula does not contain worrisome biosolids, manures, recycled waste, or animal parts. The nonburning granules prevent damage and are engineered for low dust so that they are easy to apply and won’t trigger sneezing. The 40-pound 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 operations and has a low-runoff formula that is safe to apply near waterways. It stimulates a healthy soil ecosystem by supplying easily digestible carbon to fuel soil microbes. This product is as close as it comes to the organic ideal.

Product Specs

  • NPK ratio: 7-1-2
  • Weight: 40 pounds
  • Coverage: 11,000 square feet

Pros

  • The low quantity of dust granules makes this product easier to apply
  • Entirely plant-based and contains no animal parts or byproducts
  • The nonburning formula ensures that users can avoid overapplication

Cons

  • Not readily available from all major retailers and may be difficult to find in person

Get The Andersons lawn fertilizer at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best For Greening

The Best Lawn Fertilizer Option: Scotts Natural Lawn Food
Photo: amazon.com

Those looking for deep dark-green grass will want to consider this all-natural fertilizer from Scotts, an established brand in lawn care. When starting a new lawn, whether by seed, sod, or plugs, the right soil nutrition is essential. Scotts natural lawn food delivers a small boost of phosphorus for rapid root establishment and a strong dose of nitrogen for healthy foliage growth. The 29.1-pound bag feeds 4,000 square feet of lawn.

It can be applied with either a drop or a broadcast spreader and should be watered following application. You can also save water by applying the fertilizer right before rain is forecast.

Product Specs

  • NPK ratio: 11-2-2
  • Weight: 29.1 pounds
  • Coverage: 4,000 square feet

Pros

  • Scotts fertilizer is gentle enough to use on freshly seeded or sodded grass
  • Provides a balance of phosphorus and potassium along with nitrogen
  • Safe to walk on the lawn immediately after fertilizer application

Cons

  • Some users report that their dogs are attracted to the scent of this fertilizer

Get the Scotts lawn fertilizer at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Most Versatile

The Best Lawn Fertilizer Option: Down to Earth Organic Bio-Turf 8-3-5 Fertilizer
Photo: amazon.com

This Down to Earth fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 8-3-5 with a higher proportion of nitrogen to promote early-season lawn growth; the potassium content helps alleviate seasonal stress caused by temperature changes and drought. Its composition includes hydrolyzed feather meal, blood meal, meat meal, bone meal, and langbeinite, making it a highly versatile product that can even be used to feed crops such as corn, tomatoes, and leafy greens as well as lawns.

This fertilizer is approved for use in organic gardening by the OMRI. The 6-pound package can nourish a lawn of up to 1,000 square feet, and larger bags are also available.

Product Specs

  • NPK ratio: 8-3-5
  • Weight: 6 pounds
  • Coverage: 1,000 square feet

Pros

  • The inclusion of potassium protects against drought and temperature changes
  • Not only is this product suitable for all grass types, but it can also feed vegetable gardens
  • The high nitrogen level is designed to promote greener grass

Cons

  • This product is not readily available from many major retailers

Get the Down to Earth lawn fertilizer at Amazon.

Best for Thicker Grass

The Best Lawn Fertilizer Option: Safer Brand Lawn Restore Fertilizer
Photo: amazon.com

Difficult growing conditions can cause a snowball effect where declining grass leads to depleted soil. When that happens, it takes a combined effort to turn things around. First, identify and address the origin of the problem—often fungus, insects, or competition from a growing tree—and then treat the area with Safer Brand Lawn Restore fertilizer. The blend of organic plant food ingredients is designed to increase soil biological activity while it nourishes the grass. The 20-pound bag treats 5,000 square feet of lawn.

Safer Brand Lawn Restore is derived from natural fertilizer ingredients including feather meal, soybean meal, blood meal, alfalfa meal, molasses, and sulfate of potash. The nutrients are not water-soluble but instead are released by the action of soil-building microbes. It builds soil as it feeds plants while protecting the environment from the effects of nutrient runoff.

Product Specs

  • NPK ratio: 9-0-2
  • Weight: 20 pounds
  • Coverage: 5,000 square feet

Pros

  • This fertilizer produces results in just a few days unlike many all-natural formulas
  • The granular formula makes for easy application
  • This formula doesn’t include phosphorus, which most lawns in the U.S. do not need.

Cons

  • Though this fertilizer is made from natural ingredients, it is not certified organic

Get the Safer Brand lawn fertilizer at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.

Or, DIY Your Own Lawn Fertilizer

Making your own organic lawn fertilizer is a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to keep your lawn healthy. To make a basic DIY organic fertilizer, mix equal parts of bone meal, blood meal, and kelp meal in a large container. All of these ingredients can be found online or at a well-stocked garden supply store.

For every 100 square feet of lawn, spread around 5 pounds of the mixture evenly. The bone meal provides phosphorus for root growth, the blood meal adds nitrogen for leaf development, and the kelp meal contains a range of trace minerals that improve soil health. Water your lawn well after applying the fertilizer to help the nutrients penetrate the soil. Alternatively, you can also use compost tea, made by soaking compost in water for a few days and using the liquid as a fertilizer.

Jump to Our Top Picks



Our Verdict

Since potent, fast-acting lawn food comes with the inherent risks of burning the lawn or polluting the environment, we recommend taking a natural approach. Our best overall pick, the Espoma lawn fertilizer, is an affordable option that feeds the soil for steady plant growth and a deep greening effect. There are other common lawn fertilizer options on the market, including Scotts Turf Builder and Pennington UltraGreen Weed & Feed. However, they do not meet our sustainability guidelines and are not recommended in our top picks due to their potentially harmful ingredients and negative impact on the environment.

What to Consider When Choosing Lawn Fertilizer

Shopping for fertilizer for grass is anything but intuitive. Just ahead, find out more about what a lawn really needs and the best way to provide lawn fertilization.

Nutrients

Three digits are printed on all lawn fertilizer labels. Known as the NPK ratio, the numbers stand for the percentage of basic nutrients (N for nitrogen, P for phosphorus, K for potassium) the fertilizer contains. If a fertilizer’s NPK ratio is 12-0-10, for example, it contains 12 percent nitrogen, no phosphorus, and 10 percent potassium.

Generally speaking, nitrogen helps plants stay green, phosphorus promotes root growth, and potassium guards against drought and disease. Depending on the type of turf, the soil’s native chemistry, and the climate, one combination will be better than others. The best way to determine the exact needs for a lawn is by beginning the fertilization program with a soil test and then finding the fertilizer that best fills in what’s missing.

Organic vs. Synthetic

Once the best NPK number has been determined, it’s time to decide between a synthetic or organic fertilizer.

  • Synthetic varieties are engineered from minerals, gases, and even waste with the intent of delivering fast results—sometimes within a matter of days. The downsides to synthetic fertilizers are their reputation for “burning” (i.e., killing) grass if used in too heavy-handed a manner. They can also pose environmental damage and health risks if they leach into the local water supply, which is why we opted not to include any synthetic fertilizers among our recommendations.
  • Organic fertilizers are made from living organisms—anything from cottonseed or peat moss to bat guano and blood or bone meal. They can take a bit longer to work their magic—it’s often a few weeks before results are visible. Although they require a bit of patience, the environmental and health risks are low.

Formula

There are two fertilizer formulas: liquid and granular.

  • Liquid fertilizer, which comes as either a fluid (requiring dilution in water) or a powder (to which water should be added), tends to require more frequent application than granular. It can also pose an environmental risk if it contaminates the local water supply in large amounts, leaking lead, cadmium, and arsenic via storm drain runoff and causing algae blooms as well as long-term public health risks. That said, it’s an effective way to see quick results, so it’s only recommended when truly rapid results are needed.
  • Granular fertilizer tends to operate in a slow-release fashion, taking up to a month or longer to deliver results but requiring less frequent follow-up. It also poses far less of a health risk overall, so it’s generally a better option for those who aren’t in a major hurry.

Fast vs. Slow Release

The decision between fast- and slow-release fertilizer formulas comes down to grass metabolism. Two instances when fast-release lawn food can be beneficial are during early spring and when planting a new lawn. A quick dose of nitrogen fertilizer helps overwintered grass produce new leaves early in the season, which helps it to grow more roots faster. Similarly, quick-release lawn starter can help young grass seedlings or newly installed sod become established more quickly.

On the other hand, slow-release lawn food is best for long-term maintenance. This type of plant food ensures a steady supply of the right nutrients throughout the season. Slow-release grass fertilizer is like a meal for the lawn, but fast release is more like a snack.

Grass Type

Most warm- and cool-season grasses share many of the same nutritional requirements. They thrive on a steady supply of nitrogen throughout the growing season to support fast-growing foliage. Phosphorus may not be necessary and should only be applied based on the guidance of a soil test. Potassium needs to be replenished regularly to support drought resistance and overall health. The usual healthy ratio is on the order of 4-0-2.

Two grass types that buck this trend are centipede and St. Augustine grasses. These warm-climate species consume greater amounts of potassium than other grasses. They need roughly equal amounts of nitrogen and potassium but near-zero phosphorus. Look for 15-0-15, or something similar, for these grasses.

Tips for Using Lawn Fertilizer

The first and most important step in fertilizing the lawn is to find out what the lawn is lacking. By testing the soil chemistry, nutrient imbalances that can be corrected with targeted applications become apparent. Otherwise, you’ll risk over applying nutrients that are already present or neglecting a nutrient deficiency. Once the test results are in hand, then match the results to the best available fertilizer.

  • For even coverage, apply with a fertilizer spreader.
  • With the spreader calibrated at half the recommended rate, apply in parallel lines going one direction, then again in lines running perpendicular to the first application.
  • Avoid broadcasting fertilizer onto pavement or landscape beds.
  • Blow or sweep fertilizer off of pavement immediately after application.
  • Apply fertilizer ahead of rain or run sprinklers within 24 hours after application.

FAQs

Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about lawn fertilizer below.

Q. When is the best time to fertilize your lawn?

For cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, fertilize when the soil reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit or when it has begun active growth. For warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass, zoysia, and centipede grass, fertilize when the grass has turned at least 50 percent green after winter dormancy.

Q. How often should you fertilize your lawn?

An ideal lawn fertilizer schedule depends on the fertilizer formula, type of grass, climate, weather, and soil nutrient levels. Overfertilization is a far greater risk to the lawn itself and to the environment than not fertilizing. With organic lawn fertilizers, two applications are typically adequate, unless directed otherwise by soil-test results.

Q. What is the best ratio for lawn fertilizer?

The best way to know what your lawn needs is to test the soil. Avoid using balanced analysis plant foods like 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 fertilizer for lawns. Although these products hold some of the nutrients that grass needs, they do not offer them in the right amounts. Instead, use lawn fertilizer with an analysis that equates a 4-0-2 or 4-1-2 ratio.

Q. What is a natural lawn fertilizer?

Natural lawn fertilizers are made with animal and/or plant byproducts as the nutrient source rather than mined minerals or chemical products. The nutrient analysis of natural fertilizer tends to be lower than that of conventional fertilizer, but natural products offer additional benefits such as increasing soil organic matter, boosting beneficial soil microbes, providing for an extended feed, and minimizing nutrient runoff.

Why Trust Bob Vila

Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.

Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.