The best lawn fertilizer for spring is The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8, and Milorganite Slow-Release is the best for summer grass. However, Down to Earth Organic Bio-Turf is the best organic lawn food.
Since the best fertilizers make lawns healthy and lush, we searched the shelves of Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon, and Walmart to find the best ones. Our fertilizer reviews break down our top picks, helping homeowners hone in on the best choice for their grass.
Not sure what fertilizer is right for your lawn? Our Buyers Guide below details what to look for in a lawn fertilizer.
Top Picks
Best spring lawn fertilizer
The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Well-balanced ✓ Organic ingredients ✓ Easy to apply ✓ Improves soil quality ✓ Fast results | ✗ Expensive ✗ Stains pavement ✗ Some states ban fertilizers with phosphorus |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 5,000 sq. ft. and 11,100 sq. ft.
- Package sizes: 18 lbs. and 40 lbs.
- Effective period: 6 to 8 weeks
- N-P-K: 16-4-8
- Fertilizer type: Granular, quick and slow-release
- Grass type: Any
- Cost: $55 and $100
The best lawn fertilizer for spring is Andersons PGF Complete. It has the highly recommended 4-1-2 NPK ratio plus iron and Humic DG. As a result, grass grows green, dense, and resilient.
Because it contains both slow-release and quick-release fertilizer, you’ll notice greener grass in as little as a week. It continues to nourish your lawn for up to 8 weeks, strengthening its immune system and improving its appearance.
Read more: Spring Lawn Care Tips
Where to buy
Best organic lawn fertilizer
Down to Earth Organic Bio-Turf
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Organic (OMRI listed) ✓ Well-balanced ✓ Healthy for long-term use ✓ Improves soil quality ✓ Can also fertilize vegetable gardens ✓ Safe for children and pets | ✗ Expensive ✗ It takes time to see results ✗ Not much coverage per package ✗ Some states ban fertilizers with phosphorus |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 5 to 10 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
- Package sizes: 4 lbs., 25 lbs., and 50 lbs.
- Effective period: 8 weeks
- N-P-K: 8-3-5
- Fertilizer type: Granular, slow-release
- Grass type: Any
- Cost: $20, $65, and $130
The best organic lawn fertilizer is Down to Earth Organic Bio-Turf 8-3-5. It has all the nutrients lawns need to feel healthy and look lush. The formula enhances color, thickens blades, improves immunity, and increases root growth.
Bio-Turf’s natural ingredients feed the grass, as well as the microbes living within the soil. Microbes move around, preventing soil compaction. Then, when they die, their bodies become fertilizer. Hence, the best fertilizer type for sustaining soil is organic fertilizer.
However, grass guru Chris Webber, of Heritage Landscape Supply, advises homeowners to keep a keen eye on soil pH and cost. “When thinking about using organic fertilizers, keep in mind they can be more expensive and, depending on the pH of your soil, may not be worth the additional cost,” he says.
Where to buy
Best summer lawn fertilizer
Milorganite Slow-Release
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Affordable ✓ Organic ingredients ✓ Healthy for long-term use ✓ Improves soil quality ✓ Doesn’t burn grass ✓ Safe for children and pets ✓ Can also fertilize vegetable gardens | ✗ Not good for potassium-deficient soil ✗ It takes time to see results ✗ Smells bad |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 2,500 sq. ft.
- Package size: 32 lbs.
- Effective period: 10 weeks
- N-P-K: 6-4-0
- Fertilizer type: Granular, slow-release
- Grass type: Any
- Cost: $20 to $33
The best fertilizer for summer turf is Milorganite Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer. It’s an affordable source of organic, slow-release nitrogen. Although it’s our favorite for summer, Milorganite also works great in the spring and early fall.
Webber says the best way to avoid fertilizer burn is by using slow-release fertilizers. He explains, “Usually, they slowly break down over the course of 2 to 3 months, depending on weather and soil conditions.”
Although rain or sandy soil may make the slow-release granules break down quicker, it won’t happen fast enough to burn your grass.
Where to buy
Best liquid lawn food
Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Organic ingredients ✓ Fast results ✓ Well-balanced nutrition ✓ Easy to apply ✓ U.S. family-owned business | ✗ Short-lived results ✗ Some states ban fertilizers with phosphorus ✗ Applying too much can result in fertilizer burn |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 3,200 sq. ft.
- Package size: 32 oz.
- Effective period: 2 weeks
- N-P-K: 16-4-8
- Fertilizer type: Liquid
- Grass type: Any
- Cost: $23 to $42
The best liquid lawn food is Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8. With the sought-after 4-1-2 NPK ratio, it’s one of the best spring fertilizers. The quick-release formula contains both organic and inorganic ingredients, including feed-grade seaweed and fish.
Because it comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle, applying fertilizer is easy. With little effort, you’ll have beautiful, healthy turf.
Where to buy
Best winter fertilizer
Jonathan Green Winter Survival
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Balanced for fall feedings ✓ Aids summer recovery ✓ Helps grass resist winter stress ✓ Faster spring green up | ✗ Not good for warm-season grass ✗ Not good for Southern states ✗ Over-fertilization before winter can weaken grass |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 5,000 sq. ft. and 15,000 sq. ft.
- Package sizes: 15 lbs. and 45 lbs.
- Effective period: Up to 3 months
- N-P-K: 10-0-20
- Fertilizer type: Granular, slow-release
- Grass type: Cool-season grass
- Cost: $33 and $65
Our favorite lawn winterizer is Jonathan Green Winter Survival. The best time to apply winter fertilizer is between September and mid-November, helping grass recover from summer stress and strengthening it to withstand winter.
When your lawn is kept safe in the winter, it’s lush and green at the beginning of spring. The benefits of winter fertilizer include enhancing root development and preventing lawn diseases.
Becky Bowling, assistant professor and extension specialist for turfgrass science and management, explains, “There is a general hesitation that applying nitrogen in the fall can be detrimental, but other research emphasizes that turfgrass stands deficient in nitrogen may experience delayed green-up and challenges associated in the spring.”
Where to buy
Best lawn restorer
Greenview Turf Nurture Natural Base
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Organic ingredients ✓ Healthy for long-term use ✓ Improves soil quality ✓ Quickly restores grass health ✓ Easy-to-follow instructions | ✗ If it rains a lot after the application, it may not be effective ✗ Not good for phosphorus-deficient soil ✗ If not applied uniformly, results are patchy |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 2,500 sq. ft. and 7500 sq. ft.
- Package sizes: 8.33 lbs. and 25 lbs.
- Effective period: Up to 12 weeks
- N-P-K: 15-0-7
- Fertilizer type: Granular, slow-release
- Grass type: Any
- Cost: $22 and $49
The best grass fertilizer to restore stressed lawns is Greenview Turf Nurture Natural Base. Its formula includes natural ingredients that feed grass for up to 8 weeks. Within a month or so, we saw noticeable changes. The winter-worn grass got green and fuller.
The secret to its success is a carefully crafted menu of minerals. In addition to slow-release nitrogen and potash, the formula includes micronutrients such as calcium and magnesium. As a result, grass invigorates, gaining strength and color.
Read more: An Ultimate Guide to Grass Types
Where to buy
Best for new grass
Scott’s Turf Builder Starter Food
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Speeds grass growth ✓ Inspires root growth ✓ Greens grass | ✗ If not applied uniformly, results are patchy ✗ Not good for long-term use |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 5,000 sq. ft.
- Package sizes: 15 lbs.
- Effective period: Up to 2 months
- N-P-K: 24-25-4
- Fertilizer type: Granular, slow-release
- Grass type: Any
- Cost: $27 to $30
Scott’s Turf Builder Starter Food is the best lawn fertilizer for new grass. New grass grows quicker and thicker after consuming its boutique blend.
The formula is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, encouraging fast growth and extensive roots. As a result, seeds, sod, sprigs, and plugs speedily sprout into lively lawns.
Read more: A Complete Guide to Fertilizing New Grass
Where to buy
Best weed and feed
BioAdvanced 5-in-1
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Fertilizes grass ✓ Prevents weeds ✓ Kills weeds ✓ Works well on crabgrass | ✗ Not safe for all grass types ✗ Overuse can degrade the soil ✗ Grass doesn’t always need weed control and fertilization at the same time |
Specifications
- Coverage area: 4,000 sq. ft. and 10,000 sq. ft.
- Package sizes: 9.6 lbs. and 24 lbs.
- Effective period: Up to 3 months
- N-P-K: 22-0-4
- Fertilizer type: Granular
- Grass types: Bermuda (when above 85 degrees), Buffalo, Fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, Ryegrass, Seashore paspalum, Zoysia
- Cost: $27 and $45 to $60
The best weed and feed is BioAdvanced 5-in-1. Its ingredients include slow-release fertilizer, pre-emergent herbicide, and weed killer. Consequently, it greens the grass, kills existing weeds, and prevents more than 200 weeds from sprouting. For example, it kills and prevents crabgrass for up to 6 months.
Read more: How to Prevent Weeds from Growing
Where to buy
What to look for in a lawn fertilizer
You are what you eat, so grass needs a balanced diet to grow healthy and lush. Our guide explains how to choose the best lawn fertilizer, including the pros and cons of each type.
Consider grass type
The ideal diet depends on your type of turf. For example, warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses have different growth seasons:
- Cool-season grasses have bimodal growth. They grow the most in the spring, then again in the fall.
- Warm-season grasses thrive when temperatures rise. They grow fast in the spring and summer but go dormant in the winter.
Nutritional needs also vary among grasses with the same growth season. Thus, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your turf.
Read more: An Ultimate Guide to Grass Types
Nutrients
The best way to identify what your lawn lacks is with a soil test, but the three primary nutrients it needs are N-P-K:
- Nitrogen (N) inspires deep green color and lush growth, so most lawn fertilizers contain a lot of it.
- Phosphorous (P) helps grass develop a strong root system and is particularly important when establishing a new lawn.
- Potassium (K) strengthens grass’s ability to fight diseases and improves its weather tolerance.
In addition to N-P-K, healthy lawns need small doses of micronutrients, including iron and magnesium. Since grass doesn’t need much of these, testing your soil before treating it is essential.
My tip: Some states and cities ban phosphorous fertilizers, so check your local guidelines. When too much runs off into natural bodies of water, it can cause algal blooms that disrupt aquatic ecosystems. However, this is less likely with organic phosphorous fertilizer.
Read more: What is N-P-K? A Guide to Understanding Fertilizer Ratios
Season
Grass needs a lot of nitrogen during its growing season. However, when preparing for winter stress, lawns need more phosphorus and potassium, and less nitrogen. Additionally, cool-season grass often thrives with some extra potassium in the summer to recover from heat stress.
Slow-release vs. quick-release
Slow-release fertilizers break down into the soil slowly over time, while quick-release fertilizers emit an immediate burst of nutrients.
Although quick-release fertilizers yield faster results, they don’t feed the lawn for very long. Additionally, they are more prone to fertilizer burn. As a result, it’s best to use them sparingly. For example, quick-release lawn food is helpful when planting new grass or initiating spring green-up.
Long-term, slow-release is the healthiest type of fertilizer. It feeds lawns for several weeks, thus requiring fewer applications. Additionally, slow-release fertilizers don’t usually burn the grass.
Granular vs. liquid
Granular fertilizers are dry pellets applied using a fertilizer spreader. In contrast, liquids are typically mixed with water and applied with a sprayer. When comparing iquid vs. granular fertilizers, granular fertilizers are usually slow-release, while liquid fertilizers are quick-release. Thus, liquids work quicker, but granules are healthier for the lawn’s long-term health.
Organic vs. synthetic
Giving grass fast-release synthetic fertilizer is like me eating a candy bar. The sugar-rich snack is a quick cure if my blood sugar is low. However, I’d likely develop diabetes if that was my source of sugar for several years.
Organic fertilizers contain natural ingredients that invigorate the soil. Since most are slow-release, they take time to work. But they provide plants with a better-balanced blend that has long-lasting results. On the other hand, synthetic fertilizers contain chemically derived nutrients. Thus, when overapplied, they make grass sick.
Still, synthetic fertilizers are more popular due to their low price and high level of N-P-K. It’s also easier to ensure a precise application with synthetics. To get the best of both worlds, choose a fertilizer with both synthetic and organic ingredients. Or save money on organic with our homemade fertilizer recipes.
My tip: Avoid using synthetics on your lawn if you have an organic vegetable garden. The wind can blow fertilizer from one area to another.
Effective period
Most slow-release fertilizers feed grass for up to eight weeks. In contrast, quick-release fertilizers release most nutrients within a week. However, quick-release formulas may continue to emit smaller amounts of minerals for up to four weeks.
Coverage area
Most fertilizer packages contain enough fertilizer to cover between 1,000 square feet and a half acre, but coverage depends on package size and your lawn’s nutritional needs.
To calculate the amount of fertilizer your lawn needs, figure out how much nitrogen it requires. Most lawns need around 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet but look at the soil test results, grass type, and time of year to be sure.
Next, look at the package’s listed N-P-K ratio. For example, let’s say you buy a 20-pound bag of 13-2-8 fertilizer:
- Nitrogen (N): It’s 13% nitrogen. To calculate the amount of nitrogen — .13 X 20 = 2.6 pounds.
- Phosphorous (P): It’s 2% phosphorous. To calculate the amount of phosphorous — .02 x 20 = 0.4 pounds
- Potassium (K): It’s 8% potassium. To calculate the amount of potassium — .08 X 20 = 1.6 pounds.
If your lawn is 5,000 square feet and requires 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, you’ll need two 20-pound bags of 13-2-8 fertilizer to cover the entire lawn.
FAQ about lawn fertilizers
The best fertilizers for St. Augustinegrass are The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8, Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8, and Down to Earth Bio-Turf 8-3-5 Fertilizer.
The best fertilizers for Bermudagrass are Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8, Milorganite Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer, and Pennington Smart Seed Bermudagrass.
The best fertilizer spreaders are Scotts Elite Spreader, Earthway 2600A-Plus, and John Deere LPBS36JD.
When applying quick-release fertilizer, avoid burning the grass by:
— Ensuring the lawn gets enough water
— Applying no more than the recommended application rate
— “Inspect the irrigation system prior to the application to make sure there’s good coverage to water it,” Webber recommends.
— “Calibrating the spreader or sprayer is very important as well. People have a tendency to put on more than the recommended amount of product. I always highly advise people to read the label that comes on the bag or container.”
When to hire a pro
The best way to maintain a pristine lawn is to hire a lawn fertilization pro. Lawn love connects you with pros who determine what your grass needs to thrive and ensure it’s uniformly applied.
We also help you find qualified pros for lawn mowing, bush trimming, and over 30 other outdoor services. With online quotes and a user-friendly app, it’s as easy as ordering from Amazon.
Sources:
- Becky Bowling, assistant professor and extension specialist for turfgrass science and management, University of Tennessee
- Chris Webber, Heritage Landscape Supply
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