5 Best Lawn Fertilizers for Green Grass of 2021 [Reviews]

If you want green grass, you need the right fertilizer for your lawn.

Applying fertilizer, which is essentially lawn food, is just as critical as watering and mowing properly.  Fertilizer contains both macro and micronutrients and helps root growth, greenness, and resistance to weeds and crabgrass.

Simply put, without fertilizer, your lawn ain’t gonna be green.   

I’ve spent three decades in the lawn care business, and taken care of every type of grass under the sun. So I can honestly say I’ve learned just about everything there is to know about fertilizer.  

And today I’m going to spill out all of my knowledge to help you pick the right type of fertilizer for your lawn.

Read Also: The Best Weed and Feed Fertilizers for Your Lawn

At a Glance – Our Top Picks.

Here are the 5 best lawn fertilizers of 2021:

1) Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Natural Liquid Fertilizer

Simple Lawn Solutions makes this all-grass blend that is one of our top picks for the best fertilizer for both plants and lawns. The formula contains seaweed and fish as part of the recipe, has all three major nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium), and provides instant release fertilization.

If you want to avoid fertilizers with phosphorus, then this ain’t the product for you. However, if you are looking for a superior fertilizer with all three nutrients and want excellent absorption into your lawn, this is one of my favorite lawn food formulas. I like to put this down and then apply a half-dose of granules a couple of weeks later to overlap the benefits.

Simply Lawn Solutions is great for warm-season and cool-season grasses alike, including Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, Buffalo, Centipede, Florida Palmetto, Bahia, Fescue, Ryegrass & Kentucky Bluegrass.

• Spray liquid fertilizer
• Water-soluble
• 16-4-8 NPK Ratio
• Early Spring through Summer

Pros:

• Top-rated
• Includes phosphorus for root health
• Instant fertilization
• Works even during dry weather
• Suitable for all types of grass

Cons:

• Must be reapplied every month if using without granules
• Can be a hassle to apply or deal with sprayer

2) Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food

Scotts has been around forever and is one of the most trusted brands for good reason. Everything from Scotts Turf Builder lawn food, to their weed and feed, to their newer fast acting synthetic formulas has been thoroughly researched and proven to work.

There is a reason Miracle-Gro is so popular, and that’s because it works. Micacle-Gro lawn food is no exception when the proper dose is applied. You can also use lawn food for plants (assuming you don’t mind your plant fertilizer not being organic), as it’s one of the best fertilizers for tomatoes and other fruit and veggie-bearers. Miracle-Gro is one of my favorite budget-friendly fertilizers. The nutrient blend is 36-0-6.

• Powder that mixes into a liquid formula
• Water-soluble
• Feeds up to 7k square feet per package

Pros:

• Affordable
• Various size options
• No phosphorous if environmentally concerned
• High dose of nitrogen for green lawns
• Works instantly

Cons:

• Must mix liquid formula
• Sprayer not included

3) Milorganite Garden Care Organic Fertilizer

For those who are both environmentally conscious and looking for a lush green yard, Milorganite 0605 is a top-notch organic nitrogen fertilizer that will boost the lushness of your lawn. Milorganite is not the best smelling product out there – that’s the price you pay for going organic. But it does work.  If you can’t find it, Milorganite 0636 is another great choice.

This Earth-friendly lawn food is made of “organic composition”, which is just a fancy way of saying heat-dried microbes from waste matter. Don’t worry, it’s not from human waste, but rather byproducts of Milwaukee establishments, such as the MillerCoors plant. Milorganite is heated to kill microbes and tested for safety, and it works for new lawns and established lawns alike. Few things will bring out the green in an eco-friendly way like Milorganite.  Pair it with blood meal and your lawn will look incredible.

• Granules
• Slow-release
• 6-4-0 NPK Ratio

Pros:

• Eco-friendly and no chemicals
• Reasonable price
• Excellent for enhancing green color in lawns
• Used by golf courses
• Can be used in conjunction with spray fertilizers
• Great alternative to synthetic fertilizers

Cons:

• Smell (dissipates in a week or two)
• Does not contain weed killer (as is the case with most good fertilizers)

4) LawnStar 16-4-8 NPK Fertilizer

LawnStar’s 16-4-8 Fertilizer blends Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potash for super green lawn results. This spray formula is an excellent fertilizer I’ve used several times with fantastic results. Like Simple Lawn Solutions spray, this lawn food comes in a sprayer you hook to your hose, eliminating the need for a separate spraying device.

LawnStar’s versions usually cost a few dollars more than Simple Lawn Solutions, and I love the results of both products. It’s tough to say, but I think LawnStar has resulted in a slightly greener yard, though again, at a higher price. Both products work fantastically, though, and if your yard is a little smaller, the extra cost shouldn’t make a significant difference.

• Spray
• Water-soluble

Pros:

• Works instantly
• Top-rated
• Includes Phosphate for root health
• Includes sprayer
• For all grass types
• Includes 30-day guarantee

Cons:

• Some users have issues with sprayer
• Requires more frequent application

5) Raw Organic Humic Fulvic Acid Concentrated Turf Grass Soil Conditioner

Organic humic fulvic acid not only helps nutrient uptake for turfgrass, it is also one of the best fertilizers for plants, as well. This fertilizer booster helps your lawn intake nutrients like nitrogen that really bring out the green in your grass.

Root hume is used by professionals to enhance the root system and absorption of fertilizers you put down at other times. Raw Organic’s formula is one of the best fertilizers for grass and it enhances the thickness and lushness of your turf. I recommend spraying this every two to four weeks, depending on whether you use another fertilizer or not.

• Spray formula
• Water-soluble

Pros:

• Eco-friendly
• Makes lawn more robust
• Enhances nutrient intake of other fertilizers
• Excellent for other plants and gardens, too

Cons:

• A little pricey when applied regularly
• Requires reapplication often

Buying Guide

What’s the best type of fertilizer for my grass?

Glad you asked! Some grasses can do with any old fertilizer, while other grass types only play nice with some fertilizers. Fortunately for you, we’ve put together buying guides for

• Zoysia Grass
• Bermuda Grass
• St Augustine Grass
• Rye grass

What Do the Letters Stand for in Fertilizers?

If you look closely at labels for the best fertilizers, you will find three letters: N-P-K. These letters denote the N represents the Nitrogen in the mix, P stands for Phosphorus or Phosphate, and K stands for Potassium or Potash.  These are the primary nutrients that plants need.  

In order to determine the most optimal combination, you typically need to do a soil test.  This will show you what you’re lacking, and you buy the right fertilizer to compensate for it. For more info on how to do a soil test, check out this video below.

Your recommended NPK ratio also depends on your grass type. For example, in Bermuda grass fertilizers, the most common formula is a 4-1-2. Many nation-wide brands are now omitting phosphorous, as there is some debate about it’s environmental safety. Phosphorus is more crucial with developing the root system. Nitrogen is what makes your grass greener. Potassium aids in overall lawn health.

Spray or Granular?

Fertilizer really comes in two options: granular and spray.

Granular fertilizer is like tiny almost sand-like pebbles that you use a spreader (don’t use your hands, it will be uneven and potentially burn your skin).

Spray fertilizer comes in a few varieties. Some you attach to your hose and just water your lawn, others you apply directly, and others you mix with water and apply with a backpack sprayer.

In certain situations, one type or the other can work far better for you. It’s worth understanding the difference, and what the benefits are of sprays or granular, so you pick the best fertilizer for grass in your region.

Spray Fertilizer

Concentrated liquid formulas, or spray fertilizers, offer several benefits. The mix of chemicals or nutrients in a spray get combined into the concentrate and then hooked up to your hose or sprayer to evenly distribute the liquid over your lawn.

Imagine granules sitting on your grass and understand that each type of pebble offers a different nutrient or chemicals. It’s easy to see how the distribution might be a bit uneven. No matter how smoothly you put down a granular fertilizer, it will never be distributed evenly. That patchy spread can result in unevenness.

There are some exceptions to this rule; in some products, all of the nutrients combine into each granule. Even so, you can never get the pellets to land on every little spot of grass (you’ll kill your lawn if you overload it with fertilizer). So, spray fertilizers are pretty much always going to be more even, provided you spray them right.

Another significant benefit of sprays is that you don’t have to water your grass after fertilizing or wait for rain. The formula goes to work as soon as you put it down. If you spread a granular fertilizer during a dry week or two, that formula will sit on your lawn and do almost nothing until the next rain or watering.

Granular Fertilizer

The upside of granular fertilizers is that they have slower release. Spray lawn fertilizers are fantastic and work quickly, going straight to the roots.  However, liquid formulas are generally going to require reapplying more frequently, whereas granular fertilizers are often designed to release over time. If you don’t have the time fertilize your lawn every few weeks, you’ll a granular formula can definitely save you some time. Most pellet formulas slowly release over about six weeks, making these blends lower maintenance.

Another perk of dry fertilizers is that they work well in rainy regions or seasons. If you are in the midst of an unusually wet spring, putting more water on the lawn with a spray fertilizer may over-saturate your yard.

Granular fertilizers are also straightforward to distribute. As long as you have a spreader, even a hand-held model, you can get them on your grass quickly and without having the haul out the hose. Spray fertilizers take a little more effort to see where you sprayed and make sure you are covering evenly.

For more info on how to spread granular fertilizer with a spreader, watch this video below.

Two Granular Types

Among dry fertilizer granules, there are two distinct types: water-soluble and water-insoluble.

Water-insoluble fertilizers are a slow-release mix where the granules have a polymer coating and will last for roughly 12 weeks. Water-soluble granules are often labeled “quick release” and will start acting as soon as they’re wet. They’ll be applied in 3 weeks.

Blending Both Types

One of the best things you can do to get that perfect, green grass, is to overlap your fertilizers and use a blend of both granular and spray types. If you reduce the amount you apply of each type to roughly half of the suggested saturation, you can get the benefits of slow-release pellets alongside even, instant spray formulas.

When to apply fertilizer?

The exact time of year depends on your grass and soil type, but generally speaking you want to apply fertilizer during the growing season.  If you have cool season grasses, that’s typically spring and fall.  Warm season grasses typically grow fastest in late spring through early fall.  If your grass is dormant, you don’t want to fertilize unless it’s a specialty fertilizer that your lawn needs.  

This also depends on what else is going on in your lawn.  If you are planting new grass, you need starter fertilizer.  If you have crabgrass problems, you’ll want to apply pre-emergent late winter before applying your first round of fertilizer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to fertilize your lawn?

Fertilizer is essentially food for your lawn. Just like any other living organism, grass needs food and water in order to grow

Grass gets its food from the soil, but after awhile, the grass eats up all of the nutrients there are in the soil. By fertilizing your lawn, you putting soil back into the ground for grass. A fertilized lawn is noticably different than one that isn’t. It’s greener and more full of grass with fewer bare patches. It also grows faster. If you don’t fertilize your lawn, weeds will eventually overtake the grass, and you’ll have to completely resod your lawn if if gets too

In addition to fertilizing your lawn, you should also recycle grass clippings into the lawn when mowing using a mulching blade. The clippings will decompose and provide some amounts of natural fertilizer to your lawn.

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When is the best time to fertilize your lawn?

The best time to fertilize your lawn is generally during the growing season. However, the growing season is different depending on what type of grass you have.

Warm season grasses, which are more common in the south, include bermudagrass, zoysia, St Augustine and Zoysia. These types of grass tend to grow the fastest during summertime, hence the name warm season. So, generally you’ll want to fertilize late spring through early fall. However, if you live in an area that’s prone to drought, do not fertilize if the lawn isn’t recieving ample water.

Cool season grasses such as Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass and Perrenial Ryegrass, tend to grow fastest during Spring and Fall, which is when you should be fertilizing them. Do not fertilize cool season grasses in the summertime

The exact timing of fertilization varies based on geography and grass type; in order to get the best and most up-to-date information, visit the website of your state’s turfgrass extension.

What’s the difference between spray and granular fertilizer?

Liquid fertilizer comes in liquid format or as a concentrate, whereas granular fertilizer comes in little pellets. Liquid fertilizer is applied with a sprayer, whereas granular fertilizer is applied with a spreader.

Generally speaking, liquid fertilizer is going to be faster acting and go directly to the roots, whereas granular fertilizer will take time. With liquid fertilizer, you’re less likely to burn your lawn, whereas with granular, it’s quite easy to burn your lawn. Granular, on the other hand, is cheaper and faster to apply. For more info, visit this section.

How many times per year should I fertilize?

Short answer: about four times.

Longer answer: it depends on the fertilizer you select. Generally speaking, you’ll want to stick to a regimen that may differ from brand to brand. If you want to get real fancy, you can even test your soil and select the proper fertilizer for it. But there is a such thing as overfertilizing, often called nitrogen burn, where your grass turns an ugly yellow color. So don’t overfertilize.

A Final Note on Over Fertilizing

When it comes to applying fertilizer to your lawn, less can be more. Be sure to follow the instructions, and also consult your local turfgrass extension on what your lawn actually needs.

Too much fertilizer and you’ll get what is known as nitrogen burn. If you see large patches of yellow in your lawn (very distinct from a dormant lawn), chances are you’ve over-fertilized. There’s no way to fix this other than to wait, and you’ve weakened the grass. So follow the instructions, wait the allotted time between applications, and be patient.

Green grass doesn’t come in the first application. But when fertilized routinely, grass will be stronger, greener and thicker than ever before.

Conclusion

Any of these products are worth a shot and can enhance your lawn’s green color. Try one or two and get the greenest yard on the block.