If you want your lawn to be thick and healthy through the summer, you need to apply the best lawn fertilizer for spring. This will give it the burst of nutrients it needs to grow strong, disease-resistant roots and blades.
With so many different fertilizer products on the market, it can be difficult to pick the right one. Here are our reviews of the best lawn fertilizer for spring and how they help turn your lawn into a real showpiece.
We’ve also added some tips on how to apply fertilizer, when to apply it and more!
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Best Lawn Fertilizers for Spring
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Sumo Gardener's Best Lawn Fertilizer For Spring Top Pick 2024
via Amazon
Of all the spring lawn fertilizers available in the market, the clear winner for us is Espoma Organic Lawn Booster.
This is because this grass fertilizer has all pros and no cons!
It’s organic, environmentally friendly, perfectly balanced for growing grass, easy to apply and safe for pets and kids.
It’s good for the environment and your lawn, producing great results throughout the summer. It’s also well-priced, making it easy on your wallet.
Why Fertilize Your Lawn?
Source: Amazon
Most grass varieties tend to be heavy feeders, which means they like lots of nutrition. Using the best lawn fertilizer will provide a stimulating boost to root and blade growth, not only helping it to grow dense and green, but also making the grass healthier to better fight off pests and diseases.
As a result, it’s an important part of your regular lawn care and maintenance. Grass fertilizer is not just for established lawns. It is important to fertilize newly growing grass and freshly seeded grass too, helping to establish it quickly, cover gaps in your lawn and create a uniform, beautiful spread.
Here’s our comprehensive guide on how to grow and care for grass.
Different Types of Lawn Fertilizer
Source: Amazon
Lawn fertilizer comes in two main types – granular and liquid. You can get both chemical and organic lawn fertilizers in both of the different types.
We recommend using organic fertilizer if possible because it is properly balanced for both the soil and the plants, it is environmentally friendly, boosts healthy fungal and bacterial growth to create a healthy ecosystem for your plants, are easy to apply and are non-toxic for pets and children.
Generally, a 10-10-10 fertilizer is a good choice for lawns as well as flowering plants, as it’s an all-purpose fertilizer.Granular Fertilizer
Source: Amazon
Granular fertilizers can last for up to twelve weeks, slowly breaking down to provide a consistent supply of nutrients to the grass. This means that the beneficial effects of granular fertilizer can last a long time, and you don’t have to apply it often.
It’s easy to apply a granular fertilizer using your hands or a lawn spreader, although you do have to be careful to get an even spread.
Here are some helpful tips on how to use a lawn spreader for the best results. There are some drawbacks, however. Because the fertilizer takes a long time to break down, it usually takes longer to see results.
They also work better in warmer, more moisture-rich conditions, so it’s best to water it in using a sprinkler.
Liquid Fertilizer
Liquid fertilizers are much faster-acting, boosting lawn growth in a matter of weeks. They are easy to apply using a sprinkler attachment or a backpack sprayer, although you do have to be careful you get an even spread.
You can buy a premixed liquid fertilizer or mix it yourself from a concentrate, but be careful not to mix it too strongly as this can burn the grass.
The best thing about liquid fertilizers is that they are very accessible to the roots, so they deliver results very quickly, but because they are absorbed so much faster, you may have to do more frequent applications.
Tips For Fertilizing Your Lawn in Spring
Source: Amazon
Water Before and After You Apply Fertilizer
Water your lawn well before you apply fertilizer, as this will help prime the roots for absorption. After you apply your liquid or granular fertilizer, water the lawn again to wash the fertilizer down to the roots where it can be absorbed.
This will also prevent the fertilizer from burning the grass blades. Keep this watering fairly light, as you don’t want your fertilizer to wash away. Water again in a day or two to keep the soil moist.
Aerate Your Soil for Better Absorption and Lawn Health
Fertilizer has to get down to the roots of your grass in order to be effective, and aerating your lawn will help roots to access these nutrients.
It also helps to break up compacted soil that roots can’t penetrate, and increases healthy air and water circulation.
Use Grass Cycling for Extra Nutrients
Grass cycling is a great natural lawn fertilizer. All you do is leave the grass clippings behind when you mow the lawn. This simple process is surprisingly effective, providing grass with around 25% of its nutrient requirement!
The best way to do this is to use a mulching blade on your mower, as this cuts the grass into small pieces that quickly break down and disappear.
It’s a great way to provide your lawn with nutrients in an eco-friendly way, and it helps you save money too.
Add Compost to Your Lawn
Adding compost to your lawn is another great way to provide nutrients to your grass and boost soil quality. Organic compost is the best choice of natural lawn fertilizer, as it is rich in organic matter, micro-nutrients, and microorganisms that create a healthy environment for grass to grow.
You can easily make your own compost at home, for free! To use compost, start spreading it onto the lawn in the early spring or before you start over seeding.
You can spread the compost using a rake, dumping larger mounds in each section then spreading them out evenly. The ideal layer of compost can be fairly thick, but you should still be able to see the blades of the grass.
If you want to make compost at home, you should check out our best garden composter reviews. You can watch this video for a more detailed look on how you can perfectly fertilize your lawn.
Using a Rotary Spreader for Granular Fertilizer
A rotary spreader is designed to work on larger areas of lawn, and make fertilizing your grass with a granular fertilizer quick and easy.
To apply the fertilizer evenly, walk slowly up and down the lawn, overlapping slightly each time to make sure that you have covered the entire lawn with fertilizer evenly and to prevent stripes of growth.
Using a Handheld Spreader for Granular Fertilizer
For small lawns, a handheld spreader is a great option for applying granular fertilizer. To get an even distribution and prevent stripes of growth, walk slowly up and down the lawn, overlapping slightly each time to make sure that you have covered the entire lawn.
Source: Amazon
When is the Best Time to Fertilize Your Lawn?
The general rule is to apply your grass fertilizer in early spring, after the last frosts of winter. However, this depends on the type of grass you have.
- Cool-season grasses – For cool season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and tall/fine fescue, which are prevalent in the northern parts of the USA, it’s best to apply a heavy dose of fertilizer in the fall followed by a lighter dose of fertilizer in the spring.
These grasses tend to go dormant in very hot weather, so their main growing season is when it’s a bit cooler – about 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. - Warm-season grasses – These grasses include Bermuda, St. Augustine, kikuyu, zoysia and centipede grass. They like warmer and tropical weather, so are more prevalent in the southern parts of the USA.
They respond well to a heavy dose of fertilizer in the spring (just before your grass starts greening up), and a second dose just after the peak summer months have passed but before fall sets in.
Now that you know when to feed your grass and how to apply the fertilizer, you need the best product. So, what is the best lawn fertilizer for spring on the market? Let’s take a look at the list below.
Best Lawn Fertilizers for Spring 2024 Reviews
1. Miracle-Gro Lawn Food
via: Amazon
Miracle-Gro Lawn Food is a very fast-acting and powerful liquid fertilizer that delivers results very quickly. Formulated for turf grass, it is high in chelated iron and nitrogen.
As it is a water soluble fertilizer, you simply mix the solution and apply using a sprinkler attachment or backpack sprayer.
When using Miracle-Gro, always remember to add a tablespoon of concentrate to each gallon of water.
via: Amazon
If you already have a well-established lawn, you will need to use one gallon of the diluted mixture for every fifteen square feet of lawn every two to three weeks through the spring and summer.
For lawns in poor condition or those that are newly seeded, you will need to apply one gallon of the diluted mixture for every ten square feet of lawn.
Pros:
- Quick results – your lawn will start turning green after just a few days
- Covers 7,200 square feet of lawn
- Encourages soft, thick grass growth
- Can be used on any grass type or species
Cons:
- It’s recommended that you use the Miracle-Gro spray to use this product comfortably
- It is not organic
2. Espoma EOLB30 Organic Lawn Food
Espoma EOLB30 Organic Lawn Food is a chemical-free, organic and affordable granular lawn fertilizer that is safe for both pets and kids.
This product is formulated specifically to optimize lawn growth and health, providing 2.5 times more SRN (slow release nitrogen) than a typical lawn program.
The Espoma contains bio-tone microbes that help promote the absorption of nutrients and create a healthy soil biome. This promotes deeper root growth, rapid greening and enhanced soil structure.
It’s best to apply Espoma lawn food to a newly mowed and dry lawn. You can use a broadcast spreader, slightly overlapping your circuits to avoid striping.
If rain is not expected within the day, you should water the lawn lightly and keep it moist.
Pros:
- Environmentally friendly
- Organic
- Won’t burn lawns
- Won’t leach out of the soil
- Provides nutrition that is long lasting
- Creates healthy soil and lawn
- Less frequent mowing
- Great value at low prices
- Fortified with calcium
- Optimize the health of a lawn
Cons:
- None!
3. Safer Lawn Restore Fertilizer
Safer Lawn Restore Fertilizer is an organic, slow-release granular fertilizer that delivers a greener and healthier lawn in just five days while providing enough nutrients for 2 months.
Safer Lawn Restore Fertilizer contains a formulation that is long lasting and contains no salt-based chemicals, which means that there is no risk of burning your lawn.
Another good thing about this formula is that it is beneficial for microbes and organisms that live in your soil. It is also odor free, so you don’t have to worry about any unpleasant smell.
Pros:
- Organic and environmentally friendly
- Lawns will green up in 3-5 days
- Long lasting effect
- Non-burning product
- Perfect for laws that are thin or newly seeded
- Ideal for summer stress conditions
- Pet and child friendly
- Pellets can easily be spread evenly
- Gentle on your lawn
Cons:
- Pellet size can be inconsistent
4. Scotts Turf Building Lawn Fertilizer
Scotts Turf Building Lawn Fertilizer is a granular fertilizer that helps build healthy roots and prevents pests and diseases, feeding strong grass growth to smother weed development.
It won’t burn the lawn and can be used on any type of turf grass with great results. It’s easy to apply using a spreader and covers about 5,000 square feet per 12.5lbs bag.
You can apply the fertilizer to lawns that are wet or dry, while the temperature should not exceed ninety degrees Fahrenheit. After using the application, it would be best to immediately water the lawn as this will promote absorption.
Pros:
- Instantly improves lawn after the first application
- Strengthens grass growth to provide protection against future problems
- Promotes strong root development roots
- Enhances the ability of the lawn to absorb nutrients and water
- Lawn can be walked on immediately after application
- Phosphate-Free
Cons:
- It isn’t ideal for high temperature, as lawn can be burnt
- Lawn might develop some yellow spots after application
- Not organic
Source: Amazon
LawnStar 16-4-8 is an effective liquid fertilizer with the perfect ratio of macronutrients that will help your lawn flourish. It can be applied to any type of turf grass and delivers quick results in terms of greening and strong growth.
It has 10% immediate and 6% slow releasing Nitrogen that results in rapid greening as well as supplying long term nutrition to your lawn.
The 4% Phosphorus supports stronger and deeper root growth that gives you a thicker and lusher lawn.
Source: Amazon
For faster growth and an increase in stress tolerance, it also has 8% Potassium. The formula also includes seaweed extract for better absorption and soil biome support.
It comes with an easy-to-use hose sprayer that you can connect to any standard garden hose that automatically premixes the correct dilution for more accurate dosage, making application easy.
One 32 oz bottle can treat up to 4,000 sq ft of lawn, and it even comes with a 30-day evergreen guarantee.
Pros:
- Well-balanced, well-researched formula
- 16-4-8 Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium
- Comes with an easy-to-use hose sprayer
- Works will all types of grass
Cons:
- Not organic
- Bottle is not refillable
6. BioAdvanced Weed & Feed Crabgrass Killer Lawn Fertilizer
Source: Amazon
BioAdvanced 100532514 Lawn Fertilizer and Weed Killer solves two problems with one solution, ridding your lawn of weeds while promoting exceptionally healthy growth.
This granular fertilizer will kill different kinds of broadleaf lawn weeds like dandelion, clover, and chickweed, as well as crabgrass and other grassy weeds.
With a 22-0-4 ratio, it has the ability to feed your lawn with its much-needed nutrients, make it greener with its high 25% slow-release Nitrogen content, and increase its disease resistance using Potassium.
Source: Amazon
It makes use of its Micro-Feed Action that unlocks micro-nutrients from the soil to improve lawn condition, improving resistance to heat and drought.
You can apply this fertilizer on your growing lawn no matter what season: spring, summer, and even fall. For the best results, you should apply the fertilizer when you see the weeds are actively growing.
Weeds will die in a few hours, and die completely in 14-28 days. The 24lbs bag can easily cover up to 10,000 sq ft of lawn, making it a very affordable option.
Pros:
- No phosphorus
- Affordable
- Fertilizer and weed killer in one
- 22-0-4 NPK
- Can be used in any season
- Micro-Feed Action
Cons:
- Hard to spread even with a walk-behind spreader
- Not pet or child safe
- Not for sale in HI, NY, or FL
- Not organic
7. GreenView Fairway Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed + Crabgrass Preventer
Source: Amazon
Another good quality fertilizer and weed killer is the GreenView Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed + Crabgrass Preventer.
This granular fertilizer integrates professional-level technology giving your lawn three treatments in one application: blocking crabgrass, killing weeds, and feeding your lawn.
The 18 lbs bag can cover 15,000 sq ft and gives a professional result.
It has the highest slow-release Nitrogen content in the market, proving nutrients to your lawn for up to 12 weeks, resulting in a greener grass and improved growth.
Source: Amazon
Its high slow-release content also means that more of the nutrients from the fertilizer will be used by the plants instead of being washed away by water.
With a 24-0-6 nutrients ratio, it contains zero Phosphate. This is perfect if you live near bodies of water can become contaminated by fertilizer.
To stunt the growth of weeds, it’s best to apply the fertilizer in early spring when the first dandelion flowers appear. Make sure to apply it when the lawn is wet, and water after application.
Keep in mind that you should only mow the lawn 3 days applying the fertilizer.
Pros:
- Professional grade fertilizer that you can apply on your own
- Kills tough weeds and crabgrass
- 24-0-6 NPK
- Safe for bodies of water because it has 0 Phosphate
- Highest slow-release Nitrogen content
- Grass stayed green despite drought and summer heat
Cons:
- Can cause burning
- More expensive than other products
- Not organic
8. Simple Lawn Solution Maximum Green & Growth
Source: Amazon
Another good quality fertilizer and weed killer is the GreenView Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed + Crabgrass Preventer.
This granular fertilizer integrates professional-level technology giving your lawn three treatments in one application: blocking crabgrass, killing weeds, and feeding your lawn.
The 18 lbs bag can cover 15,000 sq ft and gives a professional result.
It has the highest slow-release Nitrogen content in the market, proving nutrients to your lawn for up to 12 weeks, resulting in a greener grass and improved growth.
Source: Amazon
Its high slow-release content also means that more of the nutrients from the fertilizer will be used by the plants instead of being washed away by water.
With a 24-0-6 nutrients ratio, it contains zero Phosphate. This is perfect if you live near bodies of water can become contaminated by fertilizer.
To stunt the growth of weeds, it’s best to apply the fertilizer in early spring when the first dandelion flowers appear. Make sure to apply it when the lawn is wet, and water after application.
Keep in mind that you should only mow the lawn 3 days applying the fertilizer.
Pros:
- 28-0-0 NPK
- No harsh chemicals
- Safe for pets and children
- High Nitrogen Formula for quick green and growth
- Can be used to treat nutrient deficiency
Cons:
- Only covers 3,200 square feet
9. Superior Nitrogen & Potash 15-0-15 NPK- Lawn Food Natural Liquid Fertilizer
Source: Amazon
This liquid lawn fertilizer is designed to treat lawns that are prone to heat/cold stress and diseases like fungus and rot, which can be a sign of Potassium deficiency.
This fertilizer contains Humic/Fulvic acid that conditions the soil to help improve the transfer of nutrients from the soil to the grass.
Source: Amazon
Since it is an organic and natural lawn fertilizer, there are no harsh chemicals that can burn your lawn. It’s safe for the environment, as well as your kids and pets.
As it is available in different packaging sizes, you’ll have options on what to buy depending on your lawn size. The fertilizer works on all grass types and is available in 32 ounces, 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon containers.
Pros:
- Low cost
- 15-0-15 NPK
- Phosphate-free
- Contains Humic/Fulvic Acid to condition the soil
- Targets both the top grass and the turf
- Organic
- Safe for the environment, pets and kids
- Made with high quality feed grade ingredients
Cons:
- High amounts of nitrogen might result in the damage of the grass
- It contains a high amount of potassium which might inhibit the absorption of other nutrients
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Sumo Gardener's Best Lawn Fertilizer For Spring Top Pick 2024
via Amazon
Of all the spring lawn fertilizers available in the market, the clear winner for us is Espoma Organic Lawn Booster.
This is because this grass fertilizer has all pros and no cons!
It’s organic, environmentally friendly, perfectly balanced for growing grass, easy to apply and safe for pets and kids.
It’s good for the environment and your lawn, producing great results throughout the summer. It’s also well-priced, making it easy on your wallet.
Get the Best Lawn in Town Using the Best Lawn Fertilizer for Spring!
Fertilizing your grass is an essential part of lawn maintenance, helping to grow a thick, healthy and weed-free lawn. Remember granular fertilizer tends to provide nutrients for longer (so you have less applications) but liquid lawn fertilizer provides results much faster.
As always, we highly-recommend you try organic lawn products, as they are the best for the environment as well as being safe for pets and children.
They also help improve soil and deliver lasting results. We hope our guide and reviews helped you find the best lawn fertilizer for spring, as well as giving you all the information you need to apply it for the best results.
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