You know you need to fertilize the lawn to provide all the nutrients the grass needs for healthy, vigorous growth. But there are so many types of lawn fertilizers — granular, liquid, organic, synthetic — which should you choose? Different types of fertilizers are better suited to certain turfgrasses, soil types, climate conditions, and nutritional needs. Let’s see how to choose the right fertilizer for your lawn’s unique needs.
Why Lawn Fertilization is Crucial
Lawn fertilization is essential for the healthy growth and beauty of your lawn. Further, it makes your lawn more resilient, so it can better withstand weather changes, foot traffic, and pet activity. The right type of lawn fertilizer does more than feed your grass; it:
- Spurs rapid, vigorous growth to keep your lawn lush and green.
- Promotes robust root development for stronger, more resilient turf.
- Improves soil health by feeding microbes and enhancing the soil structure.
- Resists wear and tear from foot traffic and pets, maintaining a pristine appearance.
- Helps your lawn recover from stress, pests, and diseases.
Lawn turfgrasses are heavy feeders, requiring pounds of fertilizer during their active growth to support the thick, lush growth homeowners crave and that crowds out weeds. Your lawn rapidly depletes the available nutrients as it feeds and grows, so it needs more lawn fertilizer throughout the year to support its continued growth.
Organic vs. Synthetic Lawn Fertilizers
Two primary types of lawn fertilizers are organic and synthetic. The fundamental distinction between these types of fertilizers is the source of their nutrients. Organic lawn fertilizers are derived from natural sources such as compost and manure from various animals (cow, horse, worm, bat, etc.) and protein byproducts such as bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, and fish emulsion. Synthetic lawn fertilizers are chemical formulations of nutrients. The different source of nutrients leads to additional differences between these different fertilizers:
What They Do:
- Organic fertilizers: Feed the soil and microorganisms within it
- Synthetic fertilizers: Directly feed the plant
Nutrients:
- Organic fertilizers: Primary nutrient quantities may fluctuate, rich in micronutrients and the trace minerals plants require
- Synthetic fertilizers: Specific nutrient amounts are guaranteed and may be blended to address specific nutrient deficiencies, typically have no micronutrients or trace minerals
Speed and Duration:
- Organic fertilizers: Work slowly, gradually releasing their nutrients to the plant’s roots over an extended period, and also feed the soil. Excellent for maintaining vigorous health.
- Synthetic fertilizers: Provides quick, short-term results, ideal for rapid growth or addressing immediate nutrient deficiencies.
Environmental Impact:
- Organic fertilizers: Promote balanced growth and a healthy soil ecosystem
- Synthetic fertilizers: May encourage rapid leaf development at the expense of root development, affecting long-term plant health. It may also burn the lawn unless used with great care.
Plant Safety:
- Organic fertilizers: When manure is well-composted, it shouldn’t burn leaves or roots
- Synthetic fertilizers: Application errors may burn leaves or roots due to high concentrations of chemical salts
Both types of lawn fertilizer can be found in granular and liquid forms.
The Different Types of Lawn Fertilizers
The primary application types of lawn fertilizers are liquid, and granular. The forms affect the speed of the results. Granular fertilizers provide a slow release of nutrients over time, supporting ongoing healthy lawn growth. Liquid fertilizers offer an immediate dose of nutrients, ideal for quickly greening up the lawn and for spot treatments.
How to Choose the Right Fertilizer for Your Lawn
With so many types of lawn fertilizers, how do you choose the right one for your lawn? First, test the soil to learn the nutrients it needs. Choosing the right lawn fertilizer involves balancing immediate needs with long-term goals:
- Addressing Nutrient Deficiencies Quickly: For a rapid green-up or recovery from stress, synthetic fertilizers offer quick, targeted results. They are excellent for addressing specific nutrient deficiencies. Synthetic lawn fertilizers must be reapplied frequently, often every four to six weeks during the active growing season. However, use them cautiously to avoid burning the lawn with excessive nutrient release.
- Providing Ongoing Nutrition for Healthy Growth: Organic fertilizers excel in building and maintaining soil and microbe health over time. This type of fertilizer provides a slow, steady release of nutrients, supporting root development and enhancing the soil ecosystem. Organic fertilizers last longer, requiring reapplication every six to eight weeks or just once in the active growing season.
Once you’ve chosen the type of lawn fertilizer between organic and synthetic, select the form — liquid or granular — that best suits your lawn’s needs. Some specific fertilizers are available only as a liquid or in a granular form. For those available in each, consider:
- Liquid lawn fertilizers: Provide rapid absorption of nutrients, providing fast-acting results. They are ideal for spot treatments, rapid green-ups, and correcting severe nutrient deficiencies.
- Granular lawn fertilizers: Break down slowly, providing a gradual release of nutrients for long-term feeding. Granular feeding is particularly effective for regular maintenance to ensure sustained growth and health of the lawn.
Often, what’s the best type of lawn fertilizer for your grass will change throughout the year. You may discover that combining the two gives you the best balance between immediate results and long-term benefits.
Applying Lawn Fertilizers: Best Practices
Once you’ve decided the type of lawn fertilizer you want to use, follow the best practices for application:
- Timing is key: Never fertilize a dormant lawn. Instead, apply fertilizer at the start of your lawn’s growing season. For cool-season grasses, feed in early spring or fall. For warm-season grasses, late spring through early summer is best.
- Follow the label: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application rates to avoid damaging your lawn by overfeeding.
- Even distribution: Use a spreader for granular fertilizers to ensure even coverage. Sprays can provide a uniform application for liquids. Avoid gaps and overlaps.
- Water it down: After applying granular fertilizer, water it in to release the nutrients into the soil. For liquids, follow the directions and avoid runoff.
- Safety first: Wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles when applying lawn fertilizer. Keep children and pets off the lawn until the fertilizer has been properly absorbed.
Choosing the right type of lawn fertilizer and applying it correctly at the appropriate time will keep your lawn healthy and lush throughout the season.
If you’re still unsure which lawn fertilizer is best for your needs, why not contact the pros at Lawn Pride®?
Why Lawn Pride for Your Lawn Fertilization Needs
The grass experts at Lawn Pride are happy to help you learn to care for your lawn. Many rely on our expert tips to keep their lawns lush and lovely. We can help you choose the right types of lawn fertilizer for your property, or we can put our comprehensive lawn care services to work for you — it’s up to you. You can hire us for individual services, like fertilizing or weed control, or just let us do it all and make your lawn the pride of the neighborhood with our lawn care program.
Whichever route you choose, we know you’ll be pleased because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do.
Are you ready to relax and let us handle your lawn care while you collect the compliments? Request your free estimate today!
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not apply to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.