If you want your lawn to thrive with lush, green grass, you need to feed it properly. Lawn fertilizers provide essential nutrients that grass needs to grow thick and healthy. However, not all fertilizers are the same, and understanding the different types and their respective benefits will help you pick the perfect formula for your yard.
The optimal fertilizer for your lawn depends on factors like grass type, soil needs, season, and how quickly you want to see results. Organic fertilizers, derived from plant and animal materials, release nutrients slowly over time. Synthetic fertilizers are man-made for efficient nutrient delivery. There are also specialized products designed for new lawns, weed control, slow-release feeding, and more. For personalized advice on choosing the right fertilizer, consulting with professionals on lawn care in Dunwoody Ga, can ensure optimal results tailored to your specific needs and environmental considerations.
We’ll discuss these 3 types and how to choose the right lawn fertilizer.
As we’ve said, organic fertilizers are derived from natural materials like animal waste, plant matter, and minerals. Many homeowners prefer organic options because they slowly release nutrients into the soil without the use of synthetic chemicals.
Organic fertilizers help build healthy soil biology and microbial activity while feeding the grass. Some examples of organic fertilizers include compost and manure from cow, chicken, or horse manure, which provide nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Other options are corn gluten meal, a byproduct of corn processing that controls weeds and provides nitrogen, or cottonseed meal made from crushed cotton seeds which provides a slow-release feed of nitrogen and trace nutrients.
Bone and blood meals are also organic materials high in phosphorus and nitrogen derived from animal bones and blood that quickly boost grass growth.
On the other end of the spectrum, synthetic fertilizers are man-made products that efficiently deliver nutrients, often providing faster-acting results than organic options. The most common types of synthetic fertilizers are granular, liquid, and synthetic turf fertilizers.
Granular fertilizers come in a dry, solid form that you spread across your lawn, with nutrient release time varying by product. Liquid fertilizers are concentrated products that mix with water, allowing you to deliver a fast nutrient feed to grass through spray or hose applications.
Synthetic turf fertilizers are made specifically for artificial grass to help control odors and reduce static while feeding synthetic grass fibers.
Beyond basic organic and synthetic options, you can find fertilizers tailored to specific lawn needs. For example, starter fertilizers with high phosphorus help root development when establishing a new lawn from seed or sod. Weed and feed products contain weed killers alongside fertilizer to eliminate weeds while nourishing grass.
Slow-release fertilizers provide a gradual nutrient release over 6-8 weeks or longer to maintain growth, while fast-acting formulas deliver nutrients rapidly to correct deficiencies and make grass bounce back quicker.
Late fall fertilizer applications store nutrients in the grassroots to help lawns recover faster in spring, known as winterizer products. There are even dog spot repair blends to fill in urine burn spots and areas of dog damage in lawns.
No matter your specific lawn goals, there is a tailored fertilizer option designed to get your grass looking its best. Be sure to follow product labels and spread rates to avoid wasting product or over-fertilizing. With the right nutrients from quality fertilizers, you’ll have thick, green, healthy grass all season long.