You may hear people complaining that the grass is always greener somewhere else. In fact, you might say that about your lawn, but it doesn’t have to be so. Most people don’t use the right products to get the grass green and keep it that way throughout the season.
It’s important to have the best fertilizer for green grass, and we talk about 10 different products. We also explain how to pick a fertilizer and when to apply it. This gives you plenty of information so that you can fertilize the lawn correctly.
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What Is the Best Fertilizer to Make Grass Green?
The first thing you’ve got to do when trying to select the best fertilizer is to understand what the package’s numbers indicate. You are going to see numbers, such as 8-2-6 or 16-4-8. These are called the NPK ratio, which stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
With the numbers above, you have eight percent nitrogen with two percent phosphorus and six percent potassium. All of these ingredients are key. However, grass requires a lot more nitrogen than phosphorus to be greener throughout the season.
Nitrogen is what helps the plants stay green, and potassium can protect against disease and drought. Phosphorus isn’t as important for grass because it’s designed to help the roots grow. Since grass is a short-root plant, it’s not needed as much.
The climate in which you live can have a say in how much of each ingredient you require. If you’re unsure, you can always have the soil tested to determine how much of each is there. When your soil has more or less nitrogen, then you need a fertilizer with less or more included.
Generally, though, you need a higher percentage of nitrogen with a low or nil rate of phosphorus. If you can’t or don’t want to test the soil, this is a good rule of thumb to consider.
Now that you know which NPK numbers are best consider whether you want organic or synthetic fertilizer. Synthetics are designed for quick results, but they can kill or burn the grass if they’re used too often.
Organics, on the other hand, take longer to work. However, they don’t produce as many health and environmental risks.
The 10 Best Fertilizers For Thick, Green Grass
Now that you understand a bit about the NPK numbers, it’s time to learn about the best fertilizers available for green grass. Check out the table below or scroll through each product.
The Advanced Lawn Fertilizer from Simple Lawn Solutions is a completely balanced food for your grass. It features a 16-4-8 NPK ratio, which means it does contain some phosphorus. However, the amount of nitrogen is four times as much.
This is a liquid fertilizer and contains high-quality ingredients. Therefore, you can nourish the lawn and make it healthier.
With an easy-to-use design, you can apply it to the grass quickly and evenly. It’s concentrated, so you just hook it up to your garden hose, turn it on, and spray. Plus, you are going to like that it works on a variety of grass types.
These can include Zoysia, Bermuda, Centipede, Bahia, and so many others. Regardless of the grass you have outside, this is going to work for it. However, it is a good idea to know which grass you’ve got in the yard.
One container treats about 3,200 square feet. You can use it to repair a lawn or for newly seeded ones.
2. Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food
When you want something that is bound to work, choose the Scotts brand. The Turf Builder Lawn Food comes in a 12.5-pound bag. The NPK ratio is 32-0-4, it is designed specifically for thick and green grass.
Plus, it strengthens the roots and protects your lawn from new problems. Therefore, we are sure it has enough potassium in it.
This product features the All-in-One Particle technology, which is exclusive to the Scotts brand. Therefore, each granule has all of the ingredients to ensure that you evenly feed and green the lawn.
Just make sure that you sweep any off of the driveway and other places you don’t want grass.
One bag of this product is enough to cover 5,000 square feet or two tennis courts. Plus, it is going to help your lawn absorb nutrients and water. If that weren’t enough, the grass can grow stronger roots.
It’s designed to be put on any grass type. Plus, it doesn’t burn the lawn. This is guaranteed as long as you follow the package directions.
3. Scotts Green Max Lawn Food
Since the Scotts brand is so popular, there are multiple grass fertilizers on the market. The Green Max version is a synthetic fertilizer. Therefore, it can get your grass greener in just three days.
It has a two-in-one formula, with a dual-action feature. The goal here is to feed the lawn while enriching it with iron supplements.
When you use the fertilizer as directed on the package, it isn’t going to stain the grass. Therefore, you can use it almost any time throughout the year and day. Once you apply the product, you can immediately use it.
Since it is granular, it goes to work fast. Then, you can relax or let the kids run around and play. The good news is you can apply the fertilizer to any type of grass and can even use it in fall, summer, or spring.
Please note that you require a spreader. You don’t have to use Scott’s brand of the spreader, but one is necessary to get the product spread evenly.
4. Scotts Snap Pac Lawn Fertilizer
If you want to make applying fertilizer easier, then the Snap Pac from Scotts brand might be ideal. Though it features a variety of products, we are looking at the Lawn Food right now. You can apply it to any grass type and in any season.
The goal here is to build deep roots and for quick greening. You can find an NPK number on the package is 26-0-4. It is also designed to protect from future issues, which means it contains potassium.
This product is suitable for people who want to fertilize in a rush. It’s a 10-minute system and comes with the EdgeGuard technology included. That means the fertilizer can spread to the very edges of the lawn and make them look greener and lusher, too.
Of course, the only downside we can find is that this product can only be used with the Snap Spreader from Scotts. Therefore, you must purchase this separately unless you already have one to use.
5. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food
Some consumers go by the brand name, and if that’s you, Miracle-Gro is one of the most popular on the market. You can find a variety of options, but we’re talking about lawn food today. It comes in a 5-pound container with a resealable lid.
This product is water-soluble. Therefore, you scoop out the amount you require for the size of your lawn. Then, you add it to water, shake it, and spray it.
Though it claims that you need to use the Garden Feeder from Miracle-Gro, it is possible to use any sprayer container. Just add the granules and water amounts, shake it up, and spray where you need it.
One container can feed about 7,200 square feet of lawn. This product is intended to be used every four to six weeks throughout the active season of the grass. Plus, it works instantly, which means it is a synthetic product.
Though it works instantly, it can take time to see results. Still, you can encourage a softer, greener grass for the lawn.
6. Milorganite 0636 Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer
The Milorganite brand is becoming very popular because it’s organic. This one is designed specifically for grass, so it contains a lot of nitrogen. It also features a slow-release formula, which means you can use it less often and get the same results.
You get a 36-pound bag, which can be used on a 2,500-square-foot lawn. It has the NPK ratio 6-4-0, and also contains some iron, which is ideal for a lush and green lawn.
With its organic composition, you know it’s eco-friendly and safe for your pets and children. Many golf course owners use it on the grass to keep it fresh and beautiful.
When you use it correctly, you can cut down on the time it takes to mow the grass. Plus, you can water less frequently because the grass learns how to store nutrients. Therefore, this product can help you keep a beautiful lawn without as much maintenance.
7. Simple Lawn Solutions Superior Nitrogen & Potash Lawn Fertilizer
Simple Lawn Solutions is a popular brand and has a variety of products. The Lawn Fertilizer contains the same amount of potassium as nitrogen (15 percent). There’s no phosphorus, but you don’t really need it for grass.
Plus, the potassium helps the grass store nutrients and use the nitrogen properly. Humic acid is also included.
This can help to intensify the green color and make sure the lawn grows well. It also gives essential nutrients for the strength and health of the lawn.
The 32-ounce spray is concentrated. Therefore, you just hook it up to the garden hose and turn it on. The water mixes with the fertilizer and then gets sprayed over the lawn.
Most people start from the far side of the lawn and work their way back. However, you can choose the method that works best for you.
It’s possible to use this product on any grass type, including bluegrass and palmetto. Centipede, Zoysia, and Buffalo grass can all benefit, as well.
8. Scotts Natural Lawn Food
When you want a reputable brand and a natural fertilizer, Scotts has what you need. Its natural lawn food is designed to build up a thicker, greener lawn the natural way.
Of course, you don’t have to wait at all once you’ve applied it to the full lawn. You and your family can run on it and enjoy yourselves. Plus, it is safe for pets to be on right after it’s applied.
This product is intended to be used on any type of grass you might have. Along with that, you can use it in any season. There is a 2,500- and 4,000-square-foot bag available. It’s formulated to be OMRI listed, which means it is organic.
Therefore, it’s safe for the environment and the grass. Plus, it contains 11 percent of nitrogen, which is very important. You also get two percent phosphorus and potassium.
However, you cannot purchase this product or use it in New York, Maine, Maryland, and Connecticut. It is also unavailable in Florida, Washington, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
9. The Andersons Innova Organic Fertilizer
The Andersons brand is also well-known, and the Innova fertilizer is a slow-release product. This often indicates that it’s organic, and this one is. In fact, it is OMRI listed and certified for organic use.
With the Innova brand, it’s plant-derived and based, so it isn’t going to contain the things you don’t want. This includes manure, biosolids, animal parts, and composted waste products.
You can easily spread this fertilizer using conventional equipment, such as a spreader. Any brand works. The granules are designed to be low-dust and aren’t going to burn the lawn.
This bag contains 40 pounds of fertilizer. It features an NPK ratio of 7-1-2.
Therefore, it has a lot more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium. It’s also safe to be used around your pets and children.
Of course, the granules are slightly larger than you might expect. However, they spread easily when you read the direction on the package and instructions from the spreader.
10. American Hydro Systems GrassSoGreen Fertilizer
If your lawn is significantly damaged, then the GrassSoGreen Fertilizer from American Hydro Systems might be ideal. It comes with an NPK ratio of 19-0-0, so it only contains a lot of nitrogen.
This formulation is designed to help you boost the color and get a greener, thicker lawn. It also replaces any nutrients the grass loses while you mow.
Of course, this product is quite easy to use. In fact, it’s designed exclusively to be used with the American Hydro System feeder. However, you can use other feeders or even use it with the sprinkler system to fertilize while its waters.
The product itself comes in a gallon jug and is concentrated. Therefore, you need to follow the directions. With the ProFeeder, you just connect the hose to the top and go.
If you’ve got a holding tank, fill it with the concentrated liquid and then hook it to the hose. You can also use it with a siphoning or injection system if available.
When Should I Apply Fertilizer to My Lawn?
Though many homeowners don’t use fertilizer on the lawn at all, doing so at the wrong time can be problematic. Sometimes, you might not know what to use, but we talked about that earlier. Now, you need to know when and how to use it.
Be aware that if you don’t apply it properly, it could do damage to the lawn. Therefore, it’s important to focus on the timing, such as when to apply it.
Usually, it’s ideal to fertilize in the spring. Make sure that the soil temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13°C). This doesn’t mean the temperature of the air; you need to check the soil specifically.
If you have lilacs, they should be blooming, and your grass should be growing. You can also purchase an inexpensive soil thermometer to tell you the temperature. Generally, this happens in mid-April for most regions.
You should also feed the lawn again about a month after that first application, which should be in the middle of May. After that, continue fertilizing every six or eight weeks until October. This gives you about five feedings per year.
It might be helpful to start with a synthetic fertilizer because it’s going to work quickly. Use that for the first two feedings to get the grass green and tall. Then, switch to an organic one for the third feeding.
For the fall feeding months, it might be better to use a fertilizer that has a little more potassium and phosphorus. This is when the roots are growing deeper to stay alive during the winter.
However, it is okay to use the same fertilizer each time you feed the lawn. If you notice that the grass is getting a little sparse, consider something with a higher P and K percentage.
How to Make Grass Green Fast?
For most people, the thought of having yellow grass or bare spots is unbearable. The goal here is to ensure that the grass starts off healthy. This might mean removing any dead growth and using grass seed on the lawn.
That way, you cover bare spots and get a lusher, greener turf right off the bat. If you do seed the lawn, make sure to water it based on the instructions. You have to wait until the seeds are sprouted before using fertilizer.
The best thing you can do when using fertilizer is to try a synthetic brand. It does have chemicals, which can be damaging to the ground, environment, and water supply (should the product get to that area). However, they are often designed to be fast-acting.
Of course, the Scotts Green Max brand is an example of a fast-acting product. From the packaging, you can see that it takes just three days to see a difference. Organic products are often slow-release, so it can take up to two weeks to even notice the change.
Keep in mind that products containing only nitrogen and no potassium or phosphorus are going to focus on the color. The roots can become too shallow and die off if you don’t use phosphorus at all, especially in summer.
To combat this, you should use the fast-acting fertilizer in April and May (depending on your region) for the first two feedings. Then, switch to a slow-release product, such as the Milorganite brand we talked about earlier.
The slow-release formula contains some phosphorus, which helps to promote root growth while it feeds the lawn in the summer. You can also use it in the fall to help the roots grow even deeper to stay alive during the winter months.
Conclusion
After going through all 10 products, you may have one or two that you think are best. However, if you’re still not sure, then we want to help you make the right decision for your grass.
We chose to have two winners – one organic and one synthetic. The synthetic winner is the Miracle-Gro Lawn Food, which is water-soluble. Though you do need a garden spreader, this is something you can use throughout the seasons and years and is a good buy.
Those who prefer organic fertilizer might like the Milorganite brand. Its slow-release formula means that you use it less often and can still get a lush, green lawn. Plus, it has some iron in it, which helps the grass look its best.
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