When it comes to fertilizing your lawn, there are a lot of different products out there. If you’re looking for something fast, effective, and easy to apply, liquid fertilizer is the way to go.
The best liquid lawn fertilizers give your lawn everything it needs to grow greener and fuller and stay healthy for a longer period of time.
Here are some of the main reasons why you should pick a liquid fertilizer and some of the best products out there.
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Benefits of Using Liquid Fertilizer for Lawn
When it comes to fertilizer, there are a lot of reasons to choose a liquid product over a granular option. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of using a liquid fertilizer.
Highly Concentrated
Because liquid fertilizer is concentrated, you get a lot of use out of a small bottle. This saves you money and is a lot easier to carry around than a comparable amount of granular fertilizer.
Another benefit to a highly concentrated form of fertilizer is you can dilute it to suit your needs. While each product is different, most have a higher starter application with lower maintenance applications throughout the season.
Easy to Apply
A lot of these products attach directly to a garden hose for easy application. Others are designed to be added directly to irrigation systems and some require a separate sprayer. However it’s applied, liquid fertilizer gives a uniform, even coverage that granular fertilizer does not.
Liquid fertilizer is also a much better way to cover large areas of land. Because it applies evenly, you can rest assured that one side of your lawn will get just as much fertilizer as the other.
Work Quickly
Liquid fertilizers deliver nutrients to both the roots and the surface of the grass so they’re absorbed quickly. Granular fertilizer, on the other hand, does not provide anything to leaves of grass and can take time to take effect in the soil.
Some of these most important nutrients for lawns have to be carried to the root and the only way to do that is by watering them in. Since liquid fertilizers are mixed with water, you can save time by feeding your lawn and giving it the water it needs at the same time.
The 8 Best Liquid Lawn Fertilizers For Grass Types
If you’re looking for the right liquid fertilizer for your lawn, you’re in the right place. Whether you need something to treat new growth or bring your old lawn back to life, there are a lot of great options to choose from.
This fertilizer from Simple Lawn Solutions is a well-balanced blend of the essential macronutrients your lawn needs in the spring and summer, including nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. It also has seaweed extract to encourage maximum growth.
One of the notable things about this liquid fertilizer is it contains both short and long-acting nitrogen. That means it helps your lawn grow quickly and keeps it green and lush for a long time. It also improves root strength and increases your lawn’s tolerance to stress.
Simple Lawn Solutions Fertilizer is ultra-concentrated and comes in a convenient ready-to-use bottle complete with a sprayer attachment. Connect it to any standard garden hose for quick, easy, and accurate application. This formula works on all grass types and a 32-ounce bottle of treats up to 3,200 square feet.
2. Extreme Grass Growth Lawn Booster
If you’re looking for something that’s natural and non-toxic, take a look at this fertilizer from Simple Lawn Solutions. It’s ideal for growing your lawn thicker or speeding up growth and can be used on new or existing sod.
A cool thing about this product is it intensifies the reactions between your lawn and the minerals that occur naturally in the soil which can help prevent mineral deficiencies. It works on any grass type, too.
This product does not contain any harsh chemicals and is made in the USA with natural, food-grade ingredients. It’s pet and kid-friendly so you can get great results without having to worry.
Application is easy, just attach the bottle to a garden hose and you’re ready to go. This 32-ounce bottle covers about 3,200 square feet.
Here’s another great product from Simple Lawn Solutions that we just have to recommend. This is a great choice if your lawn is showing signs of potassium or nitrogen deficiency like yellow or brown areas and patchy growth. Note that this product is phosphate-free.
This formula helps your grass grow faster, greener, and stronger. Plus, it contains humic/fulvic acid to help the fertilizer move throughout the entire plant for better results. It can help improve your lawn’s ability to tolerate hot and cold and is even effective in sandy soils.
A 32-ounce bottle treats 3,200 square feet and works on all types of grass, including bluegrass and palmetto. There are no harsh chemicals, only organic, food-grade ingredients that won’t stress your lawn and are safe for pets and kids.
The bottle comes with an easy-to-use sprayer so all you have to do it connect it to your hose and apply. Because this product is designed to treat deficiencies, be sure to keep your lawn watered to make sure that the grass can absorb the nutrients it needs effectively.
4. LawnStar Rapid Green & Growth Liquid Fertilizer
If you notice more weeds, fewer lawn clippings, and yellow grass, there’s a good chance your lawn has a nitrogen deficiency. This liquid lawn food from LawnStar is a great choice to combat it. This formula contains fast and slow-release nitrogen and works for long-term improvement.
Use this product in the spring and summer to kickstart growth and maintain it throughout the season. Not only will you see results but they won’t fade after a few weeks.
This one-gallon container contains enough fertilizer to treat up to 16,000 square feet. There are simple mixing instructions on the container to figure out how much to use for your lawn. You will need a garden-hose of pump sprayer for application.
The top high-quality nitrogen sources used in this formula are effective on all grass types, including Bermuda grass and Fine Fescue. LawnStar offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your results.
5. Urban Farm Fertilizers Liquid Lawn Fertilizer
When you hear the words “hand-crafted” and “micro-brewed”, fertilizer might not be the first thing you think of. But that just shows you how much time and attention Urban Farm Fertilizers puts into their liquid lawn product.
This formula gives your lawn all the micro and macro nutrition it needs with balances nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as iron, mycorrhizae, humic acid, and more. It delivers quick results that last throughout the season.
One gallon of this formula treats 5,000 square feet for at least eight applications (or 40,000 square feet total) when using a hose sprayer or tow-behind tank. It works for all types of lawns and grass and is great for quick treatments or long-term maintenance.
6. LawnStar Chelated Liquid Iron for Lawn, Flowers, Shrubs, Trees
Another great option from LawnStar is this versatile formula that not only works on your lawn but also on shrubs, trees, and flowers, too. It contains no nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus and works by adding chelated liquid iron to the grass and soil.
Iron deficiency is a common cause of yellowing, early dormancy, and general failure to thrive. Chelated liquid iron helps combat these problems, restoring your lawn by increasing metabolism and chlorophyll production.
That’s not all, this fertilizer strengthens root development for long-term improvement and helps increase its tolerance to extreme temperature fluctuations. It’s also sugar-based so it’s much safer than some other chelated options.
How much area this product covers depends on how you plan to use it. There are detailed instructions on the side of the bottle. Dilute with the appropriate amount of water then apply with a sprayer.
This liquid fertilizer is also covered with LawnStar’s money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy after 30 days, they’ll issue you a no-questions-asked refund.
7. Grass So Green Friendly Liquid Fertilizer
Another environmentally-friendly option is this liquid fertilizer from Grass So Green. It contains the brand’s special Bio Builder, a special blend of organic ingredients that helps improve soil quality, therefore helping your grass grow green and strong.
This is an all-purpose blend that is good for both cool and warm-season grass. A one-gallon container feeds up to 2,000 square feet for a month.
It’s worth noting that this product was specially designed to be used with an irrigation system to be delivered to your lawn in small doses over a long period of time. You cannot apply it with a sprayer and expect to get the same effective results.
This product is compatible with Nature Shield and Rid O Rust formulas. It’s also safe for kids and pets and made in the USA. Plus, it’s covered with a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the results.
8. Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass
A great choice for new laws is this fertilizer from Scotts. It’s great for growing new lawns of thick grass fast and even works on grass plugs and sod. This fertilizer claims to grow new grass 70% thicker 35% faster than untreated grass.
You don’t have to just use this product for a new lawn. It’s also perfect for reseeding, installing sod, or filling in bald areas across your yard.
This 32-ounce bottle covers up to 1,800 square feet. It’s easy to apply, too, just attach it to any garden hose and you can feed and water your new grass at the same time.
The first application should take place after the grass seeds have begun to sprout. For best results, spray again a week later and again a week after that.
When to Apply Liquid Lawn Fertilizer?
When you should apply your liquid fertilizer depends on the type you’re using. Usually, you can find detailed instructions on the side of the bottle. That said, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind.
If you’re using a fertilizer that is applied once a year, apply it around Labor Day. That’s when your lawn will need it the most and it will soak up all the nutrients. This also helps build up a reserve in the soil to help it get through the cold fall and winter ahead.
If you want to apply your fertilizer twice a year, add a second application in October to give your lawn a little extra food for the winter.
You may also choose to do a third application in the early spring and a fourth mid-summer if necessary. If you’re applying fertilizer all year round, it’s better to give a smaller dose in the spring unless you notice slow growth or discoloration.
Some of the products we chose for our recommendations are specifically for spring and summer. In this case, the first application is usually given in the spring with smaller doses applied every few weeks throughout the summer.
Take caution when applying liquid chemical fertilizer at the peak of summer when it’s really hot and humid. It can actually harm your lawn. Luckily, organic options are safe to use in this weather. We included several organic options on our list.
As far as what time of day to apply fertilizer, the most important thing is to avoid the hottest part of the day. Applying fertilizer when the weather is too hot and humid can damage the grass. In the summer, early morning applications are best.
Finally, it’s best to fertilize your lawn when the ground is moist. This will help it get absorbed more quickly. It’s also less likely to burn or harm your grass than if you apply it to dry ground.
How Much Liquid Lawn Fertilizer to Apply?
Again, it varies. The most important factors to determine how much fertilizer is the size of your lawn and how much nitrogen it needs throughout the year.
Knowing the right amount of fertilizer to apply is really important. Too little and you won’t get the results you’re looking for. Too little and you won’t get the effect you’re looking for; too much and you can end up seriously damaging your lawn.
Testing
The best way to find out how much fertilizer you need to apply to your lawn is to get a soil test. Fertilizers are classified by the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium they contain. This is expressed as NPK. A soil test can tell you how much of each you need which will help you choose the right fertilizer.
Testing your soil isn’t as difficult as you might think. Most major home and garden centers sell easy-to-use kits that measure all three of the major elements in liquid grass fertilizers. Once you know what your soil needs, you can choose a fertilizer that suits your lawn’s needs.
How Much to Apply
Once you know that you’re using the right fertilizer, follow the directions on the side of the bottle. These fertilizers usually have pretty clear instructions as to how much you should use for initial applications as well as maintenance doses throughout the season.
How to Apply Liquid Fertilizer to Lawn?
There are a few ways to apply liquid fertilizer, both of which are pretty easy to do. Again, each product is a little different so make sure you read the directions for the product you choose and follow them carefully. Here’s an overview of how they work.
Spray
The most common way to apply liquid fertilizer is to spray it onto your lawn. This can be done in a few different ways.
Some of the products we chose some in bottles that are designed to fit right onto a garden hose. First, shake the bottle well to make sure the contents are mixed well before attaching it to the hose.
Once the hose is attached securely, turn on the water. Then, turn the sprayer to the “on” position. Fertilizers that come with their own spray nozzle are generally calibrated so the liquid is automatically diluted to the right concentration but, again, read the directions on your product to be sure.
Apply the spray in a side-to-side motion being sure to cover the entire area as evenly as possible. Start in the far area of your lawn, making your way back to the spigot so you can turn the water off when you’re done without having to walk through the areas you fertilized.
For the products that don’t come with a spray attachment, you will need to use a sprayer. You can use a hose-end sprayer that works similarly to the method mentioned above. Pump sprayers are another option.
Pump sprayers are large containers that you either carry or wear on your back. Fill the container with the properly diluted fertilizer. Use the handle to add pressure to the container. Then, hold the wand and press the lever or button to release the fertilizer.
With a pump sprayer, work systematically from one side of your lawn to the other, ending close to the door. This way, you won’t have to walk through the freshly fertilized grass when you’re done.
Irrigation
If you have an irrigation system, it’s the perfect way to fertilize your lawn and pretty easy, too. We included one product that is meant to be used in this manner. Exactly how you use it depends on what type of irrigation system you have.
With this type of fertilizer, you can either add it directly to the tank with water or use it with a ProFeeder system. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and, remember, this type of fertilizer should not be used with sprayers.
Conclusion
To choose the best liquid fertilizer for lawns, it’s very important to make sure you know what your lawn needs. A soil test is the best way to do this. They’re easy to use, inexpensive, and available at most home and garden centers.
Once you know what NPK ratio you need, there are a lot of great options to choose from. We included a nice variety of quality products here to help you find one that will work best for your lawn.
I was very impressed with LawnStar Chelated Liquid Iron for Lawn, Flowers, Shrubs, Trees. Sprayed in the morning and after dinner the grass was already greener. It’s been 5 days now & my back yard looks it’s best.
Hello. This post was extremely interesting, particularly because I was looking for thoughts on this topic last Thursday.
I was very impressed with LawnStar Chelated Liquid Iron for Lawn, Flowers, Shrubs, Trees. Sprayed in the morning and after dinner the grass was already greener. It’s been 5 days now & my back yard looks it’s best.
Does it matter if we apply it before a rain storm? Would it work better before or after the storm? Thanks!