Our Top 6 Lawn Fertilizer Picks You'll Want to Grab Now

Depending on your local temperatures, February through April is the perfect time to fertilize your lawn for spring, and having the right fertilizer on hand is key to lush, healthy grass.

To help you find the best lawn fertilizer, we researched dozens of brands like Scotts, GreenView, and Espoma that suit many different kinds of grass, from Kentucky bluegrass to Bermuda grass.

We included quick-release fertilizers, which are great to use later in spring, and slow-release fertilizers, which you can start adding now. These picks include the precise amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium to keep your grass strong and healthy.

Choosing the right lawn fertilizer depends on your grass type, soil composition, and the application method you want to purchase (say, dry versus liquid fertilizer). Since these characteristics are difficult to determine just by looking at your lawn, we recommend an all-purpose fertilizer full of nitrogen, which healthy lawns love.

How to Choose the Right Fertilizer

We know you want a lawn that’s lush and green, which is why it’s so important to choose a fertilizer that provides the nutrients your grass needs for healthy growth. Different grasses have different needs, so it’s helpful if you know what type you have.

If you’ve had trouble keeping your lawn healthy in the past, you may also want to perform a soil test to check the pH levels and see if it’s deficient of any important nutrients that you can bulk up with fertilizer.

The Right Type of Fertilizer For Your Lawn

Fertilizer can be either granular or liquid, and it can be organic or synthetic in various combinations. Most of our recommendations are synthetic granular fertilizers, which provide a balanced combination of nutrients and slow-release formulations to keep the lawn fed over time.

• Liquid fertilizers are typically faster-acting and easy to apply, with the tradeoff that they need to be applied more often (or supplemented with a granular fertilizer application later on). It’s also easy to accidentally apply too much if you accidentally spray a patch of grass too long, which can cause fertilizer burn.
• Organic fertilizer usually acts more slowly than synthetics because the nutrients amend the soil and release naturally over time. These fertilizers are great if you have soil that’s lacking in specific nutrients, but they aren’t as good at quickly greening up your grass.

Differing Seasonal Nutrition Requirements

In addition to choosing a fertilizer that’s made for your type of grass (cool- or warm- season), you can also select a fertilizer based on the time of year it will be applied. Different climates come with different requirements, so always make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your area.

The general rule of thumb is that spring applications need more nitrogen to support new growth, summer applications need a balanced, slow-release formula to avoid fertilizer burn, and late fall applications need potassium to support strong root growth for winter hardiness.

Best Overall

Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food

$27 $22 at Amazon $22 at Walmart $28 at Home Depot

This easy-to-use, highly effective fertilizer from Scotts wins our top overall spot for its adaptability on multiple grass types and year-round application. With 32% nitrogen for green blades and 4% potassium for strong, deep roots, your grass will perk up quickly after a "meal" of this all-season fertilizer.

This is a great fertilizer for the spring, but it's highly effective and nourishing for year-round use. You can water this formula into the soil after application, but according to Scotts, that step isn't essential. The bag has all the information you need to set your fertilizer spreader correctly as well as the exact amounts of the fertilizer to apply, and we love that no guesswork is required.

This fertilizer does not contain phosphorus, but unless your turf is newly planted, most lawns receive all the phosphorus they need from the soil. Notably, this fertilizer is suited for just about any popular turf grass—and that means zero worries about whether you have a cool-season or warm-season lawn, something that many homeowners aren't sure of.

_{NPK Ratio: 32-0-4︱Type: Slow-release︱Feed Duration: 6-8 weeks︱Application Type: Granular︱Coverage: 5,000 square feet}

Best for Spring

Espoma Spring Lawn Booster

$45 at Amazon $50 at Walmart $45 at Ace Hardware

Prep your turf ahead of the spring growing season with this organic lawn booster from Espoma. This effective grass-greener supplies a healthy dose of calcium—plus 8% nitrogen and 1% sulfur—to wake up your spring lawn and quickly restore its lush appearance.

It's suited to all types of turf, and won't burn or discolor the grass as long as you follow the instructions. Apply it with a spreader to a dry lawn that's been recently mowed. If there is no rain forecast for the next 24 hours, be sure to water it.

While there is admittedly a slight smell of bird droppings at first, it disappears quickly once the fertilizer has been watered into the grass and dissolved. A slight scent is also common among other organic fertilizers, so the smell isn't unique to this pick.

The fertilizer is best applied from February through April if you live in a cold-winter area, or January through February for those in warm-winter climates. The 30-pound bag will cover up to 5,000 square feet.

_{NPK Ratio: 8-0-0︱Type: Slow-release︱Feed Duration: 12 weeks︱Application Type: Granular︱Coverage: 5,000 square feet}

Best for Fall

GreenView Fall Lawn Food

$27 at Amazon $27 at Walmart $27 at Home Depot

Hot, dry summers can give your lawn a beating and leave it looking a little worse for wear. Thanks to this fall fertilizer from GreenView, your grass will be able to recuperate better from summer's stressors, survive the impending winter, and grow lush and green as soon as spring rolls around.

It has a well-balanced NPK ratio of 22-0-10, which is unlikely to burn your grass if it's applied as directed on the bag. You can use the fertilizer on almost any popular turf type, including both warm-season and cool-season grasses. Ideally, though, it should be applied when nighttime temperatures in your area are still in the 60s—no earlier than September and no later than December.

The fertilizer should not be applied to damp or frozen turf, but if a light rain is not anticipated later that day, it should be watered after applying. To keep your driveway and walks clean, sweep up any spills as soon as they happen. 

_{NPK Ratio: 22-0-10︱Type: Slow-release︱Feed Duration: 8 weeks︱Application Type: Granular︱Coverage: 5,000 square feet}

Best Quick-Release

Scotts Green Max Lawn Food

$38 $34 at Amazon $34 at Walmart $37 at Lowes

If your lawn is looking a little sad and you need results fast, we think that this quick-release lawn fertilizer from Scotts is the best option. It’s a nitrogen-forward formula that can green up your lawn in three days according to the manufacturer.

With an NPK ratio of 27-0-2, this fertilizer is primarily nitrogen with a bit of potassium to help promote healthy root growth. Scotts recommends reapplying every six to eight weeks since the nutrients are made available immediately and not released over time.

Application is easy since this fertilizer can be applied dry or wet, but the brand recommends watering it lightly for the best results. It can cause burning if applied improperly or during the wrong conditions, so avoid using more than recommended, and don’t apply it during hot, dry weather when your grass is already stressed.

While this fertilizer is more of a short-term solution than a long-term fix, we think the quick-release formula is a great way to green up your lawn. A 16-pound bag can cover up to 5,000 square feet, making this pick a similar, great value to our best for fall option.

_{NPK Ratio: 27-0-2︱Type: Quick-release︱Feed Duration: 6-8 weeks︱Application Type: Granular︱Coverage: 5,000 square feet}

Best Organic

Purely Organic Lawn Food

$40 $35 at Amazon $35 at Walmart

If you prefer organic products in your home and garden, you'll love this effective fertilizer from Purely Organics as much as we do. Derived from leftover distiller grains and soybean meal, you can apply this product and let your pets or kids play on the lawn safely that same day.

You might smell a faint beer-like aroma after application—coming from the distiller's grains—but the scent fades quickly. Similar to other picks on our list, you don't need to water the fertilizer if rain is in the forecast. If not, go ahead and water your lawn after application with your spreader.

The NPK ratio is 10-0-2, so you can use it without fear of burning or creating yellow spots on your lawn. Apply it to any type of grass, whether a cool-season or warm-season variety, every eight weeks during the growing season—for most gardeners, that's spring through fall.

You'll love how quickly your lawn greens up and becomes thick and lush with regular doses of this plant-based lawn food. A 25-pound bag covers up to 6,250 square feet of turf, so you'll get more coverage than our best overall pick.

_{NPK Ratio: 10-0-2︱Type: Slow-release︱Feed Duration: 8 weeks︱Application Type: Granular︱Coverage: 6,250 square feet}

Best Weed-and-Feed

BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed and Feed

$28 $24 at Amazon $24 at Walmart $32 at Ace Hardware

It might seem like an endless battle to keep your lawn free from weeds, but this effective weed-and-feed from BioAdvanced helps you end the struggle. It's especially good at wiping out tough-to-kill crabgrass, but is also effective against numerous other broad-leaf weeds, including clover, dandelion, and chickweed.

It stops already-growing weeds in their tracks, prevents weed seeds from sprouting, and continues working for up to six months. Plus, it's an effective fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 22-0-4 that helps green up your grass and promote deep root growth for up to three months. You can apply it in the spring, summer, or fall.

This fertilizer is not suited to all types of grass, so it's not for every home. Only use it if your lawn is predominantly fescue, Bermuda grass, buffalo grass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, seashore paspalum, or zoysia. Use a spreader to apply the product to damp grass, then water it well.

_{NPK Ratio: 22-0-4︱Type: Slow-release︱Feed Duration: Up to 3 months︱Application Type: Granular︱Coverage: 4,000 square feet}

What to Look for in a Lawn Fertilizer

The Standout Nutrients (or NPK Ratio)

Check any bag of fertilizer, and you’ll find three numbers prominently displayed somewhere on the packaging. These fertilizer numbers are the NPK ratio, and they tell you the percentages, by weight, of three essential plant nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

Each of the three main nutrients plays a slightly different role in your lawn’s health:

• Nitrogen is critical to keep your grass green and healthy and promotes thick, lush growth. Because nitrogen spurs rapid growth, it’s great for fertilizers applied early in the spring growing season. Chris Enroth, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension, recommends one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of grass.
• Phosphorus is important for healthy root growth, especially in newly planted grass—but only in small quantities. Large amounts are banned in most fertilizers for their adverse environmental effects.
• Potassium is also essential for healthy root growth and helps grass endure stressors like drought or extreme weather.
  

The Type and Application Frequency

Fertilizers are grouped primarily into slow-release and quick-release formulas. Each type requires a different application schedule and addresses different issues with your lawn.

• Slow-release lawn fertilizers are granules that slowly break down as the product is exposed to water. Most lawn fertilizers, including Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food, our best overall pick, are slow-release products that break down over weeks or even months to supply nutrients to the grass’s roots gradually.
• Quick-release lawn fertilizers—often liquids, like Scotts Liquid Turf Builder Lawn Food—give your grass a quick burst of energy to green up yellowed or weakened turf. While quick-release fertilizers are good for grass that needs help immediately, they can burn grass if used too frequently.
  

Organic vs. Synthetic Formulas

Your grass doesn’t care whether the nitrogen and other nutrients in the fertilizer are synthetically created or come from a natural source, but if you garden organically, you might have a preference when it comes to your fertilizer's formula. 

• Synthetic fertilizers generally break down in the soil fairly quickly and are designed to be easy for the turf’s roots to absorb. This means the fertilizer promotes growth more quickly. 
• Organic fertilizers can have a wide variety of sources, including treated waste sludge, grains, or animal-based products such as manure, bone, or feathers. Our favorite organic fertilizer, Purely Organic Lawn Food is made from leftover distillers’ grains and soymeal. Often, organic fertilizers break down more slowly but also stay accessible for a longer time, reducing the need for reapplications.

How Often Should You Fertilize Your Lawn?

Ideally, you should fertilize your lawn two or three times a year during your growing season, which usually means feeding in the spring, summer, and fall. However, don’t reach for the bag of fertilizer more often than that—and make sure you’re feeding the right amount (at the right time) for your climate.

“Indiscriminate use of fertilizer can damage a lawn,” Enroth says.

When determining the best time to fertilize, cool- and warm-season grasses have different growing seasons and fertilizer requirements.

• Cool-season grasses: Northern areas with cooler climates require fertilizer in the early spring (just as the grass is starting to grow) and in the fall so the grass can build strong roots before the winter chill takes hold.
• Warm-season grasses: In warmer southern areas, you can fertilize in the spring and summer (usually between April and June, and then again from July to September). If you see frost in your area, avoid fertilizing in the late fall (new fall growth could be damaged during the winter).
• Transitional climates: If you live in an area that falls between cooler northern and warmer southern climates, you need to pay attention to the timing of your grass growth patterns and fertilize during the growing season.

One More Thing...

If your area experiences periods of extreme heat and droughts, avoid fertilizing during those times. Your grass is stressed under those conditions, so forcing new growth can be damaging (and excess nutrients can build up in the soil).

Why Trust The Spruce?

Michelle Ullman is a writer for The Spruce who specializes in home improvement products, including tools and landscaping supplies. She’s also an avid gardener and loves to care for her garden, as well as many indoor and outdoor potted plants.

For this story, Ullman considered dozens of lawn fertilizers, evaluating each for season of use, types of grass treated, ease of application, effectiveness at promoting lawn health, and overall value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative. 

Our Experts:

• Chris Enroth, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension