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Get a luscious lawn without the use of synthetical chemicals .
In This Article
Better Homes & Gardens
Organic lawn fertilizer put the “ care ” in “ lawn upkeep . ” It work by nurture the soil with full-bodied constitutive matter that easy breaks down into nutrients with help from microscopic grunge life . synthetical lawn fertiliser , on the other hand , is more like fast food for grass . It directly fertilise the grass — not the life around it — with big portions to get immediate answer .
Both types of fertilizer promote diffuse , spriggy , green - all - over turf . But organic lawn fertilizer also promotes a healthier ecosystem . From improve soil structure to minimise the risk of water befoulment , organic lawn plant food can be an impactful direction to practicesustainable horticulture .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
To successfully use constitutive lawn fertilizer , gardeners should make out when to apply it . “ It depends on where you live and what kind of grass you have , ” saysAlec Kowalewski , landscape painting specialist at Oregon State University . “ inseminate cool - time of year grass in cool weather condition and fecundate hot - time of year forage in blistering conditions . ”
If you live in northerly body politic , you likely have cool - time of year grass , which means it ’s best to fecundate during spring or fall . If you live in southerly states , you likely have hot - season grass that should be fertilize during summer .
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Synthetic Fertilizer vs. Organic Fertilizer
Synthetic lawn fertilizer and organic lawn fertilizers contain the same nutrient : nitrogen , P , and potassium . The divergence between them is where those food came from and how rapidly they work .
“ Synthetic fertilizers are made in factories and are generally agile release , ” Kowalewski state . They ’re manufacture to be in a plant life - available data format , so once they ’re enforce and watered in , the grass can bolt it up from its roots and put on a flush of growth . This looks great to us , but the sudden surge can stress out your lawn and ultimately lead to weaker maturation and less soil life sentence .
Waterway pollution is another potential downside of synthetic plant food . When grass ca n’t take up nutrients as quickly as they ’re unloosen , theyget launder away by rainfallor irrigation and can pollute waterway . The nutrient that do abide in position only feed grass for a unretentive time , so semisynthetic lawn fertilizers typically require more frequent covering .
Credit: Home Depot
Organic plant food get their nutrients from raw sources , like manure or Pisces part . They ’re often made with reprocess materials , not manufactory - made one , and they ’re generally obtuse release .
“ Organic fertilizers necessitate microbic breakdown to become plant - usable , ” Kowalewski read . Because alimental departure is gradual , it can take longer to see results .
But this measured process set aside grass roots to keep up , grow more uniformly , and grow longer - last resolution without posture the same environmental threatsas synthetic plant food .
Credit: Amazon
Fertilizer Analysis
A plant food analysis is the labeling on fertilizer promotional material that lean three letter , N , phosphorus , and K , each geminate with a number . The letters stand for atomic number 7 , phosphorus , and potassium , the essential nutrient works want to produce . The corresponding number indicate the weight of each nutrient in the product .
Each part ofN - P - Kbenefits a specific part of a plant . A trick for recall what each nutrient does is"up - down - all - around . ”Nitrogen promotes strong , gullible growth above earth while phosphorus is used to develop deep and uncompromising ascendent system of rules . atomic number 19 helps the whole plant tolerate stress and stand up to conditions extremum .
Some constitutive lawn fertilizers are in high spirits in atomic number 7 to promote stronger , green growth — on the nose what you desire to see in your grass . Purely Organic Products Lawn Foodhas an N - P - K ratio of 10 - 0 - 2 . This fertiliser analysis narrate us that it will hike vigour above ground ( N ) while guarding the plant against environmental stressor ( K ) .
Credit: Amazon
Your Lawn’s Soil Test Results
The only room to know what nutrients your lawn needs is to conduct a soil test . you may pick up a soil exam outfit at your local garden center for quick and rough results . We commend send in a soil mental testing to your state Cooperative Education service , which will give you more elaborate and accurate results .
“ They are going to evaluate the pH and the elemental and lower-ranking nourishing substance , ” Kowalewski says . “ After you get all the data back , you’re able to tailor a fertility programme . You could apply constitutive fertilizer , implement quicklime , or purchase micronutrient parcel . ”
Yard Size
Most organic lawn fertilizers state the recommended yard sizing on the publicity . If you have a bombastic cubic yard , you ’ll of course want more fertilizer . If you have a small patch of lawn , be measured to not over fertilize by take after the software directions on the production label .
We likeNeptune ’s Harvest Turf Formulafor humble spots . While gardeners might have to employ this liquid organic lawn fertilizer more on a regular basis than granular unity , its low N - P - K ratio will make it difficult to exaggerate it .
What We Researched
We researched each fertilizer ’s N - P - K ratio , ingredients , and urge yard size to incur the upright options for your lawn .
Best Overall
Milorganite Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer
This tried - and - true granular lawn fertilizer is the result of one of the country ’s oldest recycling attempt and course your railway yard for up to 10 workweek for long - endure results .
Some states curb the practical software of atomic number 15 - containing fertiliser on non - agricultural lawn or sward . Check your local laws prior to purchase .
gardener have been trust Milorginate to keep their lawns green since the 1920s , when the marque first embark on recycling one of the most readily available and nutrient - rich byproducts into its highly effective granular fertilizer . The principal ingredient ? heating - dry microbes that have digested the organic affair in wastewater .
“ All of us generate human dissipation and we never imagine about where that run low , and it has to be disposed of , ” Kowalewski says . “ By using Milorganite , you ’re forthwith disposing of the permissive waste that humans like us have create . ”
But , as the website emphatically states , Milorginate isnota bag of poop . “ A sight of people freak out , ” Kowalewski says . “ But the product proceed through a gang of digestion process and drying operation . Anything that would make you sick is long removed . ”
Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizergradually fertilise sens over a farseeing period of clock time — up to 10 weeks — with nitrogen , smoothing iron , and other crucial nutrients for plant wellness . This tedious release kick upstairs a deeper beginning system , uniform growing , and that plentiful , fleeceable color that homeowner crave . Because it control well-nigh no salts , it wo n’t burn your lawn .
put out nutrient at a rate that your Mary Jane indigence also means less work and worry for you . You do n’t have to water it in or apply it as often as man-made lawn fertilizer , or be to a fault concerned about supernumerary nutrients percolate into local waterway .
The maker recommends use Milorganite four sentence per class on a day that ’s not too visionary . Always use a lawn broadcaster ( not hands ) to distribute one cup of tea of Milorganite for every 2,500 solid pes of established lawn .
If local regularisation forestall you from using lawn fertilizer that includes phosphorus , or you ca n’t get past Milorganite ’s use of biosolids , Dr. Earth High - Nitrogen All - Purpose Fertilizeris a great choice .
Product item : Fertilizer Analysis ( N - P - K):6 - 4 - 0 |Recommended Use : Every eight to 10 weeks during growing season |Package size of it : 36 lb . |Yard Size : Up to 2,500 sq . ft .
Best Liquid
Neptune’s Harvest Turf Formula Fertilizer
It contains all the micro- and macronutrients naturally witness in Pisces the Fishes , plus other nutrients to serve grass tolerate environmental weather condition such as high temperature and drouth .
It feeds your lawn for up to three workweek , so you ’ll want to reapply it once a month during the growing season .
Fish is just as much of a healthy food source for plants as it is for people . Neptune ’s Harvest Turf Formulasources its master constituent , a variety of North Atlantic Pisces parts , impertinent from the dock . Its stale unconscious process protect heating plant - sensitive nutrient by nature find in Pisces so that a full range of vitamins , amino acids , enzymes , and growth hormone are works - uncommitted .
No proteins or oils are murder during processing either , which means all that good clobber rifle directly to the grass blades , beginning , and microorganisms necessary for intelligent stain . As expected , it has a fishy smell , but the odor fades quickly after it ’s diluted with water as recommended .
Seaweed , molasses , humate , and yucca extract are also sum to aid your lawn last out lush and green when faced with mellow temperatures or drouth . While this liquified plant food was specifically designed for manipulation on latterly set superoxide dismutase , fresh sward repairs , or when pasturage has been reseeded , it ’s also safe to use on flowers and veg .
Another plus ? It contains zero phosphorus , meaning there is zero potential for waterway pollution . Like mostliquid lawn fertilizers , this rule needs to be appliedmore often than a granular fertilizer .
Be ready to apply it once a month withyour go - to watering canor sprayer . This should n’t be an issue for small maculation of lawn , but it may be impractical for large outside blank space .
Product detail : Fertilizer Analysis ( N - phosphorus - K):2 - 0 - 2 |Recommended Use : Every two to three weeks during growing season |Package Size : 1 gallon |Yard Size : Not listed
Best High-Nitrogen
Purely Organic Lawn Food
This manure - free intersection is made with innate , plant - found fixings that supercharge steady unripe growth .
You ’ll involve to water it in to activate it , and you ’ll need to keep your lawn moist three to four days after lotion . void overapplication , as too much nitrogen and salt can cause dope plant food burn .
Grass is athirst for nitrogen . “ It wants it more than anything else , ” Kowalewski sound out . Nitrogen is what helps grass bring on chlorophyll and procedure sunshine into energy . 2When used as directed , the high concentration of atomic number 7 inPurely Organic Products Lawn Foodhelps boost steady immature growth . Overapplication of this character of fertilizer can lead tograss fertiliser burn , so be sure to survey the app instructions .
Kowalewski advocate spread out applications of this high - nitrogen fertilizer with a balanced organic lawn plant food to strike an overall alimentary equalizer .
strictly Organic Products Lawn Food apply flora - based ingredients ( like soja bean repast and distiller grains ) instead of animal by - products in its organic lawn plant food — skilful news for gardeners who are sensitive to olfactory sensation from manure or fish part .
The producer recommends apply this granular fertilizer on a calm 24-hour interval when no heavy rain is expected . primed yourlawn spreaderto deliver fertilizer at a rate of 4 to 9 punt . per 1,000 straight substructure of lawn . Then , lightly irrigate it in to activate it , and keep your lawn moist for the next several days .
ware point : Fertilizer Analysis ( N - P - K):10 - 0 - 2 |Recommended Use : Every eight to 10 weeks during growing season |Package Size : 15 to 40 lbs . |Yard Size:3,000 to 8,000 sq . ft .
The Bottom Line
Organic lawn fertilizers generally release nutrients at a slower tread that ’s ideal for plants ( versus synthetic lawn fertilizers that offer big doses promptly ) to advertize a intelligent , more resilient lawn and planet . Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizergradually feeds grass up to 10 hebdomad for endure results and is produced by one of the land ’s old recycling efforts .
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best N-P-K ratio for lawn fertilizer?
The best N - P - K ratiodepends on the alimentary makeup of your lawn . This will be outlined inyour grime test results . Overall , N is the most all-important food in lawn fertilizers , as it promotes gullible supergrass and potent growth .
If your soil is in need of nitrogen , select a eminent - nitrogen constituent lawn fertilizer , likePurely Organic Products Lawn Food . Just be aware that too much atomic number 7 in your soil can cause Gunter Wilhelm Grass fertilizer burn .
One food you want to keep grim is daystar . Phosphorus overutilisation has electronegative environmental consequences , including foul local and community waterways .
In some location , it ’s illegal to apply a P - containing plant food on non - farming lawn or turf . Check your local natural law before you buy this type of constituent lawn fertilizer , includingMilorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizerthat has an N - P - K proportion of 6 - 4 - 0 .
When should I fertilize my lawn?
This might be the most crucial question a gardener can ask about lawn care . The master factor has to do with where you go in the country .
Northern body politic typically have cool time of year grass , which is grass that choose cooler spring and fall conditions . That ’s when to fertilize it .
“ Do n’t fertilize in summer , ” Kowalewski say . “ With cool - time of year grass , you really just want it to survive in the summertime , you ’re not trying to advertise increase and exploitation . Wait for the fall , then do two applications and do two more covering in the saltation . ”
Southern state typically have blistering - season dope . As you may have guessed , this sess prefer hot summer condition , which iswhen you should fertilize your lawn .
Once you roll in the hay your pot ’s growing preferences , you ’ve identified the good clip to fertilize your lawn with any of our picks for expert organic lawn fertilizer .
Are all organic lawn fertilizers safe for pets and kids?
Many constitutive lawn fertilizers do n’t have re - debut restrictions . This means that once it ’s applied , it ’s dependable for spare foot and paws to step on , play on , and roll on . That said , always check the intersection label for re - entry recommendations .
If organic fertilizer is consumed off of your lawn , manufacturer report that it ’s not life - threatening . “ It ’s a middling natural thing , ” Kowalewski says . It ’s good to remember that constituent lawn fertilizer is much less hard than synthetic fertilizer , which is formulated to release magnanimous dosage of nutrients quickly .
Who We Are
Kate Puhalais a author and nurseryman for Better Homes & Gardens found in Portland , Oregon . Puhala has also write about seed starting dirt , tomato cage , weed killers , and gift for gardeners . To write this slice , she explore organic and synthetic fertilizers and looked into the respectable fertilizers for Gunter Grass on the market . She also spoke withAlec Kowalewski , a landscape medical specialist at Oregon State University .
https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/fertilizer-and-climate-change
https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/information-sheets/IS894_web.pdf
