What's The Best Lawn Fertilizer For Thick Green Grass?

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What homeowner doesn't fantasize about enjoying their backyard with friends and family? Chances are, those daydreams don't include sparse, crispy grass. But figuring out what kind of fertilizer will keep your grass lush can mean wading through endless and often conflicting advice. Choosing the wrong fertilizer may just mean you waste product and money — nothing to sneeze at as fertilizer gets more expensive — or you might cause uneven growth or damage your lawn. So what fertilizer should you reach for every year? The answer is ... well, it depends, but you may want to check out Milorganite Slow-Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer, the brand's All-Purpose Lawn Fertilizer, or Scotts Green Max Lawn Food.

Typically, nitrogen (N) is the main nutrient you'll want to focus on for your lawn, but phosphorus (P) and potassium/potash (K) are also important. (On a fertilizer bag, the percentage of each nutrient is represented in the order N-P-K). The ideal percentages are somewhat dependent on grass species and what conditions are present in your lawn. You can start with a soil test, either using a home kit or by working with university extension services near you to do a mail-in test. Testing can reveal whether your lawn already contains sufficient nutrients, helping you avoid applying an amendment your grass doesn't need and making it easier to choose a fertilizer with the right N-P-K ratio for your yard.

Wondering what type of grass is growing in your yard? Identifying the species requires knowing a bit about what thrives in your region. If you live in the northern U.S., it's probably a cool-season type like Kentucky bluegrass; in the southern U.S., you're more likely to find warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and centipedegrass. Try doing some research using local university extension websites.

Milorganite's lawn fertilizers actually get the nod from a few different sources. Both Men's Journal and Bob Vila both point to Milorganite All-Purpose Lawn Fertilizer as a top selection. Men's Journal called it their best overall, per consulted experts, and Bob Vila named it their budget pick, after conducting tests of their own. Of particular note: this fertilizer is forgiving of over-application and won't leave you with a potentially difficult-to-reverse lawn fertilizer burn. Oregon State University lawn care expert Alec Kowalewski, in consultation with Better Homes & Gardens, pointed to the company's Slow-Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer, noting that this organic product utilizes recycled (and carefully dried and sanitized!) wastewater microbes to nourish grass. 

If you live in an area where St. Augustine grass is prevalent, like Florida and other parts of the Southeastern United States, you may want to look at Bob Vila's top recommendation after testing on this species: Scott's Green Max Lawn Food. According to the testers, the positive change was almost immediately apparent and only improved with time. This Scott's product and the Milorganite All-Purpose both contain iron, which serves as a quick color enhancer, delivering a boost of lush color a few days after application — maybe a good feature to look for if you have a looming barbecue deadline! 

Whichever fertilizer you choose, be sure to apply it just before a light rain or water it according to the product label. This helps move nutrients into the root zone, where your grass can use them most effectively.