Granular fertilizers come in the form of dry pellets other than liquid, powder, or spikes. Most granular fertilizers are slow-release types that provide your lawn with essential nutrients for months.
5 Best-Selling Granular Fertilizer for Lawn
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Slowly releasing the chemicals into the grass ensures that the fertilizer does not overwhelm your lawn. This type of fertilizer application protects the lawn from damage that would result from overflooding the grass with nutrients. Furthermore, granular fertilizers are easy to use. All you need is a drop or a broadcast spreader to spread the pellets over your lawn evenly.
Make your lawn stand out on the block by using the best granular fertilizer for the lawn.
Reviews of 5 Top Rated Granular Fertilizer for Lawn
1. Milorganite Organic Fertilizer
If you are looking for organic nitrogenous fertilizer, then this is your best choice. It contains 4 percent iron to keep your lawn timing green. Besides, Milorganite has a strong reputation among established lawn owners. It contains dried microbes with organic matter. Its NPK is 6-4-0. Therefore, it is unlikely to result in fertilizer burns.
Pros
- It is quick-acting
- It does not result in burns on your lawn
- It is eco-friendly
Cons
- It has a strong odor, especially after spraying
- Has high popularity and demand hence it is hard to get sometimes
2. Safer Brand Lawn Restore Fertilizer
Safer Brand 9334 Lawn ( Fertilizer – 25 Lb)
- revitalizes lawn to a thick turf by strengthening root systems
- lawns will green up within 3 to 5 days
- promotes a robust root system for a healthier lawn
- provides effective year-round care by helping plants withstand heat, cold and drought stresses
- covers up to 6,250 sq ft
It is a plant-based fertilizer. Therefore, there is no manure, poultry litter, or biosolids. Since it has no manure, there are no bad smells on your lawn during application. Nevertheless, it contains some seaweed products that give it a slight sea aroma.
This granular lawn fertilizer is not only long-lasting, but it is also pet-friendly. Besides, it comes in handy with many benefits, including root development in a lawn and making the grass thicker. It has an NPK level of 10-0-6. As such, this granular fertilizer rarely causes burns. You will see the effect within 3-5 days after application.
Pros
- Very nutritious to the lawn
- Has long-lasting effects
- Almost odorless due to lack of manure
Cons
- Requires reapplication after every two months
- It May take time before realizing any observable results
3. Espoma EOLF28 Organic All-Season Lawn Food
Espoma Organic All Season ( Greener Lawn. 28 Lb. Bag Covers Up To 5,000 Sq. Ft.)
- contains: espoma organic lawn food is a rich blend of the finest natural & organic ingredients enhanced with our exclusive bio-tone formula; 9-0-0 fertilizer analysis. adds long lasting nitrogen for deep green color. environmentally safe - no sludges or toxic ingredients.
- for use on: use for all lawns both cool and warm season grasses. ideal for fescues, bluegrass, rye grass, st. augustine and zoysia. won’t burn lawns or leach out of soil
- when / how to use: use both early & late spring and fall for all lawns. apply with a drop or broadcast spreader.
- for organic gardening: all season lawn food is approved for organic gardening; it is a registered organic input material meaning it meets all requirements for organic production.
- made in the usa: product of the espoma company. the leader in natural organics since 1929
The Espoma lawn food is convenient in any season. It is a fast-acting granular fertilizer that results in a greener and thicker lawn. Also, it contains beneficial microbes which aid the grass in taking nutrients up from the soil.
This granular product is organic and contains poultry manure and feather meal. It has an NPK rating of 18-0-3. If you need to boost your lawn, this will deliver.
Pros
- Pet and kid-friendly
- It contains helpful soil microbes
Con
- Granules take long to dissolve, even with watering or rain
4. Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food
Scotts Turf Builder Lawn ( 5,000 Sq. Ft., 12.5 Lbs.)
- scotts turf builder lawn food feeds and strengthens grass to help protect against future problems
- fertilizer builds strong, deep roots and improves the lawn's ability to absorb water and nutrients (vs. unfed lawn)
- apply lawn care product to a wet or dry lawn
- grass fertilizer works on any grass type
- one 12.5 lb. bag of scotts turf builder lawn food covers 5,000 sq. ft.
If your lawn needs nitrogen, the Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food will deliver. Its NPK rating is 32-0-4 ensuring there is enough nitrogen uptake. This synthetic fertilizer, however, feeds the grass instead of the soil. On the other hand, this is an all-season granular fertilizer that is good for any grass. It supplies your lawn with nutrients, and it helps in water absorption. As such, it is convenient to use, especially on lawns that are in drought-prone areas.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Increases nutrient uptake to the lawn
- Helps in moisture absorption
Con
- May cause burns on your lawn due to the high 32
5. PGF (Professional Grade Fertilizer)
The Andersons Professional PGF ( 7% Humic DG 5,000 Sq Ft)
- phosphorus-free fertilizer blend with fine particle size that includes humic acid, which helps increase turf quality and reduce nutrient requirements
- contains mutech coated slow release nitrogen to provide uniform growth and extended feeding
- dg particles do not rely on a physical coating to release nutrients. coated fertilizers (used by our competitors) are very susceptible to damage from mowers, resulting in premature nutrient release.
- small particle size gives you twice the number of particles per square foot. dg particle disperse quickly and completely when watered, moving directly into the soil.
- not for sale in california or oregon
The PGF comes with an NPK ratio of 16-4-8 for accomplishing the best results. Also, this granular fertilizer contains iron, Humic DG, and micronutrients. If you use this fertilizer, you can expect a healthier and attractive lawn in 6-14 days.
Besides, this granular product has a high amount of slow-release nitrogen in its formulae. Your lawn can therefore have sufficient nutrient supply for up to 8 weeks. The Humic DG is an organic acid that enriches the soil and helps the lawn process nutrients better. Most importantly, all types of grasses, whether cold-season or warm-season, can benefit from these granules.
Pros
- High NPK ratio of 32-0-4 for high-performance results
- Its super fine particles help in the even distribution
- Fast-acting
- Long-lasing
Con
- The high Nitrogen supply may result in burns on your lawn.
Buying Guide
1. NPK Ratio
These are numbers printed on lawn fertilizer labels. They are the percentages of essential nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, respectively) in a fertilizer. For instance, a fertilizer whose NPK is 32-0-4 contains 12 percent Nitrogen, no phosphorus, and 4 percent potassium.
The three nutrients play different roles in establishing a healthier lawn. Nitrogen helps in maintaining a lush green turf. Phosphorus aids in root growth and development, while Potassium prevents over-hydration and lawn diseases. It is essential to consider the type of lawn grass and your environmental conditions before determining the ideal granular fertilizer for your lawn.
2. Fertilizer Type
Granular fertilizers are either organic or synthetic. Synthetic products are from minerals, gases, and waste. They are fast-acting, and the results are evident within days. With a little patience, you can observe a healthier lawn with this eco-friendly product. Nevertheless, they are known to cause burns to grass blades as wells as pose environmental health risks. On the other hand, organic fertilizers are from living organisms. Unlike synthetic ones, organic granules take longer to show effect.
3. Cost
Unlike liquid fertilizers, granular fertilizers are relatively cheap. Also, applying granular fertilizers is easy.
4. Convenience
Granular fertilizers are available in various combinations ranging from all-purpose to specialized types. Besides, some have balanced nutrition while others only contain one nutrient. As a result, you can make the best choice according to your lawn’s requirements.
5. Versatility
There are several ways that you can use to apply granular fertilizers on your lawn. Firstly, you can decide to spread them before planting your lawn. Secondly, you can spread the granules in bands around the lawn area you intend to fertilize, thus giving the lawn the necessary nutrients during summer. Thirdly, you can opt to use the hand broadcasting method by gently shaking the granules over your lawn or using a granule spreader. On the other hand, granular fertilizers come in different formulas. For instance, you can choose between the water-soluble ones and the insoluble, slow-release formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Just like living organisms need food and water to survive, your lawn also needs fertilizers. Besides, fertilizing your grass is one of the lawn care and maintenance tips. Grass takes nutrients from the soil, but after some time, the nutrients become depleted. Through fertilizing, you put back nutrients into the soil. Nutritious grounds result in a healthy lawn.
The best time to fertilize your lawn depends on the grass type and the season. It is advisable to fertilize the grass during its growing season.
Generally, you can fertilize about four times. Nevertheless, you should try your best not to over-fertilize your lawn (nitrogen burn), resulting in the grass turning yellow.
One of the tricks to achieving a lush green turf is to overlap the instant and slow-release fertilizers. You can do so by reducing the amount you apply for each type roughly to half of the suggested amount.
Conclusion
Fertilizing your lawn is essential in providing your turf with the necessary nutrients. Besides, granular fertilizers are easy to apply, while most of them are long-lasting. Try any of our recommended granular fertilizers to get the greenest, most attractive, and healthier lawn on the block.
