To enjoy a thriving oasis of plant life in your yard, applying fertilizer is a must. There are numerous types of available fertilizers to support different plants as well as drive away common weeds. To help you make an informed purchase, the This Old House Team researched the best fertilizers on Amazon. Keep reading to learn more about our top recommendations.
Top 5 Fertilizers
- Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed: Best for Dandelion Control
- Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer: Best for Organic Gardening
- Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer: Best Liquid Fertilizer
- Down To Earth Rose and Flower Fertilizer: Best for Flowers
- Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer: Best for Crabgrass Control
Compare Top Fertilizers
| Product | Quantity | Treatment Amount | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and FeedCheck Price | 14.29-pound bag | 5,000 square feet | Grass and kills dandelions and clovers |
Burpee Bone Meal FertilizerCheck Price | Three-pound bag | Not listed | Plants |
Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn EnergizerCheck Price | 32-ounce spray container | 3,200 square feet | Grass |
Down To Earth Rose and Flower FertilizerCheck Price | Five-pound box | Not listed | Plants |
Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass PreventerCheck Price | Two 13.35-pound bags | 5,000 square feet | Grass and kills crabgrass |
Best For Dandelion Control
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed
If you’re tired of seeing more dandelions and clovers in your yard than green grass, consider this two-in-one multi-purpose fertilizer. It contains a powerful weed and feed solution that supplies your lawn with nutrients while killing existing dandelions and clovers. More so, it keeps these invasive weeds out of your lawn for the entire season.
Pros and Cons of Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed
- Grips the visible and invisible weeds
- Covers 5,000 square feet with a 14-pound bag
- Is offered in other bag sizes
- Need a fertilizer spreader for the best application
- Not meant for all types of common weeds, such as crabgrass
What People Are Saying About The Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed
Although customers who left positive reviews emphasized that you must carefully follow the instructions to get good results with this fertilizer, they said that their lawn thrived and was free of dandelions and clovers only weeks after the initial application. Conversely, other customers experienced mixed results. They shared that the fertilizer either gave them healthy grass that was full of dandelions or killed dandelions at the expense of also killing grass.
Best For Organic Gardening
Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer
A 6-8-0 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium helps promote strong roots for new plants in your garden. Any gardener who’s growing organic vegetables, leafy greens, and other foods will find value in this three-pound bag of bone meal, as it’s versatile enough to support a wide variety of species.
Pros and Cons of Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer
- Has specific instructions on how to use it with different plants
- Doesn’t burn plants
- Is made in the United States
- May be difficult to reseal the bag
- Can’t fertilize large gardens because it comes in a small three-pound bag
What People Are Saying About The Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer
The bag size and organic listing were highlights of this fertilizer in many positive reviews. Customers with small gardens found that the bag offered plenty of fertilizer for their plants. However, negative feedback for this fertilizer highlighted roaches and other unwanted insects being attracted to the mix’s bone meal. Other customers also found that the bag was difficult to reseal once it was opened.
Best Liquid Fertilizer
Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer
Easy to attach to your garden hose, this grass fertilizer is perfect for homeowners with an already-healthy lawn that just needs an extra push for sustained growth. For thick, green grass, this plant food provides iron, nitrogen, microorganisms, and micronutrients like magnesium.
Pros and Cons of Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer
- Has a commercial-strength formula
- Can connect the sprayer to a garden hose
- Works with any grass in any season
- Requires mixing with a watering can
- Doesn’t offer weed protection
What People Are Saying About The Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer
After trying different lawn fertilizers, customers experienced fast-acting results using this liquid option. They said that it was easy to apply to large gardens and that it brought out a deep and vibrant green grass color. However, other customers said that it stained their fences, rocks, and other areas of their yard.
Best For Flowers
Down To Earth Rose and Flower Fertilizer
Although this versatile organic mix is advertised to work especially well on newly planted flowers, it promotes healthy growth during nearly any stage of the life cycle. The five-pound box is compostable as well, so it’s perfect for those who are particularly eco-conscious.
Pros and Cons of Down To Earth Rose and Flower Fertilizer
- Contains a blend of organic ingredients, including fish bone meal and blood meal
- Listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute to indicate that it’s suitable for organic farming
- Comes in a compostable box
- Comes in a weak box that can spill fertilizer if it gets poked
- Contains animal byproducts
What People Are Saying About The Down To Earth Rose and Flower Fertilizer
Most happy customers experienced fast and sustained growth using this organic fertilizer. Some also used it as a supplement to their compost. Unhappy customers reported issues with its strong odor and bug attraction.
Best For Crabgrass Control
Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer
This combination grass feed and crabgrass killer is a time-saving option for homeowners who have brown, weed-infested grass. With coverage for up to 10,000 square feet, these two bags offer plenty of fertilizer for larger lawns.
Pros and Cons of Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer
- Continues to perform in rainy, snowy, or freezing conditions
- Makes lawns green after winter
- Covers 10,000 square feet between both bags
- Not meant for dichondra or bentgrass lawns
- Can permanently damage grass if it’s applied incorrectly What Customers Are Saying
What People Are Saying About The Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer
Overall, customers experienced a clear difference before and after applying this fertilizer and weed killer mixture. However, some users noticed a sharp decline in grass health and weed protection toward the end of the summer.
Buyer’s Guide
The appropriate fertilizer can position your lawn or garden for sustained growth. However, it’s imperative to choose the right mix based on what you’re growing. From soil composition to seasonality, consider the following information in our buying guide to make a confident and informed decision.
Soil Composition
Clay-based soil requires different essential nutrients than organic garden soil that contains tree bark, bone meal, straw, and other organic matter. To make your decision easier, most fertilizers are specifically designed for one type or the other.
Liquid vs. Solid
Some lawn and garden fertilizers are liquid, while others are water-soluble granules or granular pellets. As long as the ingredients are appropriate for what you’re growing, choosing what type of fertilizer you prefer usually comes down to preference. However, there are disadvantages to each. For example, liquid fertilizers pose an environmental hazard if they get into the water supply, and pellets take more time to start working.
NPK Rating
NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The NPK ratio or rating tells you how much of these macronutrients a particular fertilizer has. Nitrogen is generally effective at keeping grass green, while phosphorus (as well as calcium) helps plant roots grow, and potassium guards against disease. For a lush and vibrant lawn, look for a fertilizer with more nitrogen. For a high garden yield, prioritize phosphorus. To keep dandelions and other invasive species at bay, choose a fertilizer that’s high in potassium.
Seasonality
Applying fertilizer at the wrong time of year could result in wasted nutrients. You should fertilize most perennials and veggies in the spring and bulbs in the fall to maximize their growing season. You can fertilize trees and shrubs during both times of the year. Indoor plants and house plants should be fertilized in the spring or summer to help with root development.
Quantity
Feeding a small garden bed should require only a single bag or container of fertilizer. Conversely, you may need multiple bags of fertilizer if you have a large lawn. If you’re fertilizing grass as opposed to plants, the bag of fertilizer should say how many square feet it can cover.
Weed Control
Many grass fertilizers have built-in weed control. These formulas may target dandelions, clovers, crabgrass, and other unwanted growth in your lawn. While weed protection may be useful for large lawns, most herb and vegetable gardens don’t need it.
Fertilizer vs. Compost
The primary distinction between plant fertilizer and compost is that fertilizer provides the soil with nutrients, while compost provides nutrients to the plants that are rooted in the soil.
In many cases, compost and fertilizer have synergistic effects. The organic matter in compost concentrates the fertilizer’s nutrients, delivering them to the plants more efficiently. So, while you can fertilize your plants without compost, it’s more effective to supplement plant growth via a combination of the two.
How To Apply Fertilizer
Here are a few basic tips on how to fertilize your lawn:
- Test the ground first to ensure that your fertilizer can provide the nutrients that your soil needs.
- If you’re vegan or vegetarian, avoid fertilizer mixes with bone meal or blood meal. These are by-products of the meat industry.
- Don’t apply fertilizer if it’s windy or rainy outside. Wet conditions wash away liquid fertilizer, and windy conditions blow away granular fertilizer.
- A high-concentration fertilizer isn’t necessarily better than a low-concentration or slow-release fertilizer. Compare the release time to the concentration level to get a better understanding of a product’s overall efficacy.
- If the thought of working with fertilizer makes you uncomfortable, consider hiring a lawn service to spread fertilizer for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to apply fertilizer?
Apply fertilizer to clay soil every four to six weeks. For organic soil, fertilize it every three to four weeks.
When is the best time to apply fertilizer?
The type of grasses, herbs, vegetables, fruits, or flowers you’re maintaining and the climate you live in determine the best time of year to fertilize. Typically, fall is best for cool-season grasses, and early-to-mid spring is an ideal time to fertilize warm-season grasses and most types of plants.
Do I need a fertilizer spreader to distribute fertilizer?
While a fertilizer spreader isn’t necessary, it can make it easier to apply an even layer of fertilizer over large areas, especially lawns. You don’t need a fertilizer spreader to cover smaller areas, such as flower beds.
Is fertilizer toxic to humans?
Yes. Plant and lawn fertilizers can poison humans as well as pets if they’re accidentally ingested. Store your fertilizer away from food, children, and pets when it’s not in use. We also recommend wearing work gloves when you’re handling it.
Why Trust The This Old House Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.