Organic fertilizers are not only more environmentally friendly but are often also safer for humans and pets when they are made of all natural ingredients. When comparing liquid lawn fertilizer vs granular which is best?
When you are looking for a fertilizer with minimal impact on the surrounding then you’ll need the best liquid lawn fertilizer, preferably organic. Also, find out when to spray lawn fertilizer so that your grass can grow more resilient to pests and diseases which in turn also reduces the need for pesticides.
Best Organic Fertilizer for Lawns
Does granular fertilizer work better for your lawn? There are also organic granular options on the market that work just as well but with a different application method.
Check out the best organic fertilizers available online today and get to work to create a lush green, healthy and environmentally friendly lawn.
1. Neptune’s Harvest Hydrolized Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer
Fish proteins and seaweed are popular organic fertilizer ingredients and Neptune’s Harvest combines these two ingredients to create a complete blend of nutrients for your lawn.
Fish meal makes vegetation grow stronger by increasing the fertility of the soil. It is also a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which further encourages your grass to grow.
Seaweed also contains these three nutrients in addition to traces of magnesium, zinc, and iron. The benefit of using seaweed in fertilizer is that the results appear faster since seaweed does not need to decompose in the soil for the soil and vegetation to absorb its nutrients.
2. Espoma Organic Lawn Food
This organic lawn food by Espoma is great for when you are looking for a slow release fertilizing method. This granular lawn booster contains pasteurized poultry manure, feather meal, and gypsum.
This fertilizer focuses on delivering nitrogen to your soil as its composition is 8-0-0. Apply Espoma Organic Lawn Food just before the spring to help grow strong and healthy grass in your backyard.
Espoma sells in large 30 lbs bags and multipacks. One pack is enough to cover up to 5000 square feet of lawn. Being made of all natural ingredients and free of any chemicals, this is a safe fertilizer for children and pets.
3. Milorganite Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer
Do you already have a nice full lawn but is it looking pale? Then go for this nitrogen and iron-rich fertilizer by Milorganite that encourages chlorophyll production for greener grass.
This composition contains 4% non-staining iron to give your lawn that boost of green color. It also uses a slow release formula to prevent the grass from growing at a fast speed which makes it easier for you to keep your backyard well trimmed.
4. Pearl Valley Organix Corn Gluten
A natural alternative to blended fertilizer is corn gluten. Corn gluten is high in nitrogen with an N-P-K value of 8-0-0 and prevents weed from growing. Corn gluten prevents seeds from sprouting which is how it also prevents certain types of weeds from invading your lawn.
However, this property also means that you can only apply corn gluten meal once your lawn is fully grown and lush. Corn gluten is non-toxic so it is perfectly safe for your kids and pets to run around on the lawn after fertilizing.
How to Choose the Right Organic Fertilizer
Finding the right fertilizer is already quite a task but finding one that is organic adds another layer of properties that you need to research and understand. There are 6 main types of organic lawn food, each with their own composition of nutrients.
| Type of Organic Fertilizer | Main Nutrients | Use |
| Fish Meal | Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus | Quick release |
| Shellfish Meal | Nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium | Slow release |
| Blood & Bone Meal | Nitrogen | Increase soil fertility before planting |
| Animal Manure | Nitrogen, microorganisms | Increase soil fertility at any time |
| Greensand | Potassium, micronutrients | Best for clay soil |
Other common natural ingredients are seaweed, corn gluten, and food waste.
Once you know the effects of these ingredients you can choose the most appropriate one for your lawn. Don’t forget to check the type of soil and grass you have and how this responds to the ingredients.
On the packaging, check how much area one package can cover and how this translates to the cost. Also, check when the fertilizer should be applied and how often to feed your lawn since this also affects the cost.
Don’t take the word ‘organic’ on the label as proof of the product’s quality. Check the ingredients and when possible also check the source of the ingredients.
It is also worthwhile to do your research on a new brand. Unfortunately, ‘organic’ is also used just for marketing so make sure that you are purchasing quality and not just a label.
