Fertilizer enriches soil with essential nutrients necessary for plants and crops to thrive. These nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, also promote healthy grass growth that can improve your lawn’s appearance and resilience. Whether you have a growing garden or you simply want to make your lawn more lush, the right fertilizer may be the solution you need.
We’ve reviewed the best fertilizers of 2025, with blends catering specifically to grass growth, crop health, and plant nutrition. Our top pick is the Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food because it feeds and strengthens all grass types while helping to protect against future problems.
Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food is designed to enhance the health and resilience of lawns by feeding and strengthening grass, which helps prevent future issues. This fertilizer promotes the growth of strong, deep roots, improving the lawn’s ability to absorb water and nutrients compared to an unfed lawn. It supports the development of a thick, green lawn with its exclusive all-in-one particle technology, ensuring even greening and feeding throughout.
Suitable for various grass types including Bermuda, Centipede, Zoysia, and Fescue, this fertilizer is versatile and effective across different lawn environments. Additionally, it can be applied to both wet and dry lawns, providing flexibility in application timing while delivering consistent results. With its comprehensive features, this fertilizer helps homeowners achieve and maintain a lush, healthy lawn year-round, making it the best overall choice on our list.
JR Peters’ fertilizer offers a balanced 20-10-20 analysis ideal for enhancing the vibrancy of leaves, strengthening branches, and promoting fruit production in tropical fruiting plants. Its versatile application methods allow it to be used as both a foliar spray and root feeding product, making it suitable for direct application onto leaves or soil, as well as in continuous feed systems.
This water-soluble plant food powder is highly concentrated, ensuring efficient use compared to liquid fertilizers. Simply mix the measured powder with water using the included spoon for precise feeding. The added micronutrients provide comprehensive nutrition, eliminating the need for additional feeding supplements. It’s a convenient and effective solution for nourishing tropical plants, promoting robust growth, and ensuring optimal health throughout their lifecycle.
The GS Plant Foods organic liquid humic acid offers a versatile solution for enhancing plant health and growth across various environments. Derived from pure Leonardite, it contains a concentrated blend of fulvic and humic acids, facilitating optimal nutrient uptake and rapid absorption directly into the roots. This organic super fertilizer improves soil pH stability and increases water retention, fostering stronger root systems and boosting plant immunity.
It enhances plant metabolism, root development, and nutrient supply, promoting the production of essential compounds like chlorophyll and amino acids. Moreover, it synergistically complements most fertilizers and soil conditioners, making it suitable for use in gardens, lawns, trees, and greenhouses. This concentrate is a valuable addition for anyone seeking to maximize plant health, improve nutrient efficiency, and cultivate thriving gardens and landscapes.
The Simple Lawn Solutions fertilizer offers a comprehensive blend of essential nutrients in its 16-4-8 NPK formula, ideal for promoting lush, healthy lawns. This liquid lawn food includes high-quality feed-grade ingredients like seaweed and fish, ensuring pure and effective nourishment for your lawn. With 16% nitrogen, it promotes vigorous growth, enhancing the development of a dense and attractive green lawn. The 4% phosphorus content stimulates root growth and supports robust plant development during early stages.
Designed for easy application with a ready-to-use sprayer, this formula caters to all grass types, including Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, and more. Whether you have Buffalo grass or Kentucky Bluegrass, this fertilizer provides the necessary nutrients for greening, growth, and overall lawn health, making it a versatile choice for homeowners aiming to maintain vibrant and resilient lawns throughout the year.
Dr. Earth’s fertilizer stands out with its commitment to 100% organic and natural ingredients, ensuring exceptional results that nourish plants quickly and effectively over several months. This premium quality product provides optimum levels of essential nutrients, promoting robust plant growth without the need for chemical fertilizers.
It’s enriched with pro-biotic microbes and seven strains of beneficial soil microbes, along with ecto and endo mycorrhizae, enhancing drought tolerance, nutrient availability, and overall plant performance. The fertilizer’s natural formulation supports the development of more abundant, nutritious, and flavorful crops, making it ideal for organic gardening enthusiasts. It contains no GMOs, chicken manure, or sewage sludge, aligning with sustainable gardening practices and ensuring a safe and natural approach to feeding plants for extended periods.
Jobe’s Organics’ all-purpose plant fertilizer offers a convenient and environmentally friendly solution for gardening enthusiasts. It’s designed to minimize wasteful runoff, mess, hazards, and unpleasant smells associated with synthetic chemicals. Certified by OMRI for organic gardening by the USDA, this fertilizer contains a balanced 4-4-4 NPK formulation, providing essential nutrients for vegetables, plants, and flowers to promote high yields and vibrant foliage.
Its precise measurement capability ensures plants receive the right amount of nutrients without the risk of over-fertilization. Application is straightforward, recommended every 2-3 weeks during the growing season or as needed, making it suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners alike. With this fertilizer, you can nourish your plants effectively while adhering to organic gardening principles, fostering healthier growth and sustainable gardening practices.
Burpee’s Bone Meal fertilizer is an excellent choice for enhancing root and bulb crops, particularly ideal for fall planting of bulbs like tulips. Its fine granular consistency makes it easy to spread, ensuring even distribution and effective root development. This natural fertilizer provides organic nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium, essential for strong roots, vibrant blooms, and flavorful vegetables throughout the growing season.
Whether used during seed starting or added to soil before planting, this fertilizer breaks down slowly, continuously releasing nutrients for sustained plant growth. Certified organic by OMRI for gardening, it supports new bedding plants, revitalizes existing flower gardens, and maintains vibrant patio containers. This fertilizer not only nourishes plants but also naturally deters garden pests like rabbits, making it a versatile and effective choice for organic gardeners aiming for robust, healthy plant growth.
When purchasing fertilizer, you’ll need to take several features into account to ensure you select the right product for your gardening needs. By carefully evaluating your options, you can choose a fertilizer that will promote healthy plants or a thriving lawn while aligning with your gardening goals and values.
Different plants have specific nutrient needs, so understanding the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) ratio is essential. For instance, leafy vegetables benefit from higher nitrogen levels for lush foliage, while flowering plants require more phosphorus for robust blooms. Choosing the right NPK ratio ensures your plants receive the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
Organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources like compost, manure, or bone meal, promoting soil health and microbial activity. They release nutrients slowly and improve soil structure over time. Synthetic fertilizers, on the other hand, provide nutrients quickly and are often formulated for specific growth stages or plant needs. Consider your gardening philosophy and environmental impact when deciding between organic and synthetic options.
Fertilizers vary in how long they remain effective once applied. Some provide nutrients for a few weeks, requiring more frequent applications, while others feed plants for several months. Longer-lasting fertilizers can reduce maintenance and application frequency, but ensure they match your plants’ growth cycles and nutritional needs.
Fertilizers come in granular, liquid, or soluble powder forms, each with advantages depending on your gardening preferences. Granular fertilizers are easy to spread evenly over large areas, while formulas like liquid kelp fertilizers are quickly absorbed by plants through roots or foliage. Soluble powders are versatile and can be diluted to suit different application rates and methods.
Beyond NPK, many fertilizers contain micronutrients like iron, zinc, and magnesium, which are essential for overall plant health. These micronutrients support various metabolic processes and help prevent nutrient deficiencies that can affect growth and appearance. Check the label for a broad spectrum of micronutrients to ensure comprehensive plant nutrition.
Consider the environmental implications of your fertilizer choice, particularly regarding nutrient runoff into waterways. Some fertilizers are formulated to minimize runoff and leaching, reducing their impact on ecosystems. Look for products labeled with environmental certifications or designed for low environmental impact to support sustainable gardening practices.
Organic gardeners should look for products certified by organizations like the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), ensuring they meet organic standards without synthetic additives or GMOs. OMRI listings provide confidence that the fertilizer aligns with organic gardening principles and regulations.
Consider safety aspects such as application guidelines, protective measures, and storage requirements. Some fertilizers may have specific handling instructions to minimize risks to pets, children, or the environment. Always follow label instructions carefully to ensure safe and effective use.
Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the fertilizer based on its nutrient content, longevity, and performance. While price is a factor, consider the overall value and benefits the fertilizer offers to your plants and garden. A slightly higher initial investment in a quality fertilizer that meets your plants’ needs can result in healthier growth and reduced long-term costs.
The best type of fertilizer for your garden depends on your plants' specific needs and your gardening preferences. For organic gardens, choose organic fertilizers made from natural sources like compost, manure, or bone meal, which improve soil health and provide a slow release of nutrients. For quick nutrient delivery, synthetic fertilizers can be effective but may require more frequent applications. Check the NPK ratio to match the nutrient needs of your plants, and consider additional ingredients like micronutrients for comprehensive plant nutrition.
The frequency of fertilizer application depends on the type of fertilizer and the specific needs of your plants. Slow-release fertilizers can feed plants for several months, reducing the need for frequent applications. In contrast, liquid or fast-acting granular fertilizers might need to be applied every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the product label, and adjust based on your plants' growth and health observations.
While some all-purpose fertilizers are suitable for a variety of plants, it is often best to use fertilizers formulated for specific plant types to achieve optimal results. Different plants have varying nutrient requirements; for example, flowering plants may need higher phosphorus levels, while leafy vegetables benefit from more nitrogen. Specialized fertilizers cater to these needs, ensuring each plant type receives the appropriate nutrients for healthy growth and development.