The Best Organic Lawn Fertilizer for a Green and Healthy Yard
If you want a healthy and green lawn for a long time, using the best organic lawn fertilizer is a good idea. Organic matter is good for the soil and will help your grass grow strong. The fertilizer also slowly releases important nutrients without damaging your grass. It is also safe for animals and children, as well as good for the environment. In this blog post, we will discuss the best organic lawn fertilizer to use to have a great-looking yard.
Table of Contents
The Best Organic Lawn Fertilizer Reviews
1. The Andersons Innova Organic Fertilizer
This plant-based fertilizer is free from all chemicals and contains no biosolids, animal parts, manures, or composted waste products. The granules it contains are made from soybeans.
This soil enhancer is rich in plant amino acids and also contains a natural source of nitrogen that is released gradually. This encourages the growth of healthy plants and helps create healthy soil.
If you have used natural fertilizers before, you know that most of them smell bad. This fertilizer does not have an unpleasant odor, so you won't have to hold your nose when you step outside in the next few days.
The granules are easy to apply to your lawn with a spreader or by hand. After application, water the area so the soil can absorb them.
You don't have to worry about using too much of this product because unlike chemical fertilizers, it will not harm your lawn. This also means that it is safe to use during hot and dry weather.
You will usually see results after 7-14 days. You should use it every 6 weeks to get the best results.
The product comes with directions. The 40lb bag will cover a 4-5,000 sq. ft. area, even if it is used heavily.
This product is certified organic and safe for use near animals and children. It is also environmentally safe to use near ponds, waterways, and wells.
Pros
No animal-based ingredients or biosolids, so less of a smell
Extended-release nitrogen to fertilize slowly over time
Low-dust, easy to apply granules
OMRI certified organic
Cons
No real cons
2. Shin Nong Pro Organic Lawn Fertilizer
This fertilizer is natural and organic. It is made from rice bran and castor meal, with 17 different minerals that are naturally extracted from rocks.
The ingredients in this formula help the grass to grow strong and healthy. The root structure will be well developed and able to absorb water and nutrients.
The NPK values are 4.68-3.6-1.44. And because it is completely natural, it does not harm microorganisms or worms in your soil. Actually helping to increase their activity, leading to healthier and more beneficial soil. Which has resulted in many happy customers reporting quick and impressive results
You can use this fertilizer to help any plants that are struggling to grow. It is organic and doesn't use any animal products, so it is good for vegans.
This product is OMRI listed for organic use and certified by the Plant Protection and Quarantine department of the USDA. It comes in a bag of granules that you can sprinkle every few months for the best long-term results.
Pros
No animal products were used – so the smell is not offputting
Vegan friendly
OMRI and PPQ certified
Cons
Low NPK values, although many customers report strong results
3. Simple Lawn Solutions Natural Liquid Fertilizer
This liquid lawn fertilizer contains a blend of primary macronutrients for your lawn. The 3-18-18 NPK formula will help your grass grow green and healthy, and provides all the nutrients needed for strong roots.
This lawn fertilizer is especially good for lawns that have a lack of phosphorus and potassium. It also helps to keep your lawn healthy.
This is a professional turf product made by a family-owned business in the USA that has over 25 years of experience. The ingredients are all naturally derived, including seaweed.
It’s great for all grass types, including:
- Fescue
- Zoysia
- St. Augustine
- Bermuda
- Centipede
- Bahia
- Florida Palmetto
- Ryegrass
- Kentucky bluegrass
The product is easy to use. It comes in a dispenser that sprays the product evenly when you attach it to your hose.
The results of using this fertilizer are visible overnight. The lawn will start to look green and perky by the next day. It can also bring life back to an uncared for lawn with just a few applications.
Pros
Easy to spray
Fast results
Ideal for phosphorus and potassium nutrient deficiencies
Good for new lawns
Cons
Phosphorus can be a pollutant to waterways, lakes, and rivers—so be careful with its use
4. Safer Brand Lawn Restore Fertilizer
Safer Brand's year-round care helps your grass to stay healthy during tough times. This care helps your grass to resist the stress caused by drought, heat, and cold.
The 9-0-2 formula has a high level of nitrogen to help your lawn grow quickly. The potassium will help the roots grow strong, so you'll have a thick, green lawn. This fertilizer can also help repair thinning lawns.
The company advertises that just 3 applications each year are enough to provide your lawn with all the nutrients it needs. This is because each application provides a slow release of nutrients that lasts up to 8 weeks. The results are also noticeable quite quickly, with visible results in 3-5 days.
However, there are some drawbacks to using this fertilizer. One common complaint is the smell. If you don't like the smell of animal waste, then you will not like this fertilizer. It is made from blood meal and feather meal, which both have a strong smell. But the smell goes away quickly once it is on the ground and watered in.
The fertilizer is tricky to spread because it is a powder and it also has chunks the size of a pea. This means it sticks to the sides of the spreader and is applied inconsistently to the ground.
The bag of fertilizer weighs 25lbs. This is enough to cover a 6,250 sq. ft. area with fertilizer. The area can be used by kids and pets right after you apply the fertilizer.
Pros
Slow-release of nutrients
Just 3 applications per year needed
Results often visible within a week
Cons
Strong smell of animal waste
Can be difficult to spread evenly
5. Espoma Organic Fall Fertilizer
This product is designed for use in the fall, but it also comes in a spring and summer formulation. It is made from poultry manure, with extra sulfate of potash added to help with the growth of plants the following year. And it has an 8-0-6 NPK value, meaning that it contains a large amount of slow-release nitrogen.
You can easily apply the granules to your lawn using a spreader. And since they are chemical-free, you can allow pets and children on the grass after application without any worry. The only downside is that, like other natural fertilizers, it has a strong smell. But fortunately, the unpleasant odor goes away after you water it. A 30 lb bag is enough to cover 5,000 sq. ft.
Pros
Contains slow release nitrogen to fertilize over a period of time
Easy to apply granules
Can be purchased in special fall, spring, and summer formulations
Cons
Strong smell until you water it
6. Purely Organic Lawn Food
This product comes in a 10-0-2 no phosphorus formula. It is made from food waste that has been blended and refined. This product provides natural nutrients to your soil.
You can easily spread the fertilizer evenly without it clumping or clogging your spreader. But you don't need to worry if there are some areas that are not covered well. The fertilizer will not burn your grass. After a couple of days of rain, you will start to see results with the grass becoming a bit greener.
Customers say that this fertilizer has a brewery-like smell. This is better than the offensive manure smell of many other natural fertilizers.
Many customers are happy with the long-term results of our product. They report that their grass is thick and green and that growth in areas that were patchy before is now much stronger.
The bag of fertilizer will cover 5,000 sq. ft. And you can allow pets and children back on your lawn after using it because it is natural and safe.
Pros
Easy to spread
An inoffensive brewery like the smell
Cons
No real cons
7. Milorganite Organic Fertilizer
Milorganite is a fertilizer that many golf courses have used over the last 80 years to keep their grass green.
This fertilizer is made from heat-dried microbes from sewage. It has a 5-2-0 formula, which means that it will release nitrogen slowly over 10 weeks. This means you will need to apply it less often during the growing season.
People like golf courses because they are beautiful and well-maintained. One of the reasons they look so good is because the grass is green. This is thanks to a chemical called iron, which is found in 4% of the product. If your lawn lacks iron, it might turn yellow.
If you use a spreader to apply the granules evenly, most customers say that their lawn looks green and healthy. However, don't expect to see a big change overnight. You might have to wait a week for significant improvement.
Organic fertilizers are good for your lawn. They won't make your grass die and you don't have to worry about using them in the summer. The only bad thing is that they sometimes smell bad when you first put them down. But the smell goes away in a few days. A 32lb bag can cover up to 2500 sq ft of land.
Pros
Reputation for building very green lawns
Slow-release nitrogen fertilizes over a long period of time
Cons
Can take a week or more to start seeing results
8. Simple Lawn Solutions High Nitrogen Lawn Food
This liquid fertilizer by Simple Lawn Solutions has a 28-0-0 NPK formula that is designed to help soils that lack nitrogen and to help plants grow quickly.
This fertilizer contains 70% quick-release nitrogen, which will help your lawn look better right away. The other 30% is slow-release nitrogen, which will help keep your lawn looking good for weeks to come.
Many customers say that their lawn becomes greener in a week after spraying this easy-to-apply liquid. It's especially useful for people who have hard, compacted soil. The liquid still absorbs easily and does its job.
This container has enough fertilizer to cover 3,200 sq. ft.
Pros
Fixes nitrogen deficiency
Nitrogen fertilizers stimulate rapid growth
Helps create a dark green lawn
Cons
Animal-based product with a strong smell
Applying too much can damage the grass
9. Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer
This lawn fertilizer is easy to use: just attach it to your hose and you're ready to go. It has an 8-0-2 NPK formula which will help your lawn grow quickly.
The fertilizer also contains prebiotics. Prebiotics are unusual because they help encourage the growth of micro-organisms in the soil. This is good for your grass because it helps it to thrive.
You can use this fertilizer on your lawn or other garden projects. It is natural and organic, so it is safe to use near pets and people. It also doesn't smell bad.
It’s recommended to use the product every 2 weeks. Customers have seen results within the first 2 weeks of using it.
The only downside of this weed killer is the bottle. Some people have had problems with the liquid coming out of the sprayer properly. But you can open the bottle and put it in a sprayer of your own if you have one. The bottle comes with enough weed killer for 5,000 sq. ft.
Pros
Quick results
Contains prebiotics that helps create a healthier soil
The smell is not too bad
Cons
Some people have problems with the sprayer
10. Natural Alternative Early Spring Fertilizer
This organic fertilizer by Natural Alternative has a 21-0-4 formula that is high in nitrogen. This will help your plants grow quickly and be green. It also contains microbes that will help the soil be healthy, which will help your plants' roots grow strong. This will make the plants better able to absorb water and nutrients.
This fertilizer is phosphorus-free, so you don't have to worry about using it near water. The 20 lb container will cover a 6,000 sq. ft. area. You should use a calibrated spreader to make sure the fertilizer is evenly applied.
Pros
High in nitrogen for rapid growth
Contains microbes that enrich the soil
Comes in spring, summer, and fall formulations
Cons
Contains biosolids
Buying Guide:
There are many different organic lawn fertilizers on the market. They all have a different balance of nutrients and a different composition.
There are a few things you need to think about when choosing the best organic lawn fertilizer:
Types Of Fertilizer
Depending on what they're composed of and what they do for your soil, you may categorize natural fertilizers into a variety of different types:
- Animal-based
There are many different types of fertilizers. Some, like those made from bone meal, feather meal, blood meal, and manure, release nutrients quickly. However, over-application of manure can burn plant roots.
Some animals are attracted to the smell of blood meal. If you don't want animals coming to your yard, it's not a good idea to put blood meal there.
- Plant-based
Some people think that plant-based fertilizers, such as compost, are more valuable for conditioning your soil than for adding nutrients. This is because they often have low NPK values.
One of the main benefits of using compost is that it helps dry soil retain water. This is important for plants, as they will be able to uptake the water more easily. Apart from compost, there are other plant-based fertilizers that you can use, such as kelp seaweed, alfalfa meal, and cottonseed meal.
- Treated Sewage Sludge
This is sewage material that has been composted and treated until it is considered to be biologically safe.
Dried manure is often used for commercial purposes. But it's not recommended to use when growing vegetables in your backyard. The USDA has ruled against using dried manure in the US for organic food production because of toxic metal accumulation, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and other unwanted things.
Nutrients
When choosing the best organic lawn fertilizer, pay attention to the NPK value. This will tell you how much Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) is in the fertilizer.
The numbers on the bag of fertilizer tell you how much of each element is in the product. An organic fertilizer showing 8-2-2 consists of 8% Nitrogen, 0% Phosphorus, and 2% Potassium. In a 20 lb bag of fertilizer, this would mean 1.6 lbs of nitrogen, 0.4 lbs of phosphorus, and 0.4 lbs of potassium.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are important for plant growth. Grass needs these nutrients in the greatest quantities to grow well.
Your soil probably has some of the things your grass needs to grow. But you can also add fertilizer to help make up for any nutrients that are missing from the soil.
For grass, it is usually important to have plenty of nitrogen in your fertilizer. This will help the grass grow well. However, for new lawns, phosphorus and potassium can be more important. This will help the lawn grow stronger roots.
These are the benefits of using them on your grass:
Nitrogen:
- Essential for proper growth.
- Needed for developing a strong green color. Deficiency in nitrogen will result in chlorosis producing grass with a yellow-green color.
Phosphorus:
- Important for the development of strong root systems.
- A lack of phosphorus can result in slow growth.
Potassium:
- Protects from cold, disease, and drought.
- Deficiency can slow the rate of growth.
- It also plays a part in phosphorus and nitrogen having their full effects.
Organic fertilizers usually have low NPK values. This means that they have less of the main nutrients that plants need to grow- nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This is because organic fertilizers are made from natural ingredients, which contain a variety of minerals and nutrients.
There are two ways to find out if your soil is deficient in any nutrients. You can either test the soil yourself or get a local co-operative testing office to do it for you.
Now, if you have looked at the products listed above, you might be wondering:
One of the reasons it is discouraged to use phosphorus in lawn fertilizers is because it can dissolve into water. This can pollute waterways, such as rivers and lakes.
Phosphorus is important for new lawns, but it's not as important to put it in your fertilizer when you are taking care of an established lawn unless your soil is deficient.
Is Organic Lawn Care Better?
Organic fertilizer usually doesn't have as high of an NPK value as chemical fertilizers, but there are some benefits to using it.
Organic fertilizers add organic matter to your soil, which is good for the growth of grass. Micro-organisms thrive on this material and produce a healthy nutrient-rich environment for your grass to grow in.
Chemical fertilizers can kill the microorganisms that are living in the soil. They also harm other life in the soil, like earthworms, bacteria, and fungi. Organic fertilizer makes soil richer over time. This makes the soil better in many ways, like composition, texture, drainage, and root growth.
Organic materials need to be broken down by organisms in the soil to release their nutrients slowly. This is good for your grass because it means that you do not need to fertilize as often. It also means that the fertilizer will continue working over a period of weeks or months, even if it rains a lot. So although organic lawn fertilizer can sometimes be more expensive, you will end up using less of it, which can balance out the cost.
Another great thing about using paper is that it's biodegradable and doesn't harm animals that enter your garden. Plus, it's safer for both people and pets!
Using Organic Lawn Fertilizer
Organic fertilizer contains nutrients that are good for your grass. However, it takes a while for the grass to use these nutrients. This is because the organic material has to be broken down first.
It is important to plan ahead when you are going to fertilize your lawn. Do not wait until the lawn looks unhealthy. You can buy organic fertilizer in pellets, granules, meal, or liquid form. Granules and pellets are the easiest to apply evenly. Liquid fertilizer is easy to spray, but it can be harder to get even coverage. Put granules in a spreader and apply them at a steady rate as you walk around your lawn.
There are liquid fertilizers that can give you quicker results. Some products include beneficial microbes. This is a good choice if your soil has become sterile from using chemicals in the past. The microbes help to produce healthy soil and revive your grass. If your lawn is already healthy, then you might not need to go to the extra expense.
Types Of Fertilizer
Depending on what they're composed of and what they do for your soil, you may categorize natural fertilizers into a variety of different types:
- Animal-based
There are many different types of fertilizers. Some, like those made from bone meal, feather meal, blood meal, and manure, release nutrients quickly. However, over-application of manure can burn plant roots.
Some animals are attracted to the smell of blood meal. If you don't want animals coming to your yard, it's not a good idea to put blood meal there.
- Plant-based
Some people think that plant-based fertilizers, such as compost, are more valuable for conditioning your soil than for adding nutrients. This is because they often have low NPK values.
One of the main benefits of using compost is that it helps dry soil retain water. This is important for plants, as they will be able to uptake the water more easily. Apart from compost, there are other plant-based fertilizers that you can use, such as kelp seaweed, alfalfa meal, and cottonseed meal.
- Treated Sewage Sludge
This is sewage material that has been composted and treated until it is considered to be biologically safe.
Dried manure is often used for commercial purposes. But it's not recommended to use when growing vegetables in your backyard. The USDA has ruled against using dried manure in the US for organic food production because of toxic metal accumulation, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and other unwanted things.
Nutrients
When choosing the best organic lawn fertilizer, pay attention to the NPK value. This will tell you how much Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) is in the fertilizer.
The numbers on the bag of fertilizer tell you how much of each element is in the product. An organic fertilizer showing 8-2-2 consists of 8% Nitrogen, 0% Phosphorus, and 2% Potassium. In a 20 lb bag of fertilizer, this would mean 1.6 lbs of nitrogen, 0.4 lbs of phosphorus, and 0.4 lbs of potassium.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are important for plant growth. Grass needs these nutrients in the greatest quantities to grow well.
Your soil probably has some of the things your grass needs to grow. But you can also add fertilizer to help make up for any nutrients that are missing from the soil.
For grass, it is usually important to have plenty of nitrogen in your fertilizer. This will help the grass grow well. However, for new lawns, phosphorus and potassium can be more important. This will help the lawn grow stronger roots.
These are the benefits of using them on your grass:
Nitrogen:
- Essential for proper growth.
- Needed for developing a strong green color. Deficiency in nitrogen will result in chlorosis producing grass with a yellow-green color.
Phosphorus:
- Important for the development of strong root systems.
- A lack of phosphorus can result in slow growth.
Potassium:
- Protects from cold, disease, and drought.
- Deficiency can slow the rate of growth.
- It also plays a part in phosphorus and nitrogen having their full effects.
Organic fertilizers usually have low NPK values. This means that they have less of the main nutrients that plants need to grow- nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This is because organic fertilizers are made from natural ingredients, which contain a variety of minerals and nutrients.
There are two ways to find out if your soil is deficient in any nutrients. You can either test the soil yourself or get a local co-operative testing office to do it for you.
Now, if you have looked at the products listed above, you might be wondering:
One of the reasons it is discouraged to use phosphorus in lawn fertilizers is because it can dissolve into water. This can pollute waterways, such as rivers and lakes.
Phosphorus is important for new lawns, but it's not as important to put it in your fertilizer when you are taking care of an established lawn unless your soil is deficient.
Is Organic Lawn Care Better?
Organic fertilizer usually doesn't have as high of an NPK value as chemical fertilizers, but there are some benefits to using it.
Organic fertilizers add organic matter to your soil, which is good for the growth of grass. Micro-organisms thrive on this material and produce a healthy nutrient-rich environment for your grass to grow in.
Chemical fertilizers can kill the microorganisms that are living in the soil. They also harm other life in the soil, like earthworms, bacteria, and fungi. Organic fertilizer makes soil richer over time. This makes the soil better in many ways, like composition, texture, drainage, and root growth.
Organic materials need to be broken down by organisms in the soil to release their nutrients slowly. This is good for your grass because it means that you do not need to fertilize as often. It also means that the fertilizer will continue working over a period of weeks or months, even if it rains a lot. So although organic lawn fertilizer can sometimes be more expensive, you will end up using less of it, which can balance out the cost.
Another great thing about using paper is that it's biodegradable and doesn't harm animals that enter your garden. Plus, it's safer for both people and pets!
Using Organic Lawn Fertilizer
Organic fertilizer contains nutrients that are good for your grass. However, it takes a while for the grass to use these nutrients. This is because the organic material has to be broken down first.
It is important to plan ahead when you are going to fertilize your lawn. Do not wait until the lawn looks unhealthy. You can buy organic fertilizer in pellets, granules, meal, or liquid form. Granules and pellets are the easiest to apply evenly. Liquid fertilizer is easy to spray, but it can be harder to get even coverage. Put granules in a spreader and apply them at a steady rate as you walk around your lawn.
There are liquid fertilizers that can give you quicker results. Some products include beneficial microbes. This is a good choice if your soil has become sterile from using chemicals in the past. The microbes help to produce healthy soil and revive your grass. If your lawn is already healthy, then you might not need to go to the extra expense.
Here are some tips on how to use it:
You can also spread organic fertilizers by hand. If you do this, you might want to get a pair of gloves. Organic fertilizers are not as dangerous as chemical fertilizers, so you don't have to worry about using too much. However, using the same setting on your spreader as you would for chemical fertilizer will probably work just fine.
After you apply the fertilizer, it's a good idea to mow your grass. This will help the fertilizer get down to the soil. You can also leave the grass clippings on the lawn to help them decompose and add nutrients back to the soil.
After you apply the fertilizer, water the lawn thoroughly. But don't water it so much that the water runs off. It's safe for pets and children to use the area after you've applied the fertilizer. But be aware that dogs might be attracted to products with blood or bone meal in them. So it can be a good idea to keep your dog away from the area until after you've watered it in. If your dog seems interested, watch it carefully.
The best time to apply organic fertilizer for grass is in the fall. This conditions the soil nicely ahead of spring growth. You can also add it in the spring, but because organic fertilizer needs microorganisms to break it down, warmer soil is often required. This means it can take a while for visible results.
You can also apply the best organic lawn fertilizer in the summer. Some brands make separate organic fertilizers that are specially formulated for the spring, summer, and fall.
Final Thoughts
Organic grass fertilizer is good for the long-term health of your lawn. It helps to add organic matter to the soil, which makes it a good place for worms and microorganisms to live. This can help release nutrients slowly over time and keep the soil healthy.
You don't have to worry about overdoing it when you use this fertilizer. That means you won't damage your lawn.
To learn more information on how to create your own perfect lawncare routine with this easy-to-follow grass primer, click here.
You can also spread organic fertilizers by hand. If you do this, you might want to get a pair of gloves. Organic fertilizers are not as dangerous as chemical fertilizers, so you don't have to worry about using too much. However, using the same setting on your spreader as you would for chemical fertilizer will probably work just fine.
After you apply the fertilizer, it's a good idea to mow your grass. This will help the fertilizer get down to the soil. You can also leave the grass clippings on the lawn to help them decompose and add nutrients back to the soil.
After you apply the fertilizer, water the lawn thoroughly. But don't water it so much that the water runs off. It's safe for pets and children to use the area after you've applied the fertilizer. But be aware that dogs might be attracted to products with blood or bone meal in them. So it can be a good idea to keep your dog away from the area until after you've watered it in. If your dog seems interested, watch it carefully.
The best time to apply organic fertilizer for grass is in the fall. This conditions the soil nicely ahead of spring growth. You can also add it in the spring, but because organic fertilizer needs microorganisms to break it down, warmer soil is often required. This means it can take a while for visible results.
You can also apply the best organic lawn fertilizer in the summer. Some brands make separate organic fertilizers that are specially formulated for the spring, summer, and fall.
Final Thoughts
Organic grass fertilizer is good for the long-term health of your lawn. It helps to add organic matter to the soil, which makes it a good place for worms and microorganisms to live. This can help release nutrients slowly over time and keep the soil healthy.
You don't have to worry about overdoing it when you use this fertilizer. That means you won't damage your lawn.
To learn more information on how to create your own perfect lawncare routine with this easy-to-follow grass primer, click here.
