The Best Lawn Fertilizers To Use This Spring, Based On Reviews

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Once the weather warms up, heading outside to enjoy your outdoor space is often one of the first things on people's minds. Unfortunately, your backyard turf doesn't always get the message. After winter, your lawn might not be the greenest patch of grass on the block. The best fertilizer for your lawn depends on your lawn's unique needs, as well as your own goals and preferences. To decide what kind of fertilizer is best for your lawn, it's important to understand the requirements of your specific grass, as well as your growing conditions. There are also some things you should never do when fertilizing your lawn — and one of those is ignoring the numbers on your fertilizer bag. Most fertilizers consist of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This NPK ratio is a large part of what differentiates one fertilizer from another, so it's important to know exactly what nutrients your lawn needs.

There are a lot of fertilizer options out there, and it can be difficult to know which one to choose. We searched the web for the best fertilizers around to help you break through the noise, so that, no matter your lawn situation, you know you have solid options. The fertilizers we chose had a minimum of 300 reviews and at least 4 stars. We also selected fertilizers that cater to a range of springtime lawn care struggles (you can learn more about our methodology at the end of this article). Whether you prefer organic options or just want those weeds gone quickly and by any means necessary, there's sure to be a fertilizer option out there for you.

Using a pre-emergent is one of the best spring solutions for achieving a lush lawn and it can both stop weeds and help your lawn green up after winter. Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer is a pre-emergent weed killer and lawn fertilizer all-in-one. It contains a high-nitrogen fertilizer (30-0-4) designed to help your lawn green up quickly after winter and is great for spring because it stops the germination of crabgrass and several other common weeds. This fertilizer should be used in early spring before temperatures are regularly in the 80s. As a pre-emergent it will only work to prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating and taking hold — it won't kill any crabgrass that has already started growing. 

Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer currently has an average of 4.5 stars and 6,860 ratings on Amazon, of which 72% are 5-star ratings. "When I first got this product, my yard was patchy and lifeless, with crabgrass already threatening to take over," commented one reviewer on Amazon. "I followed the directions carefully, applying it early in the season as a pre-emergent to block those pesky weeds before they had a chance to sprout. Within days, I noticed subtle signs of life returning — first a deeper hue of green peeking through the faded blades, and then a thickening of the turf week by week."

This eco-friendly lawn fertilizer is great for your lawn — but it can be used on flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and trees as well. Milorganite Long Lasting All Purpose Lawn Food comes in a 6-4-0 ratio, meaning it contains 6% nitrogen and 4% phosphate. It also provides calcium and iron. Milorganite is a slow-release nitrogen formula (which means it won't burn your lawn) that is a safe and organic alternative to chemical fertilizers. When used as directed, it is safe for children and pets.

This product currently has an average of 4.6 stars and 1,992 ratings on Walmart's website, out of which 83% are 5-star ratings. "This is a very good fertilizer with slow release and does not burn [the] lawn," said a reviewer on Walmart's website. "It sure greened up my lawn within a few days. Its real test has been in a large area that I have just converted to lawn, and I am starting to see some green coming up after a week. This fertilizer is very fine and covers a lot of ground. Non-hazardous to pets. Recommend." Some reviewers complained that it has a strong smell and noted that the product may stain nearby hardscaping.

The overall best lawn fertilizer brand, according to customer reviews, is Scotts, so it's only natural that a few Scotts products made this list. A great companion product for the Scotts Crabgrass Preventer, Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed should be used about six to eight weeks after Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food. It is a two-in-one fertilizer (26-0-2) and weedkiller combo that gives your grass extra nourishment and kills dandelions, clover, and other major weeds. Use it when daytime temperatures are consistently between 60 and 90 degrees.

This product currently has an average of 4.3 stars and 35,230 reviews on Amazon, of which 67% are 5-star ratings. "Adding this to my spring lawn care really helped knock back the weeds and put the grass ahead for the growth season," said one reviewer on Amazon. "It was easy to apply with my 75 foot hose and the bottle covered what was expected based on the estimates they provide. It was worth the time, effort, and money." Some users said the results weren't as dramatic as they'd hoped and that it struggled to kill certain weeds. Other users, on the other hand, stated that this product took care of most of their weeds and did a great job, noting that it is important to follow the directions closely for the best results.

The Andersons PGF Complete is a well-balanced, professional-grade fertilizer. It is formulated with a 16-4-8 NPK ratio and also includes iron, Humic DG, and various micronutrients. According to Anderson's website, the formula is considered professional due to its small granule size. This ensures the product will cover your lawn more evenly and with more particles per square foot.

This product currently has an average of 4.6 stars and 3,931 reviews on Amazon, of which 79% are 5-star ratings. "I read the reviews on this fertilizer and decided to give it a try myself and the results are outstanding," said a buyer on Amazon. "The phosphorus-free formula is ideal for my area, and the fine particle size ensures even, consistent coverage. The particles disperse quickly when watered, delivering nutrients directly into the soil without relying on fragile coatings that can break under mower blades. It combines all the essential nutrients in the ideal ratio that most experts recommend for regular lawn maintenance. It's also high in iron and micronutrients, which gave my lawn a noticeable green-up in just over a week with regular watering." Some customers comment that it is a little on the expensive side, but others note the slow-release formula means fewer reapplications. 

The Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed and Feed and Crabgrass Preventer is designed to eliminate over 200 types of common lawn weeds, while also feeding your turf with a 65% slow-release nitrogen formula. Unlike the Scotts Turf Builder line, this product is designed to be applied only once and prevents crabgrass while also killing weeds like dandelions and clover. It claims to prevent excess growth — which means less mowing — while also improving the health of your lawn's root system. The slow-release nitrogen lasts for up to 12 weeks, and one round should be enough for the full spring and summer season.

This product currently has an average of 4.5 stars and 450 ratings on Lowe's website, of which 76% are 5-star reviews. "Greenview is superior to any other product I've used," said one reviewer. "I treat spring and fall. That's it! I've owned my own lawn maintenance company and I wish I would have discovered this 20 years ago." Some reviewers said that while it did a good job greening up the lawn, it isn't as effective as a weed killer.

Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food is a reliable fertilizer for customers who like Scotts Turf Builder products but do not have a problem with weeds. It is a granular fertilizer with a 32-0-4 NPK ratio. This product contains no weedkiller and aims to help strengthen your lawn from root to tip. It can be used on any grass type.

This product currently has an average of 4.4 stars and 2,547 ratings on Home Depot's website. According to the website, 91% of users recommend the product. "I have been using this for ten+ years," said one reviewer. "I apply it once at the start of the growing season, once mid summer, and once late summer. I spread according to the specified rate with a Scotts spreader. Then water the lawn heavily. I've never had it burn. And the people writing reviews complaining because it didn't kill their weeds obviously can't read. This is straight fertilizer without weed killer." Some reviewers complained that the product burned their lawn, so it is important to follow instructions carefully.

Freshly sown turf has its own set of requirements, and one way to start strong is by choosing the best type of fertilizer for new grass seed. This Scotts product is tailored for brand-new lawns or mature turf that has been recently overseeded. Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass is unique because it is designed with the needs of new grass in mind. It is a 24-25-4 NPK formula that is safe to use on any grass type and claims to grow new grass up to 35% faster and 70% thicker, according to the Scotts website.

This product currently has an average of 4.3 stars and 611 ratings on Lowe's website, of which 71% are 5-star ratings. "This is a must have when planting grass seed," said one customer on the Lowe's website. "Adding this fertilizer to the planting process practically guarantees faster germination and thicker grass. Our utility company recently dug up our front yard and did a very poor job of patching the lawn. I grabbed a bag of Scott's seed and this fertilizer and within a few days I could see the grass sprouting. I was so impressed I did a second application and this time I fertilized the entire yard. To my surprise it work[ed] as well on the rest of the yard. It promoted a faster growth and thick-end up the entire yard. The only down side was that the grass grew so fast I had to cut it twice a week for a little while. Outstanding product. I will never plant seed without this in the mix." A few customers reported clumping and that their new seeds had poor growth, but the majority of feedback is positive. 

Expert Gardener All-Purpose Plant Fertilizer is a budget-friendly formula ($8.97 for 10 pounds) with plenty of great reviews. It has a 10-10-10 NPK ratio that works for a variety of plants and can also give lawns the nutrients it needs without breaking the bank or requiring you to buy separate fertilizers for different areas of your yard. It does not contain herbicides and is a balanced formula that promotes green foliage and strengthens roots.

This product currently has an average of 4.6 stars and 2,352 ratings on Walmart's website, out of which 80% are 5-star ratings. "This fertilizer has the perfect formula for general feeding of garden trees, lawn, and shrubs," said a customer on Walmart's website. They added that a "10-pound bag is perfect because my yard is not that big and I always have fertilizer left over which can become messy."

Ironite Mineral Supplement is a gentle option for fixing yellowing grass that you can use from spring through into summer if needed. The NPK ratio is a low 1-0-0, making this product non-burning. It contains vital minerals like iron and sulfur that work together to make your lawn lush and green. Ironite states that the product is capable of slowing excess growth, thereby reducing the amount of time spent mowing. The product is designed not to stain and can be used up to four times per year.

This product currently has an average of 4.4 stars and 471 ratings on Lowe's website, out of which 70% are 5-star reviews. "I've been using this product for a long time and [the] results are phenomenal," said one customer. "You need to use [it] as directed. Why the negative reviews! This product works as stated every time. Brings the green out beautifully after about 7 to ten days. If you not getting good results I'd say maybe your lawn is lacking some crucial elements preventing the Iron and minerals from being taken up in the roots of the grass. Have your soil tested. Our soil around here is pretty horrible and rocky but the Ironite brings out the green in our grass and looks nice and healthy."

Vigoro Lawn Fertilizer is a popular budget pick ($54.97 for 42 pounds at the time of writing) that has a 29-0-4 NPK ratio and claims to green your lawn in as little as 72 hours. For best results, it should be applied every 8 weeks. This product is safe for all grass types and is a great choice for greening up your lawn in the spring — especially if you have a large area of turf to cover. One 42-pound bag of Vigoro covers up to 15,000 square feet of lawn.

This product has 2,362 ratings and an average of 4.1 stars. According to Home Depot's website, 72% of reviewers recommend it. "This VIGIRO is a great product," said a customer on Home Depot's website. "I rely on it four times a year to keep my grass green, thick and healthy. The soil in my area is sandy, and without this fertilizer the grass cannot sustain itself. It's so important, I put it on my phone calendar. Now I have the nicest lawn in the neighborhood." Some reviewers say that this product burned their lawn. As with any fertilizer using nitrogen, it is important to use caution and follow the instructions closely.

To find the best spring lawn fertilizers, we looked for products with consistently high ratings of at least 4 stars or higher across multiple retailers. All the products we picked have at least 300 total ratings (but many are much higher). We selected top products that are widely available at major retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowe's. All of the fertilizer options we selected either work best when applied in the spring, or solve a specific springtime problem — like greening up your turf after a long winter or nipping weed problems in the proverbial bud.