Lawn Food vs Lawn Fertilizer: what you need to know
Wondering whether you need lawn food vs lawn fertilizer? If you’ve recently completed a garden revamp (like me!) or are just obsessed with keeping a perfectly manicured lawn then you might have pondered this question.
The truth is, it’s a hotly debated topic in lawn care: lawn food vs lawn fertilizer. Well, this is a classic case of “same, same but different.”
How?
In this post we’ll break it down in simple terms.
What Is Lawn Food?
The term “lawn food” is more of a marketing term for fertilizer products. While fertilizers directly provide nutrients to grass and soil, lawn foods are meant to nourish and “feed” the lawn more holistically.
-Lawn food products may contain the standard NPK (more on that later), but they often have additional ingredients like:
- Micronutrients like iron, zinc, manganese
- Soil conditioners to improve texture
- Organic matter to feed soil microbes
- Weed control or preventatives
For instance, a lawn food product like Scotts Green Max Lawn Food offers complete nutrition, plus an extra helping of iron for a deeper green lawn.
What Is a Lawn Fertilizer?
A lawn fertilizer is a product that provides supplemental nutrients to grass and soil. It contains three macronutrients all plants love:
- Nitrogen (N): Promotes green, leafy growth
- Phosphorus (P): Encourages root growth and seed development
- Potassium (K): Improves vigor and disease resistance
The NPK numbers on a fertilizer bag indicate the concentrations of each nutrient in the mixture.
For example, this 18-3-6 liquid turf fertilizer contains 18% nitrogen, 3% phosphorus, and 6% potassium. Therefore, a liquid nitrogen lawn fertilizer will have 20-0-0 displayed on the container.
In other words, fertilizers can have specific formulations to target specific needs or deficiencies. They come in various types:
- High-Nitrogen Fertilizers: Great for quick green-up and vibrant growth.
- Balanced Fertilizers: Provide a mix of NPK in equal or varying amounts.
- Specialty Fertilizers: Address particular issues like weed or pest control.
Also, lawn fertilizers can be organic (e.g., manures, composts) or synthetic (e.g., ammonium sulfate, superphosphate).
Synthetic fertilizers can green up the lawn quickly but do little to improve soil quality in the long term. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, build up the soil slowly over time.
Lawn Food vs Lawn Fertilizer: The Difference
Many gardeners use the terms “lawn food” and “lawn fertilizer” interchangeably. To be fair, there’s a significant overlap between the two.
The differences are subtle but worth keeping in mind:
- Lawn foods release nutrients more slowly through organic sources. Fertilizers provide an instant fix of soil-loving nutrients.
- Lawn foods contain extra ingredients. Fertilizers focus on replenishing the Big 3, NPK.
Whether you go with lawn food or fertilizer, the most important thing is matching it to what your lawn actually needs. That way, you avoid burning your grass with too much of a certain nutrient.
Good thing fertilizer burn is reversible! To avoid this mistake, you can perform a simple soil test on your own with the help of a kit.
Final Thoughts on lawn food vs lawn fertilizer
So, lawn food vs lawn fertilizer—how do they differ?
Lawn food and lawn fertilizer are essential for maintaining a healthy lawn, but they differ in their applications and benefits. Lawn food typically refers to feed products that provide essential nutrients tailored to your lawn’s needs, ensuring healthy growth and a lush lawn. Lawn fertilizers, on the other hand, are more focused on providing the primary nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K ratio)—required for grass plants.
The best lawn fertilizer depends on the type of grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass or St. Augustine, and the growing season, with specific formulations like slow-release fertilizer for long-term nourishment and quick-release fertilizer for immediate needs. Liquid fertilizers and granular fertilizers are available, each with specific uses. For instance, Scotts Turf Builder and Pennington Ultragreen Lawn Fertilizer are popular choices found at local garden centres or big box stores.
The best time for lawn fertilization is typically early spring for cool-season grasses and late spring for warm-season grasses. Selecting the right fertilizer, such as a controlled-release fertilizer or a lawn starter fertilizer, ensures the proper level of phosphorus and other nutrients for strong roots and a green lawn. Regular fertilizer applications, following the lawn fertilizer labels, promote a beautiful lawn, while additional products like crabgrass preventers and pre-emergent weed control can target specific issues. The right lawn care product, applied at the right time, leads to greener grass and an attractive lawn.
Lawn food is the complete meal plan, perfectly balanced to provide your grass with everything it needs. Meanwhile, you use a fertilizer with a specific formula for a lawn requiring a specialized diet.
At the end of the day, both have their place in keeping your lawn the envy of the neighbourhood.
For best results, apply granular fertilizer evenly across your lawn to ensure deep roots and vibrant green colour. Liquid lawn fertilizer, available at your local garden centre, can be a good option for new grass or specific soils, providing immediate plant nutrients and correcting nutrient deficiencies, promoting a healthier lawn beginning of spring.
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