Spring is almost here, which means getting the backyard ready for all of summer’s Bar-B-Cues and barefoot firefly chases. Getting the lawn ready and weed free can be a bit overwhelming when you check out the lawn fertilizer aisle in your local store. To make it simple, fertilizers can be broken down into three main categories; They are single nutrient, multi-nutrient, and organic.
Single Nutrient Fertilizer
Single nutrient fertilizer is mostly made up of nitrogen. Nitrogen enhances the growth of the plant. This nutrient helps the plant effectively use sunlight to produce its food and is a huge building block to the production of proteins that keep it from wilting. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food is the top single nutrient fertilizer. The only downfall of single nutrient fertilizers is its high potential of run off. Rain can cause the fertilizer to run into water ecosystems and harm its balance, making it dangerous to drink and can hurt the organisms living in it.
Multi-Nutrient Fertilizer
Multi-nutrient fertilizers are mostly made up of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). When reading the contents of multi-nutrient fertilizers it might say “NPK,” which represents the three nutrients that make up a majority of the mixture. This type of fertilizer helps restore the lawn giving it the lush green appearance. Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed is a great brand if you’re looking for a multi-nutrient fertilizer.
Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizers are mostly animal waste and plant compost. Since this fertilizer is natural it is safe to use around people, pets, and food source plants. Sadly, since the fertilizer is made up of components that have been drained of some nutrients the fertilizer is not as strong as other types. Dr. Earth sells a Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer on Amazon, which has really good reviews.
The Decision
In the end, you need to know what you want from your lawn and you need to consider what your lawn might need. If you want grass that grows faster considering a single nutrient fertilizer would be best. Some lawns might need some help getting fuller and greener this year making multi-nutrient fertilizer a good choice. But, if you have kids or pets to keep safe, then a natural route could be the best option. Whichever fertilizer you choose we hope your yard is the perfect place to make this summer a great one.
