No matter which part of the world you live in, some of our fondest childhood memories happened right outside in the lawn. Whether it was playing ball or roughhousing with your siblings, the grass just felt so good.
Fast-forward a few decades later and the lawn is still a great place to entertain guests, play fetch with the dog, or just sit and enjoy the sunset. Truth be told, we can all agree that the lawn is the centrepiece to your garden; it gives the first real impression about your property.
Unfortunately, no other plant or greenery takes more punishment and abuse than the lawn. As beautiful as it may be, grass is not considered a flower. People will walk, run, jump, play and leave all sorts of items all over your yard without a second thought.
But hey, isn’t that what a lawn is for? Instead of complaining about damaged, dried up patches of grass and a lawn full of moss and weeds, why not up the ante once and for all with the best lawn feed?
You don’t need to hire a landscaper or spend a fortune on the latest gardening tools to keep your lawn looking lush and green. By using what the professionals use, you can also feed the grass and turn yours into a vibrant, strong, and barefootworthy lawn.
Nourishing your yard with all the necessary nutrients just a few times a year is enough to create a dream lawn that rivals a golf course’s green. So, how do you go about getting the best feed for your lawn?
Key Features and Considerations When Buying Lawn Feed
i) Understand the Nutrients Your Yard Needs
Lawn feeds are also fertilisers that contain nutrients and fillers. When it comes to plants, there are three main nutrients to watch out for.
- Nitrogen (N) – This is a protein found in every plant and the key ingredient that promotes the lush, vibrant green coloration of grass. Supplementing it helps spur the growth process and fights of harmful pests as well.
- Phosphorous (P) – This element allows plants to convert nutrients into growth agents. Lawn feeds with high phosphorous content are more suited to helping new patches of grass grow.
- Potassium (K) – Also known as the quality nutrient, potassium helps improve the grass’s shape, size, and colour. It also helps grass develop a resistant to extreme temperature differences.
ii) Types of Lawn Feed
Liquid Feed
Soluble lawn feeds are quick acting fertilisers that need to be dissolved in water and applied via sprinkler or watering can. Plants absorb these very quickly, so you’ll need to apply them regularly.
Granular Fertilisers
These are fine, light grains designed to be sprinkled all over the lawn like seeds, and then watered in. Some can be thrown by hand while others come with a dispenser for easier and more accurate feeding.
Best Lawn Feeds Reviewed
1. Evergreen 4-in-1 Lawn Food and Weed Killer
The Evergreen 4-in-1 Lawn Food and Weed Killer is a versatile, well rounded, all in one treatment designed to provide comprehensive lawn care and maintenance. Not only does this granular fertiliser feed your lawn with all the nutrients it requires, it also actively works to eliminate weeds and control the amount of moss in the grass. The feed comprises of 14% nitrogen, 5% potassium and several other nutrients that all work together to keep your grass greener, thicker, stronger and healthier.
Evergreen used a WaterSmart formula that helps plants absorb nutrients faster and more effectively. This means that a treated lawn is also protected against factors such as drought, cold, and physical stress. One bag covers and area of 360sqm. The manufacturer recommends using this lawn feed only twice a year somewhere between March and September when the weeds are actively growing. Once applied, do not walk on treated area until properly watered or rained on. After a week or so, the grass will be richer in colour and all moss and weeds blacked and dying. The lawn should be ready to rake in a matter of two weeks.
What I like about it:
- Versatile, 4-in-1 performance for lawn care and weed elimination
- Granular design allows quick application
- Contains more Nitrogen than most feeds
2. Scotts Lawn Builder Lawn Food
Here’s a company that has worked hard over the years to perfect their craft and give homeowners a strong, happy lawn. If you’re a yard lover looking for premium results and are more than happy to indulge your lawn with a bit more regular care than your average homeowner, then the Scotts Lawn Builder Lawn Food is the right choice for you. It comes in an 8 kg bag that can be used to treat an area of up to 400 square metres.
Scotts Lawn Builder consists of a slow release nitrogen fertiliser that improves the green colour of your yard in just a matter of 7 days. One application is enough to last the lawn for 3 months, with reapplication recommended 4 times a year. But what makes it particularly ideal for a typical UK lawn is the fact that it has a higher potassium content. Expert gardeners will tell you that higher potassium levels help protect your lawn from the winter cold and promote root growth for an even stronger plant. That’s why this feed is a favourite for many, especially around autumn when an application is necessary to help your lawn survive the cold winter ahead.
What I like about it:
- Ideal for UK’s colder climate
- No surge growth that requires extra mowing
- No need to water in
3. Miracle-Gro Lawn Food
The Miracle-Gro Lawn Food is another well rounded lawn feed that can work on a variety of different lawns at different times of the year. But what makes it among the lightest, smallest and most affordable package on this list is the fact that it is water soluble. You water your lawn anyway, right? Why not put a little something in the water to boost the nutrient intake of your yard? This lawn feed guarantees a more vibrant, greener, and richer lawn in just five days.
The manufacturer designed the Miracle Grow to be water soluble; meaning that it’s easy to use and apply with either a watering can or via sprinkler. But for our more professional gardeners who want accurate feeding, you have the option of using a handy Miracle Gro Feeder. This lets you connect a 500 gram sachet of feed to a hose pipe and of you go; no need to mix or measure. But no matter which method you use, dissolving the fertiliser in water means that there’s no chance of scorching your lawn in the process.
What I like about it:
- Quick acting results in 5 days
- Allows gardeners to feed and water lawns in one go
- Water soluble feeds lowers risk of scorching
4. EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care Feed
If there’s one thing that all Brits can all agree on, it’s that winter is the toughest time for our lawns. You could have the lawn of the year for the entire year only to see the whole thing wither and disappear during the winter. If you’re looking for a lawn feed that will not only help your yard survive, but also thrive during this cold winter season, then look no further than the EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care Feed.
The feed comes in a 12 Kg bag that can be used to nourish an area of 360 square metres. Your lawn needs all the nutrients it can to overcome the cold. That’s why this feed contains 6% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous and 10% potassium oxide to make sure your grass grows greener, thicker, and stronger even in the cold. The formulation also includes Seaweed which aids in root establishment. As a bonus, the Autumn feed also kills moss to give your grass more breathing space.
What I like about it:
- Specially formulated to protect lawns from winter
- Added Seaweed for root establishment
- Also kills moss
5. GardenersDream Professional Lawn Treatment Grass Feed
Got an extremely large yard to deal with? Or maybe you just want to stock up on affordable lawn feed so you can fertilise the grass regularly. Whatever the case may be, there’s one company with one incredibly big and affordable bag of professional grade granular lawn feed. The Professional Lawn Treatment Grass Feed from GardenersDream comes is a massive 25kg bag that contains mini granules of compound fertiliser for easy application and even distribution.
This conventional fertiliser consists of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to facilitate for a healthy lawn all the way from the roots to strong and greener shoots. The fertiliser is particularly designed to be used between April and September when the turf is in active growth mode. This takes advantage of the growing grass to give it even more nutrients to grow healthier and stronger. Users are advised to apply the fertiliser on fry foliage and then water the lawn to aid in dispersion of the lawn feed. And to allow the fertiliser to disperse properly, you’ll want to avoid any grooming or lawn care activities for about 3 days. There’s also a free 100g sample pack to test out.
What I like about it:
- Massive 25 Kg value pack
- Designed to break down faster for easier nutrient uptake
- Free 100g sample pack included
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should I feed my lawn?
Unlike many demanding plants, you don’t have to repeatedly feed your lawn throughout the year. A spring feed containing plenty of nitrogen should be given around March time, as the shoots are starting to show new growth.
In the summer your lawn will benefit from a feed, but if you are due a prolonged dry spell then you should water it in well to avoid the nitrogen content scorching the grass.
Autumn feeds should be lower in nitrogen but higher in potassium and phosphates, to encourage a strong root system.
You should feed in winter to keep your lawn as strong as it can be to cope with the rigours of the weather. Four feeds a year, of two different types of feed – that’s not too much to ask, is it!
Q: What does lawn feed do?
Lawn feed provides essential nutrients to your grass to help it grow healthy and strong. These nutrients are:
- Nitrogen – For leaf growth. Lawns with a good level of nitrogen will be a healthy, deep green colour.
- Phosphorus – This is required for a healthy root system. Strong roots will protect your lawn against drought, pests and diseases, and keeps the structural integrity of your lawn solid.
- Potassium – This is a good all round lawn support, as it helps the grass build drought resistance and helps make it more able to stand up to disease.
There are other elements and nutrients in lawn fed, but these are not as vital and are in smaller proportions.
Q: When to water and feed lawn in Spring?
You should only need to apply one feed to your lawn in the springtime – around March, just as the weather is starting to warm up. You will need a feed that is high in nitrogen, to support the leaf growth of the grass.
If it is a normal spring then you shouldn’t have to water, as Mother Nature will usually do that for you – but if you are in a prolonged dry spell then it would be wise to water in your lawn feed so your grass doesn’t get burned by the nitrogen.
The best feed for spring is a granular feed, that slowly releases its nutrients over a course of weeks, rather than a big dose that might overwhelm the grass.
Q: When to water lawn after Weed And Feed?
The directions on the bag of Weed And Feed should tell you exactly what to do, but as a rough guide:
- The leaves of the weeds should be moist when you apply the product, so the herbicides can stick to them.
- After applying you should leave the product to sit for 24 hours.
- After this, water thoroughly, up to the first 1-2 inches of soil, to allow the fertilisers to be pulled into the roots and the herbicides to be drawn into the weeds.
“Yard”? A yard (backyard, frontyard) is something made of concrete!
My lawn was never that bumpy but recently it is not just one area it is the full lawn area, it has a lot of weeds also .I was planning to get 4 in 1 plant fertilizer. i need to level the lawn first then use the fertilizer i think. I need to establish the reason of this sudden change in my lawn. who can actually inspect and see if it is not drainage issues or broken water pipes. Do i ask the water suppliers or my local council.
Thank You
Both the front and backyard lawn . in all these years i have not experienced when mowing the lawn this bumpy.