What is the Best Lawn Feed?

OCTOBER 2023

Lawn fertilisers, also referred to as lawn feed, are an essential part of any lawn care programme. They provide essential nutrients for your grass to grow, maintain a rich green colour, and remain resistant to diseases that daily stresses can make them susceptible to.

Stresses such as drought, frost, compaction from heavy foot traffic, and kids playing on the grass all stress the grass plant and make it hard for the plant to grow and look its healthiest.

How do I compare lawn feeds?

An easy way to compare fertilisers from different companies is to compare the NPK values on the label. The higher the NPK, the more nutrient the manufacturer has packed into the fertiliser. But what does NPK represent?

The primary nutrients, also known as macronutrients, found in fertilisers are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which are often referred to as NPK. These nutrients play crucial roles in different aspects of plant growth and development.

What does Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) do for my lawn?

Nitrogen (N): This nutrient is responsible for promoting lush, green foliage and overall plant growth. It helps with the development of leaves and stems.

Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus is essential for root development, flower, and seed production. It aids in strong root systems and enhances the plant's ability to take up nutrients.

Potassium (K): Potassium contributes to overall plant health and helps plants build resistance to diseases and stress. It supports various physiological processes, such as water uptake and photosynthesis.

So, higher NPK ratios is better, right?

This might seem a little ambiguous if you are a beginner to lawn care, but higher ratios can mean better in the right context.... It depends on the job in hand. You wouldn't compare the boot space of an F1 car, with your 5-seater family car that you collect the kids and shopping in. They have different jobs.

As an example, if you are laying new turf or sowing new seed, you'll want a fertiliser that is high in phosphorus to encourage strong root growth to get the grass plant and not unsustainably top-load the grass plant by asking it to grow in height.

A good lawn care programme utilises lawn feeds with different NPK values at different times of year, to provide the grass with what it needs, when it needs it. For example, Mowd's Summer lawn feed "Feels Like Summer" has an NPK of 12-3-9 +Mg +Fe. The High potassium helps the grass utilise water better in the dry summers, whilst providing a deep green sward from the addition of iron.

This image shows the direct comparison of Mowd's Equinox Spring & Autumn Fertiliser, Miracle-Gro Complete 4in1 and Westlands Aftercut NPK values.

What else might I find in a quality lawn fertiliser?

In addition to the primary NPK nutrients, quality lawn fertiliser will also contain secondary nutrients like calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe), to name a few. These secondary nutrients and trace elements are required in smaller amounts but are still vital for the overall health of the grass.

Some fertiliser companies who favour quantity over quality neglect these secondary ingredients (aka micronutrients) as they can be expensive raw materials which will force higher prices on the shelf. Always check the label to see what micronutrients are also included in the lawn fertiliser - this will identify a much higher quality product.

What do the micronutrients do?

Iron (Fe): Iron is crucial for chlorophyll synthesis, which is responsible for the green colour in plants.

Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is a central component of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for photosynthesis in plants, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy, enabling them to produce food for growth and development.

Calcium (Ca): Calcium plays a crucial role in building and maintaining the structure and integrity of plant cell walls. It enhances the plant's resistance to diseases and physical stresses.

Anything else I should consider when buying lawn feed/fertiliser?

The final characteristic to assess when deciding which lawn fertiliser is best is the longevity of the product. Most off-the-shelf products only last 4-6 weeks, which means re-applying regularly.

All of Mowd's fertilisers are formulated and coated to ensure they last up to 3 months, releasing their nutrients slowly over time. This prevents rapid flushes of growth and means you spend less time applying fertiliser and more time enjoying your lawn!

Time to buy lawn fertiliser - or are you still confused?

Now you know how to assess and compare lawn feed, the only question left to answer is: Granular or Liquid? We've written a blog on that too and the answer might surprise you!

Still unsure on what to buy? Mowd offers subscription lawn care packages that handle it for you. We send you the right fertiliser, in the right amount, at the right time of year to your door. The perfect lawn has never been easier to achieve.