$10.83
Home Depot
$6.29
MiracleGro
How to choose the best fertilizers for every type of garden
The right fertilizer can change how your plants grow, for the better. Here are the best ones to use before sowing your seeds.
Miracle-Gro’s water soluble fertilizer is another reliable all-purpose option. Recommended by NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown, it’s perfect for growing and maintaining rose and vegetable gardens, trees, shrubs and indoor plants, according to the brand. Since the fertilizer dissolves in water, you can add it directly to a watering can, or the brand’s garden feeder, and apply it to the soil of your indoor and outdoor plants. This means you don’t have to work the fertilizer into the soil manually, like you would with a granular one.
Type: non-organic | Complete fertilizer? yes | Fertilizer analysis: 24-8-16 | Best for: all-purpose gardening
If you’re looking to maintain or revive your lawn, consider Scotts Turf Builder lawn fertilizer, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 6,871 reviews on Amazon. It helps grow and maintain your grass, while also protecting it against damage, according to the brand. It also strengthens the roots in your lawn and helps the soil absorb water and nutrients more easily. It’s compatible with many grass types, including bermuda, centipede, ryegrass and zoysia. This particular mix is high in nitrogen, which helps create more vibrant, healthy lawns, according to Bawden-Davis.
Type: non-organic | Complete fertilizer? no | Fertilizer analysis: 30-0-4 | Best for: all-purpose gardening
The Osmocote Smart-Release fertilizer is a type of slow-release fertilizer (one that gradually releases nutrients into the soil), so it’s convenient for people who want to maintain their garden without having to add fertilizer throughout the year. It can feed a wide range of plant types for up to six months, according to the brand. To use it, mix a small scoopful of the fertilizer granules into the first few inches of soil and water your plants as needed.
Type: non-organic | Complete fertilizer? yes | Fertilizer analysis: 15-9-12 | Best for: slow-release fertilizing
Another slow-release fertilizer, this granular option from Osmocote is particularly great for growing flower gardens. With a 4.7-star average rating from 25,892 reviews on Amazon, it has an equal mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that’s formulated for growing healthy and heavy perennial flower beds and vegetables, according to the brand. It comes with a scoop included and you can use around three tablespoons of the fertilizer for every 4 square feet, according to the brand.
Type: non-organic | Complete fertilizer? yes | Fertilizer analysis: 14-14-14 | Best for: slow-release fertilizing and flowers
This fertilizer from Jobe’s, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 7,342 reviews on Amazon, is ideal for gardeners who want to focus on growing roses. It has a mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that’s perfect for growing healthy roses. In addition to macronutrients, it has a mix of bone meal, potash, feather meal and composted poultry manure.
Type: organic | Complete fertilizer: yes | Fertilizer analysis: 3-5-3 | Best for: roses and flowers
This fertilizer is best suited for vegetable gardens and was recommended by Brown, who’s an avid gardener and regularly grows vegetables at home. In addition to a blend of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for substantial plant growth, it has soybean protein, potash and feather meal to further help provide your vegetables nutrients for healthy growth. The fertilizer also comes in a small bag with a spout attached, which makes it easy to apply to your garden bed without manually scooping it out.
Type: organic | Complete fertilizer: yes | Fertilizer analysis: 5-4-5 | Best for: vegetables
While you can use many vegetable-centric fertilizers for tomato gardens, you can also consider one marketed especially for growing tomatoes. Espoma’s tomato fertilizer has a 4.7-star average rating from 39 reviews at Walmart, and is great for growing all types of tomatoes, including heirlooms and hybrids, according to the brand. It doesn’t require any mixing and doesn’t produce excess foliage, according to the brand. Plus, it has 8% calcium to help prevent end rot.
Type: organic | Complete fertilizer: yes | Fertilizer analysis: 3-4-6 | Best for: tomatoes and vegetables
In our roundup of the best composting bins, experts recommend this rotation option from FCMP. Made from recycled resin, the bin is perfect for those who prefer to use their own composting materials as fertilizer rather than store-bought ones. The bin mixes and aerates the ingredients by itself. You can use several types of plant-based materials, like food scraps and paper, to make your own fertilizer.
Fertilizer is a chemical substance that functions as nutrients for plants. Similar to light exposure, fertilizer is a necessity for ensuring that your plants thrive and grow efficiently. “The main purpose of fertilizers is to feed the plants so they can establish themselves, grow, bloom and be strong enough to resist pests and disease,” says Carmen DeVito, a professional garden designer. “Good fertilizer also enriches the soil and helps the microorganisms so they can help the plants take up the nutrients they need from the soil.” Fertilizers are made from both natural substances such as compost, bone meal and manure and artificial ones made from nitrogen or phosphate. Natural and artificial fertilizers are also referred to as organic and inorganic, respectively.
There are lots of fertilizer options, so it can be difficult to know where to start. First, consider the types of fertilizer that are best for what you want to grow or maintain. Here are a few terms and fertilizer characteristics to keep in mind:
This is a solid fertilizer that comes in the form of granules. You can easily scoop them from a bag, sprinkle them into soil and mix them in manually, according to Matt Koch, director of biotechnology, genetics, and seed at ScottsMiracle-Gro. “Granular fertilizers are available in both quick-release and slow-release forms. The slow-release options provide nutrients over an extended period, reducing the need for frequent applications,” he says. “They are also easy to store and cost-effective for large areas.”
Any inclusion of ScottsMiracleGro in this story was made independently of Koch, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Koch for product recommendations.”
Water-soluble fertilizers are solid fertilizers that dissolve easily in water. This means they act as a liquid fertilizer, which is beneficial depending on what you’re growing, maintaining or salvaging, according to Koch. “Water-soluble or liquid fertilizers are quickly absorbed by plants, making them ideal for addressing nutrient deficiencies or for encouraging rapid growth,” he says. “The liquid form allows for even application, especially when used with a sprayer, and can be easily adjusted for specific plant needs.”
As Koch mentioned above, slow-release and quick-release fertilizers are fertilizers that either feed nutrients to plants very rapidly or slowly, depending on their individual needs. In particular, slow-release fertilizers are great for people who don’t want to do applications too frequently, according to Amy Enfield, senior horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro. What is beneficial about them is that they “release nutrients slowly over time to supply your plants with a steady supply of nutrients,” she says. “The duration of feeding and time to reapplication varies by product.”
Any inclusion of ScottsMiracleGro in this story was made independently of Enfield, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Enfield for product recommendations.”
As previously mentioned, these three elements make up the foundational macronutrients that all plants need for growth. That said, they each have a particular benefit to different types of plants, according to Nathan Heinrich, a horticulturist and botanical designer. “The most powerful of the nutrients is nitrogen. Nitrogen is responsible for leaves, shoots and all green growth — that’s why nitrogen is used heavily on lawns and golf courses to keep turf lush and green,” he says. “ A plant’s ability to produce energy through photosynthesis is dependent on how much nitrogen is available in the soil and absorbed through the roots.” Additionally, phosphorus is important for growing flowers, fruits and roots, while potassium helps plants tolerate stress, according to Heinrich.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Any inclusion of ScottsMiracleGro in this story were made independently of Enfield, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Enfield for product recommendations.”
Any inclusion of ScottsMiracleGro in this story were made independently of Koch, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Koch for product recommendations.”
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I cover garden, home and kitchen-related topics, such as the best seed-starting trays to use.
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