Best Lawn Fertiliser Guide

At The Grass People, we recommend feeding your lawn at least twice per year, once during the spring or summer and again during autumn. For more information, keep reading our Best Lawn Fertiliser Guide or our in-depth fertiliser guide!

1. What are fertilisers?

We all want a green and healthy lawn; however, it can be a battle as the grass has different nutritional needs throughout the year. To feed the lawn these nutrients, we apply fertilisers - a combination of chemicals that feed plants the nutrients they need to grow. The chemicals generally found in fertilisers are nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, known as N.P.K.

The N.P.K numbers contained in fertilisers can be found on the label. With winter fertilisers, phosphate and potassium are at increased levels as these elements will encourage the growth of roots and strengthen the lawn under the soil. In spring and summer, however, we want the grass to flourish, so higher levels of nitrogen are included, which will promote growth. Think of fertilisers as a balanced smoothie for your grass.

2. How to fertilise

In preparation for fertilising, cut your grass 3-4 days before you apply the feed. We recommend using a spreader for granular fertilisers to ensure you get even coverage across your lawn. Check the application rate of the fertiliser and set the spreader accordingly. If applying by hand, mark out 1 metre squared, fill a container with the volume of fertiliser required and apply evenly. Then, repeat this action throughout the garden.

3. When to fertilise

In spring and summer, it is advisable to apply fertiliser on cooler, overcast days, particularly in the mornings when dew leaves the grass moist. It is also helpful to fertilise when there is rain forecast as this will break down the granules and start the fertilising process in the soil. Users should avoid spreading fertiliser on very warm days. The heat can cause the fertiliser to burn the grass blades.

4. What's the best lawn fertiliser to use and when?

In spring or summer, there are two fertilisers that we would recommend: Quick Release: Spring/Summer Granular Fertiliser, Fast-Acting Spring/Summer Liquid Fertiliser or Slow Release: Spring/Summer Granular Fertiliser.

• Quick Release: Spring/Summer Fertiliseracts fast and can give your lawn a real boost. It lasts for up to 6 weeks, and you can do two applications in the summer. You’ll notice that the colour of your grass becomes a deeper green, looks much healthier and accelerates grass growth. Quick Release: Spring/Summer Fertiliser contains NPK 9.7.7.
• Make it Grow and Make it Green liquid fertilisers are fast-acting lawn feeding solutions that feed your grass for 6-8 weeks—designed to rapidly repair and revive grass that looks tired and worn out. Ideal for spring/summer use, this liquid fertiliser gets to work instantly after applying and quickly feeds your lawn the nutrients it needs to make it grow better.
• Slow Release: Spring/Summer Fertiliser is a slow-release fertiliser which can last up to 12-16 weeks. It will nurture your lawn slowly and steadily throughout the warm weather, protecting your grass from all the UK summer has to throw at it (flooding, drought!). Slow Release: Spring/Summer Fertiliser contains NPK 16.7.15.

During autumn/winter, you can use either our slow release or quick release versions of these fertilisers, and we have an autumn/winter liquid fertiliser available too. In autumn/winter, the purpose of your fertiliser is to keep your lawn healthy and less susceptible to disease and frost.

We also have information on using fertiliser if you have pets and the best times of year to use fertilisers!