Owning a lawn requires quite a bit of maintenance throughout the year, and to keep it looking healthy and green requires more than just water and a quick mow. Lawn care can seem a bit overwhelming at first, and you’ve probably found yourself asking why are certain spots turning brown, why are dandelions popping up everywhere, how often do I use my mower, and what do you mean I have to FEED MY LAWN?! Is an early spring feed enough for a strong summer lawn?
And when you hit the stores to find a solution you have most likely been faced with a wall of products will all-in-one solutions to solve all your problems, if you are willing to shell out the cash.
Lawn care actually is not this frustrating, and the Scotts Lawn Care Company has been around for quite some time to help you take the stress out of lawn treatments. I’ll highlight some of their most popular lawn feeds below for both just-planted grass seed, new grass, and established lawns to help you get started determining which product is best for your lawn.
Backyard Boss Top 5 Scotts Fertilizers in Summer 2021
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Aside from our favorites, Scott's offers several products focused on eliminating specific type of weeds and grass issues: Turf Builder Weed & Feed for dandelions and clovers; Halts Crabgrass Preventer for, well, crabgrass; MossEx for moss control; Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action if you've got all the weeds; and Thick'r Lawn, which is a combo soil enhancer, fertilizer, and seed. Here is a perfect place to see all of Scott's weed control products.
Best Lawn Fertilizer Overall
This all-seasonal, all grass fertilizer is one of Scotts top sellers since it requires very little knowledge of your lawn needs.
- All season
- Not specific to any one type of grass
- Heals burnt grass
- Heavy applications will burn grass
- Sunny exposures may burn upon application, wait until evening and water
- May not see results depending on lawn’s specific needs
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Why We Like It: The process behind this feed is to green up and thicken your existing lawn to help choke out any weeds through the growing season. Proper application should result in a lush, green lawn with very few, if any problem areas. It is also pet and child friendly so you can utilize your yard immediately after application.
This is a faster-release fertilizer and it is recommended that you feed your lawn two to four times a year, depending on the type of grass you have and where you live (due to growth rates and dormancy).
Who Should Buy It: This is a good product for lawn owners who only have a very basic knowledge of their lawn but want to improve its quality and appearance. Complaints are pretty specific to a heavy application or use of the fertilizer in the heat of the day which may begin to burn out the lawn once water has been applied which helps the fertilizer soak in.
Best for Fertilizing in Winter
This fertilizer can be used with any type of grass and is specific to fall applications to help grow deep roots and repair from drought, summer heat, and foot traffic.
- Specific to grass repair
- All grass types
- Kid and pet safe
- Not everyone sees results
- May burn new seedings
- Will burn out grass if too heavy an application is used
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Why We Like It: This slow-release granular application helps feed your lawn through the winter months as roots will continue to grow during dormancy. Repair takes place through these months to help your grass come back stronger and thicker in the spring.
This feed is also safe for pets and children, so there is no need to have to avoid use after application. Is should be used in conjunction with the other seasonal feeds to help keep your lawn healthy through the entire year.
Who Should Buy It: This is a good choice for anyone who would like to be a little more specific in addressing seasonal grass needs without having to apply too much effort into their knowledge of the types of grasses they have. Complaints are mostly concerning not seeing any results, which if you already have a healthy lawn chances are you wouldn’t see anything drastic as this is a feed that is part of a year round maintenance program.
Best for Fertilizing Throughout the Growing Season
This is a quick-release, high iron fertilizer that is specific to lawns that need fast results.
- Quick greening
- Fixes burnt out areas
- Can use with other fertilizer cycles
- Requires a lot of watering
- May stain sidewalks, etc after water application
- May burn without proper watering
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Why We Like It: Results should be seen as quickly as three days after initial application with proper watering. This product is for treating lawns that have been burnt out or damaged and can be used with any other fertilizing system you already have in place.
It is important to follow the watering directions as this requires high amounts of watering for a few days after application to make sure it is well soaked in and the nutrients are properly released through the moisture application. This is also a pet and child-friendly product, so there is no need to worry about avoiding areas you’ve applied it to.
Who Should Buy It: This is a good feed for lawns that are suffering from obvious nutrient deficiencies or areas where the soils are considered poor. This is an iron-rich feed specific for greening up the lawn, but iron can leach quickly out of soils so multiple applications throughout the growing season may be needed. Complaints were specific to not seeing any results (possibly due to a lack of proper watering), and how the granules turn a rust color after water has been applied which may stain sidewalks and driveways.
Best for Lawns Frequented by Kids or Pets
This all-natural fertilizer includes bone and blood meals, as well as potash amongst its ingredients.
- Uses natural products, not chemical
- Safe for pets and children, even upon accidental ingestion
- Helps temper acidic soils
- May also feed and grow weeds
- Dogs may try and eat it, although safe
- May not work well in sandy soils
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Why We Like It: You should see results within one to three weeks, and reapplication is recommended quarterly throughout the year. Made to answer the want for a non-chemical feed, Scotts Natural Lawn Feed is a best seller, and despite most of their fertilizers now being kid and child friendly, is popular with pet owners.
Good for both direct lawn feedings and soil amendments, the combination of ingredients in the soils can help balance the pH for healthier soils. Sandy soils may not hold the nutrients well, however, but that applies to any fertilizer type and sand combination due to the higher incidence of leech occurrence.
Who Should Buy It: This is a good choice for anyone in need of a fertilizer, but not interested in application of chemical nutrients. Complaints mostly surrounded not seeing any results (possibly due to not applying enough) and dogs wanting to eat the stuff. Since the feed is made from animal byproducts this is not surprising and cannot harm your pets in anyway, even with ingestion.
Best for Fertilizing in the Summer
Turf Builder Summerguard is specifically formulated to feed actively growing lawns that may be losing nutrients through the growing season.
- Good feed for loss of nutrients during active growing season
- Protects against common lawn pests
- Improves lawn’s ability to absorb water
- Some people have not seen results
- Insects more affected than lawn health
- Possible slower release than needed for actively growing lawn
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Why We Like It: This turf-building fertilizer has insect control mixed in to help eradicate and control a large variety of common lawn pests. This is a good fertilizer to use in conjunction with other seasonal choices if insects happen to be a problem.
This feed helps strengthen grass against drought and heat, and it is popular within Southern climates for any type of grass. This is not a pet and child-friendly fertilizer, however, and it is suggested that you make sure all dust is settled and the fertilizer is well watered in before allowing any contact to occur. After that, it is considered safe with no reviews mentioning adverse effects.
Who Should Buy It: This is a good choice for anyone who feels their lawn is suffering due to dry climates and heat and may have issues with insects within the lawn. Complaints mostly surround not seeing any changes in their lawn health, although most people notice a significant eradication of bugs.
Why Use Scotts Lawn Fertilizer?
Scotts lawn care products have actually been around since 1868 when the founder, O.M. Scott began selling lawn seed in Ohio. The company is considered an industry leader, with offices and research facilities located throughout the world to bring consumers the most innovative, effective, and cost worthy products for their yard and garden projects. When you buy Scotts, you know you are getting a product from lawn care experts.
Scotts fertilizers are specially blended for different types of grasses, climates, insect controls, and weed eradication, making your application tasks that much more simple and affordable.
Lawn Care Plan
Image credits: Scotts via Amazon
If you aren’t sure where to start, Scotts provides a personalized lawn care plan to help guide you to the correct product to achieve a lush, green, and healthy-looking lawn. This program takes into account what your current lawn looks like, your grass variety (bluegrass, bermuda, southern lawns, even fescue), and what tools you may already have to help you get the job done. It’s very basic but does point you in the right direction of care if you are unfamiliar with the many ways different fertilizers can work for you.
Granular and Liquid Choices
Both granular and liquid fertilizers are available for different application techniques and lawn size coverage. Each has its own set of properties to help treat your lawn, and it’s nice to have choices depending on what applicable tools you may already have purchased concerning your yard. The ultimate goal is strong roots and weed control.
Granular fertilizers require a spreader of some sort in order to ensure even coverage. These types of fertilizers often have varying mixes of different nutrient needs, and also can easily mix in insect or weed controls. The downside of granular feeds is that not all the nutrients always reach the roots for use, but you do have the options of both quick, and slow-release choices for longer feeding windows.
Liquid fertilizers are quick feeds that generally supply an even coating of fertilizer either right to the ground or through the leaves of the grass. This is often a good choice for quick results or trouble areas that need immediate attention.
Seasonal Feeds
Depending on the types of grass you have you’ll want to feed them differently throughout the year. Many people make the mistake of applying one type of fertilizer multiple times per year and are unaware of the specific needs certain grasses may need, and when. This can also be a waste of fertilizer since some grasses may not always need a feeding when it is being applied. Knowing what types of grasses you have is a good start, but also know what nutrients are needed, and when, makes the fertilization process much more affordable.
Scotts offers multiple choices of feed specific to seasonal lawn needs. That way you can determine if you are overfeeding, and wasting, fertilizer during certain times of the year.
Weed Control and Weed Killer
It’s not uncommon to have weeds taking root within your yard. Lusher, thick lawns often keep the worst of these at bay, but if you are growing a lawn, have a sparse lawn, or simply have neglected a healthy lawn for too long, weeds may start to become more than a small problem. Once weeds take root they have an uncanny ability to multiply more quickly than your grass does, and can begin to take over and kill out the vegetation that should be there. You will need a weed preventer.
Treating your lawn for weeds can be done regularly, or you can tie it specifically to your fertilizing times by purchasing a feed that also has dual weed control properties. Scotts offer to give you both choice and convenience to your regular yard care.
Insect Control
Dead areas of grass are often less about a lack of water and more about what’s going on beneath the surface. Insects can, and will, feed upon the tender grassroots, cutting off nutrient supply and killing off your grasses once and for all. Other insects find your lawn the perfect place to hide out until they can hitch a ride to the nearest food source, like on your pet or children- or even use you as a food source, such as fleas and ticks.
Treating your lawn for critters while you feed is a good way to ensure that your favorite backyard hangout also doesn’t double as an evening meal for the bugs that have taken up residence.
How to Choose the Best Scotts Feed for Your Lawn
With the many products Scotts offers for your lawn care, it’s important to narrow down your needs to determine which will work with your lawn for the best results.
What is your lawn condition?
How thick your lawn is, the color of your grass, and how many weeds are present are all things to consider to help determine what, exactly, is needed for overall care. Initial treatments and follow-up feedings can help fix even the worst of your lawn issues once you have narrowed down what your problem is.
What is your grass type?
Many people just think grass is grass, but depending on where you live, chances are you have very different grasses that are more specific to your climate changes. In fact, you may have more than one type of grass, especially if you have a large yard.
Do you plan on using a spreader?
If you have a spreader then you are probably already familiar with granular fertilizers, but which type of spreader you own may work differently with varying grass feeds. Although the overall end result is supposed to be the same- namely your fertilizer is spread evenly over the yard, your walking speed, and spreader settings may determine how successful your feeding is. You can use Liquid Turf Builder if you prefer spraying instead of spreading.
What size loan do you have?
Your lawn size may determine how you want to apply your fertilizer. Certain techniques may be more tedious or more expensive than others, so it’s important to take this into account prior to purchase. Comparing prices, application technique, and amounts needed should be looked at, as should commercial application processes if you have a large amount of space to treat.
Get the Right Lawn Fertilizer
Generally, fertilizers are somewhat specific to your lawn needs, but Scotts makes it easy to pinpoint your biggest wants and provides enough choices that even the most uninformed can’t go wrong with one of their general fertilizers. Of course, you may not see as drastic results as if you used a fertilizer step program or seasonal specific feeds, but results are still in existence for overall lawn health.
If you are unsure of what needs you do have, then choosing a fertilizer such as Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food really is the best choice with regular, seasonal applications to provide a continual amount of nutrients directly to your lawn’s roots.
Have you used Scotts products on your lawn? What have been your results? We’d love to hear your comments and questions below. And as always, please share!