Every homeowner dreams about having a lush, green lawn that is well-kept. The best fertilizer to thicken the grass and all of this daydreaming isn’t for nothing A lovely yard is a low-cost and low-effort approach to boost the value of your property and add much-needed “curb appeal.” A lush, beautiful grass indicates that the soil on your property is healthy, well-drained, and pest-free.
Top 4 best fertilizer to thicken the grass
- Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food
- Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK – Lawn Food Natural Liquid Fertilizer
- 3-Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food, 12.5 lb. – Lawn Fertilizer
- GreenView Lawn Food
What is the best fertilizer to thicken the grass?
1-Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food
For good reason, Scotts has been around for a long time and is one of the most trusted brands. Scotts Turf Builder lawn food, weed, and feed products, and newer fast-acting synthetic mixes have all been thoroughly researched and confirmed to function.
Miracle-Gro is popular for a reason, and that reason is that it works. Miracle-Gro lawn food is no exception when given in the right dose.
You may also use lawn food for plants (provided you don’t mind the fact that your plant fertilizer isn’t organic), as it’s one of the greatest fertilizers for tomatoes and other fruit and vegetable-bearing plants. One of my favorite low-cost fertilizers is Miracle-Gro. 36-0-6 is the nutritional combination.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Various sizes are available.
- If you’re concerned about the environment, don’t use phosphorus.
- Green lawns require a high amount of nitrogen.
- Instantly effective
Cons:
- Liquid recipe must be mixed
- The sprayer is not included in the package.
2-Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK – Lawn Food Natural Liquid Fertilizer
This all-grass combination from Simple Lawn Solutions is one of our top selections for the best fertilizer for plants and lawns.
The formula includes seaweed and fish in the mix, as well as all three major nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) and rapid fertilization.
This isn’t the product for you if you wish to stay away from phosphorus-based fertilizers.
This is one of my favorite lawn food formulas if you’re seeking a superb fertilizer with all three nutrients and excellent absorption into your lawn.
To overlap the benefits, I like to put this down and then apply a half-dose of granules a few weeks later.
Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, Buffalo, Centipede, Florida Palmetto, Bahia, Fescue, Ryegrass, and Kentucky Bluegrass are among the grasses that benefit from Simply Lawn Solutions.
Pros:
- Top-rated
- Instant fertilization with phosphorus for root health
- Even in dry conditions, it works.
- Grass of various varieties can be used.
Cons:
- If using without granules, reapply every month.
- It can be inconvenient to apply or manage with a sprayer.
3-Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food, 12.5 lb. – Lawn Fertilizer
One of the most well-known fertilizer brands is Scotts Turf Builder, which is one of their most effective fertilizers.
This lawn fertilizer helps your grass grow larger roots, lowering the quantity of watering needed to keep it alive.
Because it includes a lot of nitrogen, this fertilizer immediately produces a lot of higher growth. It can be used on both warm and cool-season types of grass. The latter, on the other hand, should be handled with greater caution.
Because it contains no phosphorus and a lot of nitrogen, it’s the best fertilizer for older lawns. It has a 32-0-4 NPK ratio, which encourages quick, dense greening and strong root multiplication while preparing for a hot summer and a hard winter.
Pros
- It is cost-effective and fits within your budget.
- It contains no phosphorus.
- Grass will need to be fed less frequently.
Cons
- To use this fertilizer, you’ll need a spreader.
- It will burn your lawn if not applied properly.
4-GreenView Lawn Food
GreenView Lawn Food is another excellent alternative for older lawns. It has an NPK of 22-0-4. It contains a lot of nitrogen, therefore it will aid in the growth of current grass.
If you want to bulk up your grass, this is an excellent way to do so. However, because it lacks phosphorus, it isn’t suitable for new growth.
It can, however, accelerate root growth. If you live in a region where the winters are extremely harsh, this can be a terrific way to extend the life of your plants.
It provides plants with a high level of endurance, allowing them to tolerate frigid temperatures. It also helps plants retain water, so if you live in a dry environment, it could be a good choice.
The fact that GreenView is time-released is also noteworthy. That means your grass will benefit not just at the time of application, but throughout the next few weeks as well.
If you’re seeking a low-maintenance, long-lasting fertilizer, this could be the answer.
Pros
- To strengthen, use a super-speed-root recipe.
- Great for building strong, cold-resistant grass at the end of the season.
- Excellent for usage in locations where there is a lot of droughts.
Cons
- Burning may occur if not applied with plenty of water.
- It’s possible that not all weeds will be killed.
- Spray food isn’t as effective.
Read More:
- Best Lawn Fertilizer for Fall (Reviews 2022)
- Best Lawn Fertilizer For Winter (Review 2022)
- Best Fertilizer For Floratam Grass
- The Best Fertilizer for New sod (2022)
8 steps to get a thicker lawn
1. OVERSEED
Overseeding is the process of putting grass seed into existing grass in order to thicken thin lawns or prevent them from becoming thin. New grass fills in the gaps between the existing grass, giving it a thicker, lusher feel and appearance.
Overseeding on a regular basis is the key to a beautiful lawn. Cool-season northern lawns should be overseeded in the fall and spring, while thin warm-season southern lawns should be seeded in the late spring.
Overseeding is a great way to increase the condition of your grass and make it thicker. You’ll get exceptional performance from grass kinds produced via industry-leading grass seed research when you use premium grass seed like Pennington Smart Seed.
Always choose a grass that is suitable for your grass-growing region, climate, and lawn conditions. If you’re growing grass in the shade, for example, shade-tolerant grasses can help you achieve the dense grass you want.
2. FERTILIZE
Lawn grasses, like other plants, require nutrition, yet minerals in the soil are frequently washed away by rainfall and irrigation. Fertilizing your grass on a regular basis throughout the growing season helps to offer the nutrients it requires for thicker, healthier growth.
When overseeding your lawn, a starter fertilizer like Pennington UltraGreen Starter Fertilizer 22-23-4 aids in the rapid establishment of new grasses by promoting powerful root growth.
Pennington Ultragreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 offers the nitrogen your lawn requires for the thick, green grass in established lawns.
For up to three months, half of the nitrogen in these particular formulas slowly releases to keep nourishing your thickening lawn.
To prevent leaching, the other half is stabilized. This means less fertilizer is wasted on the environment, and the nutrients in the fertilizer you apply reach your thick lawn more effectively.
3. SOIL IMPROVEMENT
Take a suggestion from the pros and test your soil to get the most out of every step toward a thicker grass. Soil testing is a simple procedure that pays off handsomely in the form of thick, healthy grass growth.
A soil test provides you with a precise starting point for your lawn’s specific requirements, as well as recommendations for addressing any underlying issues. Contact your local extension office if you’re new to testing. They can help you get started with simple kits and information.
The pH of your soil and other soil characteristics that can stifle thick, robust growth is revealed through testing. You may improve your soil without guesswork by following test Recommendations.
Your grass, for example, will not be able to absorb nutrients if the pH of the soil is too low. Testing determines whether your lawn requires lime or other soil additions to restore pH balance and nutrient availability, allowing grass to thrive.
4. IRRIGATE
Once your thicker grass has established itself, maintain good lawn watering methods to ensure that it receives enough water and remains thick and robust. Grass seedlings need continual moisture to germinate and fill in gaps between existing grass.
Once established, lawns require around 1 inch of water per week, whether from the rain or through your irrigation system. Irrigation that is deep and thorough stimulates the deep root growth that bigger lawns require.
Pennington Smart Seed grasses conserve water, allowing your lawn to endure heat, drought, and other stressors that cause typical grasses to struggle and thin. Smart Seed uses up to 30% less water than regular grass seed, year after year, for the life of your lawn.
These exceptional, drought-tolerant grasses will stay green for up to three weeks without water, requiring less maintenance and maintaining the appearance of your lawn.
5. MPROVE YOUR LAWN
Take the all-in-one approach to get a thicker grass faster by combining the previous three stages into one simple, do-it-yourself lawn boost. Pennington Lawn Booster is a one-stop-shop for seed, fertilizer, and soil enhancers.
To promote seed germination and the overall texture and color of your grass, use Lawn Booster, which includes lime-enhanced, drought-tolerant Smart Seed and a professional-grade fertilizer. The nitrogen-stabilized fertilizer feeds your grass soon after planting and for up to eight weeks. Furthermore, the soil-enhancing gypsum in this product increases the health and condition of your soil without influencing the pH, allowing your grass to take root and flourish.
Boosting your lawn with Lawn Booster is as easy as three steps: Prepare the area, apply the all-in-one product, and water as directed on the packaging. In only one application, your lawn will grow faster, thicker, and greener than regular grass seed—guaranteed.
6. WEED CONTROL
Weeds compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients with grass. When you have a lot of weeds, your lawn gets less fertilizer and other nutrients. Weed control eliminates competition, allowing grass to remain thick and well-nourished. Killing common lawn weeds in the early fall is a great idea.
A pre-emergent herbicide used before the emergence of weeds in the spring can help your lawn grow thicker and lusher. Pennington UltraGreen Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 feeds your lawn while also controlling crabgrass and broadleaf weeds.
Before they wreak havoc on your lawn’s thick, healthy growth. When overseeding your lawn, never use pre-emergent weed killers. Pre-emergents prevent all seeds from germinating and emerging correctly, including grass.
You can achieve a thick, lush lawn and keep it that way by incorporating these procedures and best practices into weekly lawn maintenance or short weekend lawn revamps. In addition, there are sporadic chores.
7. MOW IN THE RIGHT MANNER
Using proper mowing techniques allows your grass to grow thick and stay that way. Rather than mowing according to your weekly calendar, mow based on the demands of the grass. Mow your grass frequently enough to keep it at the optimum mowing height without eliminating more than one-third of it in a single mowing. Many of the stressors that generate thin, unsightly lawns can be avoided by doing so.
Make sure your mower is well-maintained so that the blades cut cleanly rather than tearing at the grass. Ragged, ripped grass is more prone to common lawn illnesses and insect pests, preventing lush, thick growth in your lawn. Changing your mowing pattern on a regular basis also aids in keeping the grass straight and thick.
8. Properly Water Grass
Your grass, like other plants, requires water. Grass requires the appropriate amount of water at the appropriate times.
Excess humidity can be created by watering at night, which is a recipe for turf disease development. When watering in the middle of the day, the water may evaporate too quickly before reaching the roots. As a result, the optimal time is early in the morning, right before or during sunrise. This allows the grassroots to absorb the water, and as the sun rises, it will burn off any excess water remaining on the grass blades, preventing illness from developing overnight.
The idea is to water less frequently and for a longer period of time so that your lawn gets a good soak rather than repeated shallow waterings. It’s a good idea to water once or twice a week, especially if Mother Nature isn’t already supplying regular rains.
Conclusion
Your lawn will benefit the most from fertilizer if you follow best practices for growing particular types of lawn grass and maintaining quality.
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food Only uses starter fertilizers on new seedlings, plugs, or sod. Early in the spring, before the crabgrass seed regrows, crabgrass-preventing fertilizers are administered.
Weed and feed fertilizers are used once weeds have erupted from the ground and are actively growing.