Non-Branded Lawn Fertilzer

workingboy

Anyone recommend a Non-Branded Lawn Fertilizer for Lawns in Spring/Summer.

As many will know the Branded products on Garden center shelves are over priced.

Found a commercial Fertilizer "Maxwell Premier Spring & Summer 12-6-6 Regular", but unsure if any good @ £18.30 20kg bag..

thanks

arbrighton

well I buy at the garden centre as I don't need 20kg or have anywhere dry to store it.

Is the 12-6-6 the NPK? How does that compare to the branded? Which may also contain Iron to help with 'greening'

workingboy

thanks,

I think it is the NPK from its description.

Not too worried about how green the lawn will look, just want to put some nutrients into the soil to help its growth.

A._Badger

By law, fertilisers have to state their NPK ratios on the packet. There is no difference between two that are rated identically (for example, 7.7.7), other than that some release their ingredients more slowly than others.

However, some fertilisers have additional 'trace' elements and these can be useful for plants which you know require a given specific chemical (magnesium for tomatoes, for example) or when you know that the soil you are using them on is deficient in some way or other. This is very unlikely to be a problem with grass.

There is, however, the addition of various herbicides and other ingredients to control weeds. This is common in proprietary lawn fertilisers. If you want to use one of these, then you need to do your research to make sure you are buying the right one - ie one that contains a moss killer if moss is a problem for you.

Unless you want a product that controls weeds, then just buy the cheapest fertiliser you can get that has the formula you require. I'd be surprised if someone like Wilkinsons hasn't got one.

All that said, if it is a typical all-purpose garden lawn, probably all it will need will be a nitrogen boost, in which case sulphate of ammonia will do the trick at considerably lower cost than a proprietary formula. If you are of the 'organic' persuasion, you could use chicken manure pellets, instead.

Hope that helps.