The 9 Best Fertilizers of 2023

Jobe’s Organics All Purpose Fertilizer is our top pick

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The 9 Best Fertilizers of 2022

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Plants often need extra nourishment to get essential nutrients missing from unhealthy soil. Flowers, trees, shrubs, and garden plants can all benefit from the right type of fertilizer. So, over the last four years, we spent hours researching and testing the best fertilizers on the market, evaluating their formulation, effectiveness, and ease of use. 

Here are the best fertilizers for plants in your home, garden, lawn, and more.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Jobe’s Organics All Purpose Fertilizer

4.5
Jobe’s Organics All Purpose Fertilizer

Courtesy of Lowe's

What We Like
  • Contains organic matter to enrich the soil

  • Balanced blend of nutrients

  • Gentle, non-burning formula

What We Don't Like
  • Must be reapplied during the growing season

With such variety in the plant world, it isn't easy to choose one fertilizer that meets the needs of every type of plant for every kind of soil and every type of growing condition. However, the blend of nutrients in Jobe's Organics All-Purpose Fertilizer comes close. 

Your plants can have a productive growing season with a 4-4-4 mix of nitrogen for stem and leaf growth, phosphorus for seed or fruit growth, and potassium for drought resistance. The addition of organic matter enriches the soil to promote healthy microbes and improve water use. 

Safe to use around pets and children, the 6-pound bag of granular fertilizer will cover 1,200 cubic feet in the garden and should be reapplied every six to eight weeks during the growing season.

Price at time of publish: $61

NPK Ratio: 4-4-4 |  Type: Continous duration | Feed Duration: Up to two months | Application Type: Granules

Best for Grass/Lawns

Scotts Turf Builder UltraFeed

Scotts Turf Builder Ultra Feed

Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like
  • Easy to distribute

  • Feeds for up to six months

  • Large nitrogen content helps grass turn green quickly

What We Don't Like
  • Must be watered in after spreading

  • Does not contain weed killer

If you want a lush, green lawn, you need to feed it. Healthy grass will better survive the harsh heat of summer, help crowd out early emergent weeds, and overwinter in better shape. The high amount of nitrogen in Scotts Turf Builder UltraFeed inorganic fertilizer, 40-0-5, makes every grass variety from centipede to Bermuda to St. Augustine green up quickly to get a jump start on your neighbors.

A granular formula, the fertilizer is easy to distribute with a spreader. The 20.2-pound bag covers 4,000 square feet of lawn. Use it while the grass is in a growing season and water it in.  While Scotts is a leading name in lawn products, what sets this formula apart is that it feeds for up to six months and does not need reapplication in most parts of the U.S. during the growing season.

Price at time of publish: $43

NPK Ratio: 40-0-5 | Type: Continous duration | Feed Duration: Up to six months | Application Type: Granules

Best for Container Plants

Miracle-Gro Water-Soluble All Purpose Plant Food

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble 5.5-lb All Purpose Food

Lowe's

What We Like
  • Cost-effective

  • Easy to mix and use

  • Does not burn plant roots

What We Don't Like
  • Powdered formula must be kept dry or clumping can occur

  • Must be reapplied frequently

Regular feeding of a container plant can be tricky because you must apply the fertilizer in a way that reaches the root system. Miracle-Gro, made by Scott, solves that problem by offering a water-soluble fertilizer that goes directly into your watering can.

Cost-effective because you can mix just what you need and safe to use for flowers, foliage plants, and vegetables, the 24-8-16 mineral-based formula guarantees not to burn plant roots. Since the frequent watering required for containers leaches nutrients from the soil, most plants need feeding about every two weeks. The 5.5-pound container will mix gallons of fertilizer and last throughout the growing season.

Price at time of publish: $19

NPK Ratio: 24-8-16 | Type: Fast release | Feed Duration: Reapply every two weeks | Application Type; Water-soluble granules

What Our Experts Say

“I use Miracle-Gro for all of my indoor plants and the cherry tomatoes in containers on my patio.” —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Master Gardener

Best for Trees and Shrubs

BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub Feed and Protect

BioAdvanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed

Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like
  • Contains nutrients and pesticides

  • Easy to mix and apply

  • Safe to use around pets

What We Don't Like
  • Should not be used on fruit-bearing trees and shrubs

We tend to forget that mature, established trees and shrubs require nutrients to remain healthy. And, of course, newly planted trees need food to grow. BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub not only feeds with a mix of inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash, it also protects against pests like aphids, leafminers, and borers that can kill trees and shrubs.

Sold as a concentrate with detailed instructions on proper mixing with water for different trees and shrubs and application methods, the one-gallon container will treat multiple trees. There is no need for a sprayer, just a large bucket or watering can for mixing. Safe to use around pets, the insecticides in the formula are not recommended for edible plants.

Price at time of publish: $93

NPK Ratio: 2-1-1 | Type: Slow release | Feed Duration: 12 month feed and insect protection | Application Type: Concentrated

Best for Flowers

Jobe’s Organics Annuals and Perennials Granular Fertilizer

Jobe's Organic 4lbs. Annuals and Perennials Plant Food

Courtesy of Walmart

What We Like
  • Contains microorganisms to improve soil

  • Slow-release formula lasts up to three months

  • Can be used for fruit-bearing plants

What We Don't Like
  • Product must be kept dry to prevent clumping

The welcome burst of color from flowering annuals and perennials is often the magic in a garden. It's important to choose the right flower fertilizer to have the most extensive and longest show possible. This fertilizer mixture from Jobe’s helps make that happen. This 3-5-4 NPK fertilizer mix has the microorganisms necessary to promote healthy soil and is slow-released for up to three months.

The granules are safe for edibles and can be used for both tilled soil and container plants. The 4-pound package has excellent directions on how much fertilizer to use when planting seedlings or feeding established flowering plants to help you determine how much fertilizer you need.

Price at time of publish: $19

NPK Ratio: 3-5-4 | Type: Slow release | Feed Duration: Up to three months | Application Type: Granules

Best for Vegetables

Hyponex All-Purpose 10-10-10 Garden Fertilizer

Hyponex All-Purpose Fertilizer 10-10-10

Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like
  • Fast-release formula

  • Easy to apply

What We Don't Like
  • Must be reapplied every two weeks during the growing season

The soil in a vegetable garden usually needs amendments to provide the plants with enough nutrients to produce full-sized and healthy vegetables during a growing season. This is especially true if you plant the same crops every year and don’t have the time or space to rotate their location. 

While it’s best to test the soil every year, a fast-release granular inorganic fertilizer like Hyponex with an NPK of 10-10-10 will give the seeds and seedlings a good boost toward maturity and vegetable production. Because it is fast-release, it will need to be reapplied every two weeks and watered in well. The usage rate is 2.5-pounds per 100-square-feet so the 40-pound bag may be all you need for the entire season.

Price at time of publish: $23

NPK Ratio: 10-10-10 | Type: Fast release | Feed Duration: Reapply every two weeks | Application Type: Granules

What Our Experts Say

“I still use Hyponex 10-10-10 today because it also works well to feed trees, shrubs, and so many plants.” —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Master Gardener

Best for Tomatoes

Dr. Earth Home Grown Organic Tomato, Vegetable, & Herb Fertilizer

Dr Earth Home Grown Fertilizer

Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like
  • Organic formula

  • Contains calcium to help prevent tomato blossom end rot

  • Safe to use on all types of edible plants

What We Don't Like
  • Must be reapplied every two weeks during the growing season

  • Can have a slightly fishy odor when first applied

Even if a gardener doesn’t have room for a full vegetable garden with corn and beans, they will find a spot for growing tomato plants because there is nothing better than a homegrown tomato. Picked at the peak of ripeness and warmth from the sun, many a gardener has plucked one straight from the garden, resulting in juice dribbling down their chin.

Dr. Earth’s organic fertilizer can help you achieve the results you desire for tomatoes. The 4-6-3 NPK formula includes calcium for proper new growth development and fish-based organic matter. The 4-pound bag will cover up to 60-square-feet (that’s lots of tomatoes!) and is also excellent for berries, leafy greens, and root vegetables.

Price at time of publish: $14

NPK Ratio: 4-6-3 | Type: Quick release | Feed Duration: Reapply every two weeks | Application Type: Granules

Best Organic

Espoma Organic Plant Tone

Espoma Organic Plant Tone

Courtesy of Lowe's

What We Like
  • Contains organic matter to enrich the soil

  • Slow-release, non-burning formula

  • Can be used year-round for some plants

What We Don't Like
  • Can have a strong organic odor when first applied

Espoma Organic fertilizers contain the inorganic minerals nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in lower amounts (5-3-3) and organic materials derived from plants and animals. The organic matter helps improve water movement within the soil and feeds beneficial microbes. Since organic fertilizers are less potent, it reduces the risk of burning plants and grass from over-fertilization.

Suitable for vegetables and flowers during the growing season, you can use Espoma on trees and shrubs in the spring and fall and indoor plants year-round. The 8-pound bag will cover 200-square-feet of garden soil, and the bag has excellent dosage instructions for other plantings.

Price at time of publish: $13

NPK Ratio: 5-3-3 | Type: Continuous release | Feed Duration: Up to six months | Application Type: Granules

Best Slow Release

Osmocote Flower and Vegetable Smart Release Fertilizer

Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Plant Food

Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like
  • Slow-release for long-lasting effects (up to four months)

  • Easy to apply

  • Can be used for garden or container plants

What We Don't Like
  • Must be kept dry or granules my clump or dissolve

Remembering when you last added fertilizer to a container plant or vegetable plot can sometimes be difficult. One way to meet this challenge is to use a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote Smart Release.

Dry granules feed for up to four months. They are sprinkled on the soil, worked in, and then slowly dissolve when the plant gets water. The balanced mineral-based 14-14-14 NPK formula works well for vegetables, flowers, fruits, and shrubs, from apples to zinnias.

Osmocote granules can be used year-round during a plant’s growing season. The 1-pound container has a shaker top and a convenient measuring scoop. One scoop (about two tablespoons) will cover a 2-gallon container or 4-square-feet of garden soil.

Price at time of publish: $8

NPK Ratio: 14-14-14 | Type: Slow release | Feed Duration: Up to four months | Application Type: Granules

Final Verdict

While it is difficult to choose just one fertilizer that meets the needs of every gardening situation, the best overall fertilizer for growing vegetables and flowers is Jobe’s Organics All-Purpose Fertilizer (available at Lowe’s). If the perfect green lawn is your goal, then Scotts Turf Builder Ultra Feed (available at Home Depot) will help make you the envy of the neighborhood.

What to Look for in a Fertilizer

Active Ingredients

It is crucial to read the label and look at the list of active ingredients—or those that provide nutrients to the soil. All commercially sold fertilizers follow the NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) guideline when stating the numerical formula showing the proportion of each element in the fertilizer. 

Almost every fertilizer also includes inactive ingredients or filler to help with the distribution of the product.  


Organic or Synthetic Formula

Organic formulas are made from naturally occurring minerals and usually contain organic matter like bone meal or different types of composted manures. Most organic fertilizers are not water-soluble; they are slow-release and contain microorganisms that improve the structure of the soil.

Synthetic formulas are chemically processed raw materials, and they are water-soluble and work quickly to help plants or lawns jump on spring growth. Because they work quickly, it is essential to follow application guidelines to prevent burning plant roots and foliage.


Seasonal Use

Synthetic fertilizers are most often applied just before or during a plant’s active growing season. However, there are formulas specifically mixed for fall application, especially for lawns. It is essential to carefully read the product’s label and apply the fertilizer at the recommended time.

Since organic fertilizers are slow-acting, they should be applied and worked into garden soil in the fall, so the nutrients are available in the spring planting season. Drawing out the fertilization process gives the organic microorganisms time to break down the soil to improve water and airflow.

FAQ
  • When is the best time to fertilize your lawn?

    Lawns are usually fertilized in early to mid-spring. However, this is highly dependent on your location and the type of grass. To help maintain that green carpet, there are fertilizers developed for summer and fall applications. 

    Always read the fertilizer label carefully and follow the guidelines. One way to ensure that you don’t overfertilize and damage or burn the grass is to reduce the amount of fertilizer recommended by the manufacturer for each application.

  • How should fertilizer be applied?

    Fertilizer application depends on the type of fertilizer you are using. Lawns can be fertilized by using a spreader to broadcast dry granules or with a spray-on liquid fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers can be dissolved in water or sprinkled on the soil. An all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer is easy to mix and use, and it leaves indoor and container plants looking lush and healthy.

    Always read the product label and follow it carefully. Most dry fertilizers should not be placed too close to leaves or stems and watered in well to prevent burning tender plant growth.

  • Is fertilizer toxic to household pets?

    Some fertilizers, especially those that contain weed killers or insecticides, are toxic to pets and children. However, once fertilizer gets well watered into the soil, the level of toxicity decreases dramatically. You should store all gardening chemicals safely out of reach of children, pets, and vulnerable adults.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Mary Marlowe Leverette researched and wrote this roundup. She is a Master Gardener and has extensive personal and professional experience testing, reviewing, and writing about home and garden products. You can find more of her work on The Spruce.

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