Liquid vs Granular Fertilizer: Choosing the Best Option for Your Lawn

Fertilizing your grass is an important seasonal lawn activity to ensure the long-term health of your lawn. When it’s time to fertilize, you may notice your local home improvement store or garden center offers both liquid and granular fertilizers.

Which is the right choice for you: liquid vs. granular fertilizer? The answer depends on a number of factors, including your lawn’s unique characteristics and your personal preference.

Understanding Your Fertilizer Options

Liquid and granular fertilizers contain three crucial macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with valuable micronutrients designed to promote healthy lawn growth.

Meant to be diluted with water, liquid fertilizers come as liquid or powder. You typically apply them using a sprayer or a hose attachment. Granular fertilizers are solid pellets or granules spread directly onto the grass, usually with a broadcast or drop spreader.

Liquid and granular fertilizers work differently and are useful for various lawn care situations.

The Benefits of Liquid Fertilizers

Not sure whether to purchase liquid or granular fertilizer? Understanding what each option offers can help you decide.

Quick Absorption and Faster Results

The biggest advantage of using liquid fertilizers is that the formula is absorbed more quickly into the roots of your grass or other plants. You’ll see faster greening and growth, especially if your lawn suffers from nutritional deficiencies.

Easier Usage and Better Coverage

Liquid fertilizers are typically easier to use than their granular counterparts. In most cases, you hook the bottle of fertilizer to your hose or sprayer and then begin application. This beats pouring large, heavy bags of granular fertilizer into a spreader. Spraying allows for a more consistent and even coverage across your lawn, lowering the risk of missing areas or applying too much fertilizer in one spot.

Mix and Match with Other Lawn Care Products

You can mix liquid fertilizer with other lawn care products like herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides, allowing you to address multiple issues at once. This can save time and effort, especially if your lawn needs emergency management.

The Benefits of Granular Fertilizers

Liquid fertilizers have several advantages, but don’t count out granular fertilizers yet!

Long-Lasting Impact

While liquid fertilizers are great for giving struggling lawns a fast boost of nutrition, granular fertilizers usually contain slow-release or controlled-release formulations. These formulations provide a steady supply of nutrients to your grass over time, helping promote consistent growth and long-term health.

Cost Savings

On a budget or have a large lawn? Granular fertilizers are typically less expensive than their liquid counterparts. They also have a longer shelf life if you buy in bulk.

Fewer Applications Needed

Liquid fertilizers work quickly, so you have to apply them more frequently. With their slow-release formulas, granular fertilizers work over a longer period, meaning you won’t need to fertilize your lawn as often.

Head-to-Head: Liquid Fertilizers vs. Granular for Lawn Care

Given what you now know about liquid vs. granular fertilizer, which option is best for you? If you have a small or struggling lawn that needs an immediate boost, choose liquid fertilizer. It’s also a good option for a simpler, more precise application process.

For larger lawns in good condition, we recommend using granular fertilizers. Not only is granular fertilizer more affordable, but the time-release formula also supports deeper root growth and promotes long-term lawn health.

Regardless of which type of fertilizer you choose, make sure you invest in the best organic fertilizer for your vegetable garden.

TLDR: For lawn emergencies, pick a liquid fertilizer. For cost savings and longer-lasting results, granular fertilizer is the way to go.

Liquid or Granular Fertilizer? The Experts Can Help You Choose

Still not sure if you should choose liquid or granular fertilizer? Or don’t have the time to fertilize your lawn? Contact us at The Grounds Guys®! Your local team can assess your lawn and discuss your goals and budget. We’d also be happy to handle the fertilization and any other lawn care services you need. After all, fertilization is only one part of a comprehensive lawn care plan to ensure your grass looks great all year long.

Want to work with us? We offer ongoing lawn care maintenance as well as seasonal services, like fertilization. We can also help you decide between organic and inorganic fertilizers based on your preferences. Our teams are friendly, knowledgeable, and reliable.

Request a free estimate today.