The UK's bestLawn Feed2022 Review

When sparse grass isn’t the only problem, but moss and weeds are also running riot, versatile lawn feed is often the best solution to tackle it all. This EverGreen Miracle-Gro Complete 4-in-1 Food has four primary functions; it kills moss, eradicates weeds, creates a thicker lawn and boosts the amount of nutrients that the grass can retain.

This last point is referred to by Miracle-Gro as their ‘WaterSmart’ formula – it encourages the absorption of water and nutrients into the grass which can help protect it from drought and general stresses resulting from poor conditions.

In terms of moss, within two weeks of applying the product, the moss will have died and be ready to rake. As with all moss killers, this may result in some sparse patches directly after raking; however, grass will soon spread into bare areas.

Even if the lawn is under attack from harsh weeds, including relatively tough dandelions, this granulated product will see an end to them in around four weeks. The effect is relatively long lasting as well, with weeds reluctant to return for at least the following few weeks.

Application is straight forward, requiring no additional tools or action – being granules, there’s nothing to dilute or mix first. The packaging includes a sprinkler opening which helps distribute the lawn feed more evenly.

There is enough feed in the packet to cover up to 100 m², which is a sizeable area; however, it’s less than can be covered by the Water Soluble Lawn Feed by Miracle-Gro also featured on this list. Therefore, if you’re only looking to regrow grass, this may not be the best lawn feed available, economically speaking, but if you also want to tackle weeds and moss then it’s an effective and useful product.

Whether hoping to fix a sparse lawn or trying to revitalise dead grass, when lawns are in desperate need of attention, reliable and fast-acting products can make all the difference. Miracle-Gro is a well-renowned company for a reason, and their Water Soluble Lawn Food is easy to apply with a sprayer or watering can, often creating visibly greener lawns in just three days.

Coming in the form of sachets, there’s no need to measure out the powder before use, making guesswork and approximations a thing of the past. It’s easy to apply neatly and, being water soluble, there are no messy granules left on the grass either. This is something that can sometimes be disappointing with other products when they leave traces on the lawn.

The powder simply needs to be diluted in a watering can for application. Either this, or it can be used with the Miracle-Gro Feeder hose attachment which needs to be bought separately – the attachment connects to your hose and allows the powder to be mixed with water as it comes out. Both methods work to create an even application of the product.

Having a soluble formula also means that there is less likelihood of scorching – this happens when a high concentration of product is applied to one place and burns it and is more common with granules.

Watering the grass is still recommended before application, to further encourage even distribution.

As lawn feeds go, this product is especially fast-acting. Results are often visible even sooner than the ‘5 days’ quoted by Miracle-Gro. That said, there are cases where this product hasn’t worked for everyone. Whether that’s due to grass type or weather conditions, results can vary lawn to lawn.

Each container holds enough sachets to cover 400 m², suitable for small to medium gardens. Plus, being divided into sealed sachets helps protect unused lawn feed, making it easy to store for future use.

For smaller gardens, this Vitax Green Up Liquid Lawn Feed works well to ‘green up’ the lawn whilst eliminating smaller weeds.

It’s a dilutable liquid formula that can be applied using either a watering can or sprayer, making it quicker to apply than granulated products. With enough product to cover 200 m², formula application to the whole area can take as little as 40 minutes.

Due to its diluted nature, it may not necessarily be as strong as granulated products can be, but it’s less likely to scorch the grass and is simpler to apply.

Able to tackle many different weeds, including some dandelions, this Vitax Green Up Liquid encourages grass growth whilst removing unwanted vegetation. However, it is not designed to tackle moss, so is better suited to improving lawns where moss isn’t a problem.

It’s probably best suited to improving the quality of grass, and then to fighting weeds, given that on some lawns it tackles weeds better than on others. If the garden is really overrun, and fighting weeds is equally as necessary as boosting the grass, this may not be the best lawn feed to choose.

Encouraging new grass seed to grow can be a tricky process; weather and soil conditions have a significant effect on seedling survival, and many lawn feeds aren’t suitable for use with germinating grass. The A1 Lawn Pre Seed Fertiliser Lawn Food has been created to accelerate the growth of recently-sown lawn seeds; adding valuable nutrients to the soil and helping them build a strong root system.

As well as encouraging new growth, this A1 Lawn Food also acts as a lawn tonic and will improve the overall quality of the grass.

Unlike cheaper granular lawn feeds, this fertiliser comes in a homogeneous granular formulation – all the required nutrients are contained, and balanced, within each individual granule. As a result, no area ends up with a higher concentration of one particular nutrient, meaning it’s easier to treat the whole lawn evenly.

The NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratio is 6-9-6, and the high phosphorus content is what helps this product better promote the health of germinating seeds compared to other lawn feeds. Nitrogen is responsible for leaf growth, and potassium encourages plants to grow and function correctly.

Applied at the recommended a rate of 35 g /m², this 10 kg bag of lawn feed will cover approximately 285 m², suitable for most medium gardens.

Whilst other lawn feeds come with drop spreaders built in to the packaging, or are easy to distribute from watering cans, a purchase of a rotary spreader will likely be required to efficiently spread this fertiliser. It comes in a simple bag, so some thought does need to be spared on how to apply it.

Some of the best lawn feeds are those which are designed with slow-release formulas, working in different phases to continue improving the health of the lawn for weeks after application. The Scotts Lawn Builder Lawn Food starts to revitalise the lawn in around seven days, then continues slowly releasing nutrients for eight weeks.

This fast-acting product consists of a combination of nutrients and slow-release fertilisers: the nutrients get to work specifically on lawn health, helping it become greener and healthier, whilst the fertiliser continues to feed the lawn for up to eight weeks.

With a NPK composition of 22-5-5, it’s a nitrogen-heavy mixture. This is intended for pushing green growth and encouraging thick, leafy grass.

As a granular product, it is suitably efficient for this ‘slow release’ method, compared to liquid equivalents that can get absorbed quicker. Also, unlike the majority of granular feeds, it isn’t strictly necessary to water this product in, unless the weather is very dry. This can save time (and water!), although it may lead to scorching if the ground doesn’t have enough natural moisture.

Initial results are often visible in less than a week, making this one of this fastest-acting lawn feeds featured on this list. It’s suitable for medium gardens; although it states that one 8 kg bag can treat an area of up to 400 m², achievable coverage tends to be a bit less.

Certain versatile lawn feeds can be used for different functions depending on when they’re applied: for example, when applied between September and November the Miracle-Gro EverGreen Premium Plus Lawn Food restores the lawn after the harsh summer and prepares it for the stresses of winter. Similarly, applying it in March helps negate the damaging effects of a cold winter.

It’s a product that helps preserve the natural appearance of the lawn, for those gardeners who like having daisies and clover poking through as well. Miracle-Gro EverGreen improves the health of the grass but doesn’t contain any weed killing properties.

Coming as very fine granules, this lawn feed is one of the easiest to spread by hand, although a more even coverage may be achieved using a rotary spreader. Even so, it’s not strictly necessary to make an additional purchase of a spreading device with this product to get good results, which can’t be said for all granule fertilisers.

With an NPK ratio of 16-0-16, this feed is focused on supporting new growth and encouraging the health of existing vegetation. Getting to work within seven days, grass quickly becomes noticeably greener, continuing to slowly release nutrients into the lawn for three months.

With a stated coverage of 400 m² for each bag of feed, this fertiliser is suitable for small to medium gardens. The proposed 400 m² (equating to a garden the size of approximately 11 x 11 fence panels) may be a little optimistic, especially if using a spreading tool. Due to the fineness of the feed, it can run through the machine quicker than necessary if not adequately controlled.

One of the biggest drawbacks to using lawn feed or weed killer is the amount of hazardous chemicals they often contain. Not only can these harsh chemicals be potentially corrosive to humans, there’s also a big question mark over what effects they have on the overall environment.

If you’re looking for a fertiliser with an environmental conscience, the Plantworks Ltd Empathy Lawn Feed is a great example of organic lawn feed. This company is refreshingly focused on both caring for the planet and tending your lawn in equal measure.

In fact, this fertiliser has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society which goes a long way to demonstrate both its quality and reputation.

Made with organic seaweed stimulants, this fertiliser can be used on any type of lawn. The seaweed contains natural growth chemicals including auxins and cytokinins that improve plant development. It’s also sustainably harvested, meaning that Empathy Feed can be purchased safe in the knowledge that no ecosystems or environments are being destroyed in its manufacture.

As well as seaweed, this lawn feed contains iron which encourages grass to ‘green up’ and grow stronger. This, combined with the additional nutrients, vitamins and amino acids, helps maintain a healthy lawn with visible improvements in 5 days.

It doesn’t contain anything specific to combat weeds, so if killing weeds alongside refreshing the lawn is a priority, this may not be the best lawn feed for that purpose. However, healthier lawns in general do stay more resistant to both weeds and moss.

Coming as a spray-on formula, the fertiliser goes on easily, and a 1 L bottle of solution can create 9 L of feed. Plus, thanks to the naturally occurring ingredients, it can be used more frequently than harsher lawn feeds.

For grass that needs a consistent helping hand, the MOOWY All Season Lawn Feed can be applied once every 90 days, keeping the lawn topped up no matter the season.

Containing extra magnesium, this lawn feed encourages the grass to grow thicker and with a richer colour. The fine granules are easy to distribute and it’s actually quite difficult to use so much product that it scorches the grass. As long as the lawn has been sufficiently watered before application, yellowing or burnt grass shouldn’t be a problem.

Neither children nor pets need to be kept off the grass after using this fertiliser, meaning there’s no inconvenience of having to choose a suitable time when they’re not around, and it can be applied easily using fertiliser trollies or hand shakers. Unlike some other fertilisers, there is also no odour emitted by these granules, creating a more pleasant garden atmosphere.

Flexibility is key when it comes to this MOOWY All Season Lawn Feed, and it can be applied whenever required, in spring, summer or autumn. The packet can be easily sealed, keeping the granules dry until the next application.

One thing to be aware of: the granules do stay on the ground for several weeks after application without dissolving. This results in slow-release of the product, but not everyone appreciates how this looks aesthetically.

Lawn grass can suffer substantially during the winter months, so it’s worth employing the advice of the well-known saying – the best form of defence is a good offense.

The Proctors Autumn & Winter Lawn Feed is intended for use post-summer, to protect and nourish lawns, particularly as winter looms, whilst simultaneously helping kill and control moss. It’s a product that helps combat problems before they arise, or get worse, over winter.

As a multi-functional product, it’s just as useful to have around to improve lawn health as it is to tackle moss outbreaks. In general use it provides consistent, good results, thickening grass and filling in sparse patches.

If moss is more of a serious problem, the granules of Proctors Autumn & Winter Lawn Feed can be applied at a higher concentration (50 g per m² instead of 35 g per m²) to tackle these trouble-areas effectively.

Before using this lawn feed, with its moss-killing properties, it helps to be aware of the quantity of moss on the lawn – there is frequently more moss hiding in the grass than gardeners expect, and when it is killed it goes black. This can initially ruin the look of the lawn, and will require raking. When the grass grows back, the gaps will be filled.

One 20 kg sack of this lawn feed has a large potential coverage area of 571 m², making this one of the best lawn feeds featured on this list in terms of value for money. This size coverage is suitable for medium to large lawns.

If you’ve got a large area of grass to cover, it can wind up being pretty expensive to buy several bags of lawn feed. Fortunately, products like the GREENFORCE 4-in-1 Lawn Feed, Weed, Moss Killer offer great value for money, with one 15 kg bag providing enough to cover an area of up to 750 m² (that’s 3 tennis courts!).

As the name suggests, this isn’t just a lawn feed either; the granulated formula with an NPK of 10-4-4 helps green up the grass whilst also killing off weeds and moss. As a fast-release formula it can be applied every 4 – 6 weeks, so the lawn can be topped up as required.

Children and pets should be kept off the area until the granules have been watered in; a process that can be sped up by actively watering the garden instead of waiting for rainfall. However, to save water and time, this lawn feed can be applied when rain is imminent, allowing nature to take care of the after-care treatment.

When applied on newly germinated seed, this fertiliser can really boost growth, able to help with reseeding bare patches as well as improve the general overall health of the garden.

It acts most efficiently as a fertiliser. If the garden is particularly suffering under the onslaught of weeds and moss, these granules may not have the power of some other products to really kill them off; however, by improving the general health of the lawn, future weeds and moss will be deterred from growing.