So, you’re out shopping for your lawn again, and you notice three numbers on each bag of fertilizer you see on the shelf. In today’s article I’ll unpack what these numbers tell you about each fertilizer product, how each of these three macronutrients can benefit your lawn, seasonal considerations, and much more to choose the best lawn fertilizer for your property … by the numbers. Keep reading to read my guide to fertilizer numbers for lawn grass – what they mean, and how to choose the right fertilizer for your yard to thrive.
This article was last updated on by Lawn Chick Owner Sarah Jameson
Article content reviewed for accuracy by Certified Horticulturist Nicole Forsyth, M.S. and by Horticulturists Dustin Stoll, B.S., and Arthur Davidson, A.S.
Many lawn care newbies won’t know what the numbers on fertilizer bags stand for. Even some seasoned lawn owners may understand the N-P-K ratio, but aren’t sure what the actual number values tell you about how much of each macronutrient is in the product … just which one is the highest.
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about fertilizer numbers for lawn grass.
You’ll learn about what they stand for and how to choose the right fertilizers based on seasons, and why performing a lab-based lawn soil test can transform your lawn by telling you exactly what you need to put down in your yard to unlock its full potential.
Best Overall Lawn Soil Test Kit
The Soil Test Kit I Use & Recommend
There are many options for testing your lawn’s soil, but I prefer a lab-based soil test that provides a detailed analysis of your soil’s nutrients and what’s needed for your lawn to thrive.
I use this one from MySoil every year.
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Lawn Fertilizers and their Numbers
Most fertilizer bags have three numbers indicated on the front of the packaging, separated by a dash sign (-).
Most of these bags don’t explain what the numbers stand for, as the manufacturers assume that homeowners already know.
The numbers are a fertilizer buyer’s guide and list information about nutrient provision for your lawn.
Knowing what these numbers indicate and why they’re on the fertilizer bags are key to making your lawn as healthy as possible.
You need the fertilizer that meets your lawn’s specific needs, and your grass needs different nutrients at different times of the year and in different growing conditions to look its best.
So how do you decipher this code and pick the right fertilizer for your lawn?
Here’s what you need to know:
What Do the Numbers on Lawn Fertilizer Mean?
The numbers on a bag of lawn fertilizer show the “fertilizer grade,” also called an “N-P-K” ratio. It represents the nutrient content in each bag of fertilizers, breaking down the amount of:
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
The numbers are represented by their symbols on the periodic table of elements, which is why potassium is represented by “K.”
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are your lawn’s three essential nutrients. They aren’t the only things your lawn needs to perform well, but they are the main ones, the same way protein, fat, and carbohydrates are the macronutrients in our diet.
Different fertilizer bags will contain different balances of each nutrient, the same way different foods we choose on a menu will have different blends of macronutrients.
The varying requirements of your lawn are the reason different numbers are indicated on fertilizer bags.
As the seasons progress, the nutrient requirements of your lawn slowly begin to change. Your lawn might need more of a particular nutrient at some times of year to remain strong and healthy.
What are N-P-K Ratios?
The N-P-K ratio refers to the three numbers written on a fertilizer bag. The ratio is simply the percentages of each nutrient contained in said bag.
For example, a bag labeled 21-3-20 means that the bag contents contain 21% nitrogen, 3% phosphorus, and 20% potassium. These numbers come together to form the fertilizer’s N-P-K ratio.
The Role Each Nutrient plays in Your Lawn
Now let’s talk about each of the three primary nutrients in lawn fertilizer and what they do for grass lawns.
Nitrogen
The first number in the N-P-K ratio always represents nitrogen. This nutrient is responsible for the lush, thick, and green appearance of your grass.
Nitrogen plays a massive role in the creation of chlorophyll, which is the green pigment in grass.
This pigment helps plants photosynthesize and is the compound plants combine with sunlight to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide.
Nitrogen stimulates leaf growth and helps promote new root growth. High nitrogen fertilizers give the lawn a boost and help turf recover from environmental injury and strain.
Although plants require nitrogen the most, overapplication can lead to excessive top growth, which can tax your lawn grass.
Nitrogen is the nutrient you want to focus on when your grass is actively growing (spring and fall in northern climates, late spring and summer in southern climates).
Phosphorus
The second number on the N-P-K ratio represents phosphorus. This nutrient is essential in the development and strengthening of a healthy root system in turfgrass.
While nitrogen alone can create a lush green grass, the lawn won’t be able to withstand drought or irregular watering. That’s where phosphorus comes in.
Phosphorous makes strong roots that keep your lawn healthy throughout the different seasons.
It’s an essential nutrient that forms part of the metabolic processes that ensure energy transmission through the plant.
You must introduce phosphorus at the initial stages of turfgrass growth. It should also be reapplied as the grass progresses in development.
An abundance of phosphorus in the soil allows plants to grow more efficiently.
Starter fertilizers for grass that help newly seeded and sodded lawns quickly establish themselves and become resilient to environmental stress contain high levels of Phosphorus. It’s important to note that some states and communities ban or restrict the use of lawn fertilizers with phosphorus, as it can harm local waterways through runoff into storm drains and streams.
Expert Perspective
The Lawn Chick editorial team regularly interviews industry experts to bring our readers the latest science and expert recommendations to complement our own hands-on lawn care experience.
We Asked: What strategies can homeowners use to avoid nutrient runoff and the eutrophication of local waterways while fertilizing their lawns?
Will Answered: “Phosphorus from fertilizer is known for its negative effects on water health. When applied in excess it can run off into water bodies and cause eutrophication, or excessive nutrients in a body of water. Eutrophication leads to low oxygen levels and can result in dead zones that can no longer support life.”
“Being mindful of both the type of fertilizer you’re using, and the timing of its application can greatly minimize nutrient runoff. Sunday’s lawn plan fertilizers typically exclude phosphorus, helping to reduce runoff and lessen eutrophication concerns. We only include our phosphorus fertilizer pouch if soil tests indicate a deficiency. Our extensive soil test database shows that most lawns aren’t lacking in phosphorus. Additionally, following fertilizer blackout dates, often during the rainy season in coastal states, is another effective way to minimize runoff.”
Will Seip
Expert Lawn Advisor at Sunday
Born and raised just south of Buffalo, NY, it has been quite a journey for Will getting to explore warm-season grasses after having a hodgepodge of fescue, bluegrass and rye in his lawn growing up. Will graduated from Cornell with a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, with a concentration in Land, Air and Water Resources.
Potassium
Potassium is the final number indicated on the N-P-K ratio.
It is a vital nutrient that improves the overall health of plants because it supports internal plant cell processes such as:
- Respiration
- Photosynthesis
- Protein production
- Water absorption
Potassium deficiencies result in weak grass, increasing vulnerability to diseases, drought, temperature fluctuation injury, and so much more.
The addition of potassium enables the grass to withstand disease and stress.
It also helps to maintain plant cell pressure, leading to positive outcomes through the development of drought tolerance, disease resistance, and cold hardiness.
You’ll want to use lawn fertilizer with a high Potassium (potash) content during periods of stress. Fertilizing with high-potassium fertilizer at the end of spring and as you enter the heat and drought of summer can help it perform during that difficult season. Fall lawn fertilizers also should have elevated levels of Potassium to prepare lawn for frost and freezing temperatures as it enters dormancy.
Expert Tip
Arthur Davidson, a horticulturist and member of our expert panel here at Lawn Chick, shared that “for those who have a wood stove, wood ashes are a great source for potash,” cautioning that homeowners should “remember, a little wood ash goes a long way.”
He recommend soil testing before amending soil to get a clear sense for your soil’s potassium levels.
Different Seasons and their Varying Fertilizer Ratio Requirements
The ideal N-P-K ratio for lawns changes seasonally.
The number combination you should look for on a bag of fertilizer changes throughout the year. These changes are based on turfgrass requirements for the weather you’re experiencing (and expect to experience in the weeks ahead).
Here is a brief guide to fertilizer requirements by season.
The Best Spring Fertilizer Options
In early spring I like to use a balanced fertilizer like the Andersons PGF balanced 10-10-10 with Iron and Micronutrients (take 10% off your order with code LAWNCHICK).
This type of fertilizer sets your lawn up for success for the whole season. It ensures your lawn has a balance of macro and micronutrients available as it greens up and comes out of dormancy.
You’re guaranteed there are sufficient nutrients for every part of your lawn’s needs with a balanced fertilizer like this.
Another solid option is to use a more traditional, slow-release fertilizer. Milorganite (available on Amazon, but I get the best price online at Ace Hardware) is a good choice. It will feed your soil gradually throughout the spring.
The third option is a weed and feed product with pre-emergent like Jonathan Green’s Veri-Green Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer. This will help you suppress annual weeds while giving a nice big helping of Nitrogen (with a little potash) to help your lawn come to life in the spring.
It’s also phosphorus-free, so it will work for anyone, even if you have local restrictions about phosphorus fertilizer.
Read my full list of the best spring lawn fertilizers right here.
Late Spring and Early Summer Fertilizer Options
You should purchase a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen and phosphorus to prepare your lawn for the hot summer months.
However, you should apply it in late spring, not the summer. Applying a high nitrogen fertilizer in the summer can burn your lawn.
Nitrogen is vital for the stimulation of new root growth. Application and reapplication of nitrogen in the spring will help to fortify turf. It will ensure that your lawn withstands environmental problems such as insects and heat.
If you’re beginning your lawn from seed, especially in the spring, focus on the middle number of the NPK ratio. Fertilizer high in phosphorus will help support the robust root systems that the nitrogen facilitates.
This nutrient will help ensure that the seedlings properly establish themselves.
My Top Fertilizer Picks for Late Spring / Early Summer
- The Andersons PGF 16-0-8 with Humic Acid (take 10% off with code LAWNCHICK) – a great phosphorus-free fertilizer with humic acid to improve turf health and reduce nutrient requirements.
- Jonathan Green Green-Up Weed & Feed – An awesome late-spring fertilizer for lawns with weed issues that will feed your lawn while killing over 250 different broadleaf weed species.
- Sunday’s Core Seagreen 24-0-4 Fertilizer with 30% slow-release Nitrogen (take 15% off with code LAWNCHICK2024) – A great organic option with kelp meal that helps keep grass green through the summer.
Fall and Winter
In the fall and winter, your lawn has a higher potassium requirement.
This nutrient helps your lawn remain nourished and fuels plant health through the milder months of fall. It also boosts the ability of your grass to stay healthy and strong through harsh frosts and the cold winter months.
You want slow-release formulations to keep your turf nourished for the long haul in the winter. This will gradually supply the lawn nutrients without burning its roots.
I have an in-depth guide to buying fall lawn fertilizer here. But my go-to (and what I use on my own lawn) is Jonathan Green’s Winter Survival Lawn Food with a 10-0-20 NPK ratio.
It’s the best fertilizer to use in the fall without question.
Final Thoughts About Fertilizer Numbers for Your Lawn
Fertilizing is an essential aspect of lawn care, and maintaining a healthy, resilient lawn you and your family can enjoy.
The nutrients you provide impact the turf’s ability to recover from stress, improves grass color, and ensures that your lawn stays thick, healthy, and protected from disease and weed invasions.
The information I’ve provided here should help guide you toward choosing the right type of fertilizer for your lawn at different times of year. But I definitely recommend a soil test in the spring to see if your pH levels need correcting. It will help you to understand if your lawn is deficient in any key macro or micro nutrients.
If you’d like additional guidance about what to do when for a show-stopping lawn, grab my free cheat-sheet right here. In it you’ll get a lawn care schedule for the year.
And if you need to know how much fertilizer to order, use my free lawn size calculator to measure your lawn quickly and accurately using satellite imagery:
At Lawn Chick, I am committed to publishing accurate, useful, and trustworthy resources for my readers. As part of this commitment, I’ve invited subject matter experts to review our articles for accuracy. I invite you to read our editorial policy and publishing standards which outlines in detail how every article on this site is sourced, edited, fact-checked, and vetted.
-Sarah
Additional Resources
- Turfgrass Fertilization: A Basic Guide for Professional Turfgrass Managers by Peter Landschoot, Ph.D. – Professor of Turfgrass Science, Penn State Extension (link)
- Fertilizing Established Cool-season Lawns: Maximizing Turf Health with Environmentally Responsible Programs by Cale A. Bigelow, Jim J. Camberato, Aaron J. Patton – Purdue Agronomy, Purdue University Extension (link)
- Turfgrass Information (Fertilizing) by Kansas State University Horticulture & Natural Resources Department, Kansas State University (link)
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