How to Choose the Best Lawn Fertiliser
The best lawn fertiliser isn't a single product — it's the right feed for the right season and the right lawn condition. UK lawns need different nutrients in spring (nitrogen for growth), summer (balanced, slow-release), and autumn (potassium for root hardening). Buying the wrong fertiliser at the wrong time wastes money and can even scorch your grass.
This guide compares the four main fertiliser types stocked by Ransley Pro Grow — the same professional-grade NPK feeds used by UK groundscare contractors, sports pitch managers and greenkeepers since 1951. Every product carries a declared nutrient analysis so you know exactly what you're applying.
Fertiliser Type Comparison
Compare the four core fertiliser categories side by side to find the best fit for your lawn.
Spring High-Nitrogen
Mar – May
Spring green-up, kick-starting growth after winter
- Fast green-up
- Boosts leaf growth
- Economical
Slow-Release / Phased
Apr – Aug
Summer maintenance, low-scorch steady feeding
- 12–16 week release
- No growth surge
- Low scorch risk
Autumn Root Hardener
Aug – Oct
Hardening roots before winter, disease resistance
- Strengthens roots
- Prevents winter disease
- Low nitrogen
Lawn Sand / Iron Feed
All year (mild spells)
Moss control and grass hardening
- Kills moss
- Hardens grass
- Cost effective
Best Fertiliser by Lawn Need
Best for spring green-up
After a long UK winter, lawns are hungry for nitrogen. A high-nitrogen granular feed like 10-4-4+TE Nutrigrow Spring-Rise or 9-7-7 Spring/Summer Blend applied at 35–70g/m² delivers visible green-up within a week. Apply from March to May when soil temperatures are above 8°C and the grass is actively growing.
Best for low-maintenance summer feeding
If you want to feed your lawn without the surge of growth that follows a straight nitrogen feed, a slow-release (phased) fertiliser like 18-3.5-8+1Mg Nutrigrow Phased Release releases nutrients steadily over 12–16 weeks. This avoids scorch during dry spells and keeps the lawn evenly green with fewer applications.
Best for autumn and winter
Autumn feeds are low in nitrogen and high in phosphate and potassium to harden roots before frost. 3-12-12 Nutrigrow Autumn Turf Pro is the professional choice — applied at 35–70g/m² from August to October, it strengthens the sward and reduces winter disease. For a liquid option, Autumn-Gem 4-2-16 foliar feed works fast.
Best for moss control
Moss thrives in damp, shaded or compacted UK lawns. Lawn Sand 3-0-0 +7Fe (25kg) is the most cost-effective solution — the iron content blackens and kills moss while feeding the grass. For a combined approach, Nutrigrow Feed, Weed & Moss Killer fertilises, kills broad-leaved weeds and removes moss in a single application.
Lawn Fertiliser Buying FAQs
Common questions about choosing and buying the best lawn fertiliser in the UK.
