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Let’s face it – the soil you want isn’t always the soil you get. Healthy soil comes at a premium, and it can be tough to find soil that is already prepared exactly the way you want it to be.
If you are looking for the best garden fertilizer to provide your plants with the nutrients you need, you don’t need to rely on homemade plant food. There are plenty of storebought plant fertilizer options out there to save you some time and money, all of which are formulated to have the exact NPK ratio your plants need.
If you aren’t sure where to start, don’t fear. We can help you grow the flowers, herbs, and vegetables of your dreams with the best fertilizer recommendations of 2019. Here’s everything you need to know.
Runner-up
Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Flower & Vegetable
- Contains trace nutrients like magnesium, boron, and copper
- One scoop feeds for a full four months
- High level of nutrients with an NPK ratio of 14-14-14
Runner-up
Fox Farm Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate Fertilizer
- Economical choice
- Low nitrogen fertilizer for sick plants
- Can be used in drip irrigation or hydroponic systems
Runner-up
Lilly Miller Alaska Fish Fertilizer 5-1-1 Concentrate
- Comes with clear instructions for application
- Natural fertilizer that won’t burn your plants
- Can be used for indoor or outdoor plants
Runner-up
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
- Can be used for any type of plant
- Just a gallon covers 10 square feet
- Easy to use and comes with easy-to-follow instructions
Runner-up
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
- Excellent NPK ratio of 10-15-10
- Delivers nutrients directly to the roots
- Increases blooming and foliar growth
5 Best Garden Fertilizers Reviews
The Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food for Flower and Vegetables has a high nutrient content and is an NPK fertilizer with a ratio of 14-14-14. You’ll get balanced amounts of all the nutrients you need for a good early season start to your growing.
This formula is one of the best fertilizer options for your seasonal vegetables and perennials. It encourages the development of strong, sturdy roots as well as vigorous above-ground growth. To use, all you need to do is sprinkle a scoop of this plant fertilizer per every four square feet. Mix it into the first few inches of topsoil, water your plants regularly, and reapply every four months. That’s all there is to it!
The nutrients will be released when the temperature changes, with more nutrients released during warmer periods. Water also helps to dissolve nutrients, penetrating the tough semi-permeable resin granule to reach the nutrients inside. Just one scoop feeds for a full four months.
What We Liked:
- Contains trace nutrients like magnesium, boron, and copper
- One scoop feeds for a full four months
- High level of nutrients with an NPK ratio of 14-14-14
What We Didn’t Like:
- Leaves behind some granules after use
Another one of the best garden fertilizer options out there is the Fox Farm Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate Fertilizer. This low nitrogen fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 0-.5-.7. It is a 100% natural fertilizer that is much easier to come by than homemade plant food! Perfect for sick plants or those that have recently been transplanted, it instantly enhances the flavor of the fruits and overall growth of your plants.
Available in a convention one-quart bottle, this fertilizer is unique because it is microbially active and water soluble. It can produce larger and more prolific blooms when applied, and it can be applied with a water can, foliar sprayer, drip irrigation, or even hydroponic watering systems. Just one quart can last for an entire year, as you only need to use a small amount each time.
What We Liked:
- Economical choice
- Low nitrogen fertilizer for sick plants
- Can be used in drip irrigation or hydroponic systems
What We Didn’t Like:
- Should be used at half-strength
Another excellent organic fertilizer is this NPK fertilizer from Lily Miller. It has an NPK ratio of 5-1-1-, giving you lots of nitrogen to help encourage the foliar growth of your plants.
One of the biggest benefits of this plant fertilizer is that it helps stimulate the microorganisms in your soil to build its structure along with its nutrient content. This means that it can improve the natural abilities of your soil to grow and nourish plants even long after it has been applied. There’s no mixing required, and it is OMRI certified, making it one of the best garden fertilizer products for people seeking more natural solutions.
What We Liked:
- Comes with clear instructions for application
- Natural fertilizer that won’t burn your plants
- Can be used for indoor or outdoor plants
What We Didn’t Like:
- Has a heavy fishy odor
Miracle-Gro is the brand to know when it comes to producing the best fertilizer products for all of your plants. This plant fertilizer instantly feeds your plants, producing more beautiful and vigorously growing plants than the competition. You only need to feed every one to two weeks, with a gallon of the diluted product covering 10 square feet. You can use it with the patented Miracle Gro Garden Feeder or any other type of watering can you might have on hand.
This plant fertilizer can be used for all kinds of plants, including vegetables, flowers, shrubs, trees, and houseplants. When used according to the application instructions, it is guaranteed not to burn, too. Using it is simple – all you need to do is fill your jar, attach your hose, st the sprayer, and feed and water at the same time. You’ll save time, money, and energy using these efficient NPK fertilizer.
What We Liked:
- Can be used for any type of plant
- Just a gallon covers 10 square feet
- Easy to use and comes with easy-to-follow instructions
What We Didn’t Like:
- Small quantity included in the bottle
The Schultz All-Purpose Plant Food has an NPK ratio of 10-15-10 and is one of the best fertilizer options out there. It is great for both outdoor and indoor plants, encouraging new foliar and flower growth at the same time. All you need is just seven drops per quart of water each time you water your plants. This all-purpose formula will feed everything you grow and is excellent for repotting, transplanting, and rooting new plants.
This natural fertilizer feeds plants just like nature does, delivering nutrients directly to the roots without requiring as much watering as similar fertilizers.
What We Liked:
- Excellent NPK ratio of 10-15-10
- Delivers nutrients directly to the roots
- Increases blooming and foliar growth
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some reviewers claimed it produced mold
Buying Guide
What Types of Fertilizer Are Best For Plants?
Granular
There are three primary types of fertilizers for your plants. Granular fertilizers are dry. You can spread them using a spreader or a shaker, and it’s easy to control the application of these fertilizers because you can actually see them. They are water-soluble and can be diluted using a watering can. Granular fertilizers can be further broken down into slow-release and quick-release types. Slow-release fertilizers let out small amounts of nutrients over time, reducing the frequency with which you need to fertilize your garden, while quick-release fertilizers deliver nitrogen immediately, requiring more immediate reapplication.
Liquid
Liquid fertilizers can and should be diluted with water. These are applied using a hose and canister. You can also mix liquid formulas in their own designated watering can, too. This type of fertilizer is easy to apply and is quickly absorbed, but it quickly washes away in the rain and can contaminate water sources near you.
Spikes
Spikes are compressed fertilizer pellets in the shape of spikes. These are stuck in the ground to release nutrients over time. They don’t need to be diluted or measured, and you don’t need to worry about run-off, either, making them a good choice for precise application.
What is the Best Natural Fertilizer For a Vegetable Garden?
Soil Nutrients (NPK)
There are six primary components that your plants need in order to grow healthy and strong. While they can extract carbon from the carbon dioxide in the air, hydrogen from the water, and oxygen from both water and air alike, some nutrients aren’t found as easily.
Nitrogen, for example, helps your plants produce the necessary proteins for tissue production. Nitrogen is in short supply in the natural world, so it’s important that you supply it with a carefully formulated plant fertilizer.
Phosphorus is the next important nutrient, helping to encourage root growth and to help your plants produce flowers and buds. Potassium improves the vigor of the plant, helping provide some level of disease resistance as it does so.
These three nutrients work together in harmony in a ratio that is known as NPK. When you shop for the best garden fertilizer, you should look for an option that contains the blend that your plants need at their specific stage of growth. While an all-purpose NPK fertilizer or homemade fertilizer will work fine in most cases, you will want to use a low-nitrogen fertilizer if you notice that your plants are putting on tons of foliage at the expense of fruit production.
There are other micronutrients that your plants need, too. These include things like calcium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, iron, copper, chlorine, zinc, and manganese. Healthy soil will contain all of these nutrients, but sometimes you may need to supplement them as well.
Synthetic vs. Natural Fertilizers
Does it matter where your plants get their nutrients from? In some cases, yes. Synthetic and natural (also known as organic) fertilizers offer up nutrients in different ways. While organic fertilizers are made by naturally occuring materials, like composted manure or bone meal, synthetic fertilizers are made by processing raw materials with chemicals.
Organic fertilizers release their nutrients to plants much more slowly, often taking months or even years at a time to work their magic. Synthetic fertilizers are taken up almost immediately, but they can be somewhat dangerous to apply. Applying too much synthetic fertilizer can burn your plants and can damage the microorganisms in your soil that help to improve its nutrient content and structure over time.
FAQ
How Often Should You Fertilize Your Vegetable Garden?
You don’t need to fertilize your vegetable garden all the time. Instead, you should time your fertilizer application so that it allows you to make the most of your time and money. You should fertilize perennials and vegetables in the spring, but trees and shrubs can be fertilized in either the fall or spring. Bulbs should be done in the fall.
Should I Test My Soil Before Fertilizing the Garden?
You absolutely need to test your soil before fertilizing your garden. If you don’t, you risk applying nutrients that are already found abundantly in your soil. pH should be tested for, too. Some nutrients can’t be absorbed effectively if the soil pH is too high or low.
Ideally, your pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0, but there are lots of plants that love growing in acidic soil as well as those that prefer more alkaline soil. Brush up on the specific growing requirements of your plants before you decide to fertilize.
Recap
Plant fertilizer is a vital gardening tool that every gardener should have in his or her gardening tool box. Whether you’re looking for a low-nitrogen fertilizer or a homemade fertilizer with the ideal NPK ratio for your plants, there are plenty of options out there for every kind of garden. While you may need to do some initial experimentation to figure out the best fertilizer for your needs, eventually you will find that you are growing lush, productive plants while barely feeling as though you are lifting a finger.
I need a low nitrogen fertilizer for my sunflowers, i am new to this and dont know what to look for or what i need. This seemed like the right place to go but i more confused now. Please help I am lost!
James