Liquid vs Dry Fertilizer: Which is Better For Lawns?

It’s that time of the year when you want to give your lawn a nutritional boost, and you’re not sure whether to use liquid or granular fertilizer. So, let’s find out which, between liquid and granular fertilizer, is best for your lawn? 

Both liquid and granular fertilizers contain the primary nutrients required by your lawn, i.e., Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. However, one might be more desirable than the other. Understanding how these fertilizers work is the first step in making the right decision on which to use.

Let’s dive into details….

Liquid vs Dry Fertilizer Differences

Liquid fertilizer is a concentrate of nutrients available in water-soluble forms (liquid or powdery). It is designed for immediate nutrient uptake by plants. This quick-release solution is suitable for a new or struggling lawn. 

On the other hand, dry fertilizer, often called granular fertilizer, comes in the form of granules or pellets. It is a slow-release fertilizer suitable for an already established lawn. 

Each of these two types of fertilizer has its own positives and negatives. Let’s have a look at each of them.

Liquid Fertilizer Positives

• Provides nutrients to the grass immediately after application. 
• It mixes with other products easily. For instance, you can mix it with pesticides or selective herbicides and use it in a single application.
• It is easy to track the area you have fertilized. You can easily mix liquid fertilizer with pattern indicator dye to temporarily color the grass during application.
• There are no special tools required when fertilizing your lawn.
• It shows results instantly, typically within a short period of time.  

Liquid Fertilizer Negatives

• Doesn’t last long in the soil. This requires regular reapplication.
• Usually more expensive than granular fertilizers.
• Has a shorter shelf-life than granular fertilizer.
• It can trigger a growth surge when applied to an established lawn

Dry Fertilizer Positives 

• It’s cheap to buy in bulk.
• Slow-release granular fertilizers last longer in the soil
• Has a longer shelf-life as compared to their liquid counterparts.
• The results are slow but long-term.

Granular Fertilizer Negatives

• It requires specialized tools to apply.
• It cannot deliver nutrients fast enough to a struggling lawn.
• It is difficult to spread fertilizer evenly in your lawn.
• Contain a high amount of salts that can burn the lawn.

How to Apply Granular Fertilizer

Depending on the size of your lawn, there are three tools you can use to apply granular fertilizer. They include: Rotary spreader, drop spreader, and hand-held spreader. 

Rotary Spreader

A rotary spreader, also known as a broadcast spreader, is a push-powered tool that is similar to a trolley or a wheelbarrow. It contains a hopper to carry the fertilizer and small holes at the bottom to discharge it systematically.

It contains a lever on the handle to regulate the flow of fertilizer granules. When the holes are open, fertilizer granules flow out to strike a rotating plate, which helps to disperse the granules for at least 3 feet away from the spreader.

A rotary spreader is ideal when applying granular fertilizer to a large yard of lawn that is greater than 2000 square feet. It also promotes even distribution of the fertilizer when calibrated correctly.

Drop Spreader

This is also a push-powered tool that contains a rectangular hopper with evenly spaced tiny holes at the bottom. Unlike a rotary spreader that has a spinning plate to distribute the fertilizer granules, a drop spreader drops the granules between its wheels as it moves. 

It contains a lever on the handle that is used to open or close the tiny holes at the base of the hopper. You can also calibrate it to drop the desired amount of fertilizer. A drop spreader is ideal for fertilizing medium-sized lawn yards that are less than 2000 square feet.

Hand-held Spreader

A hand-held spreader is a small tool equipped with a handle and a hopper to hold the fertilizer granules. It has tiny holes at the base and a lever to regulate the flow. A handheld spreader is gently shaken with a hand to release fertilizer granules. This tool is ideal for fertilizing small areas of lawn.

Regardless of the tool you are using, there are step-by-step guidelines to ensure there is a correct and even distribution of the fertilizer.

• Calibrate the spreaders to distribute the recommended fertilizer ratio. It helps to promote even distribution of the fertilizer.
• Refill the hoppers while standing on the driveway. Accidental spillage can burn your lawn.
• Start fertilizing your lawn in one corner and push your spreader at a consistent speed along the perimeter. When using a rotary spreader, be sure to leave a distance of at least 3 feet from the perimeter so that the granule will just fall at the edge. 
• When you reach the other end of the perimeter, switch the lever to close the dropping holes. Turn your spreader, open the holes, and start moving forward again. When using a rotary spreader, ensure to leave some space between the two rows of application.
• Continue to apply the fertilizer in straight lines until the whole yard is done. Be sure the lines are parallel to your last pass. 
• If you have covered the whole yard but still have some fertilizer, you can make a second application in a crisscross pattern.
• Blow any fertilizer granules that may have landed on the driveway or sidewalk back into the lawn.

How to Apply Liquid Fertilizer

Fertilizing your lawn with a liquid fertilizer is not as physically intensive as applying granular fertilizer. There are no spreaders to push or hoppers to keep on refilling with fertilizer. Applying liquid fertilizer only requires a hose and a running source of water. Attach the spray bottle to the hose, and you are good to go. 

Mix the liquid fertilizer with a pattern indicator dye so that you can know where you have fertilized and where you haven’t. It also helps to prevent over- or under-fertilizing certain areas in your lawn. The dye is usually temporary; it fades away some hours after application.

Fertilize your lawn when the weather is calm; high winds can impact the effectiveness of the fertilizer. Since it’s coming out of a spray, it can easily be blown away into an area that you have already fertilized. You don’t want to risk burning your lawn due to over-fertilization.

Which is Better between Liquid and Dry Lawn Fertilizer?

Both liquid and granular fertilizers have the same nutrients required by the lawn. However, one might be more desirable than the other depending on various conditions, as follows:

Health of your Lawn

If your grass is yellow or struggling to survive, a liquid fertilizer might be the better choice. It is a quick-release fertilizer that is readily available to the plants after application. On the other hand, if your lawn is green and established, it requires a slow-release fertilizer to continue keeping it healthy throughout the season.

Application Convenience

Liquid fertilizer does not require any special tools when fertilizing your lawn. You simply mix it with water and spray it on the grass with a hose.  Granular fertilizer, it requires a spreader to fertilize your lawn. It also consumes a lot of time to refill the spreaders with fertilizer granules.

Salt Content

Granular fertilizers have higher salt content than liquid fertilizers. They can easily burn the lawn, especially when applied excessively in dry weather. If you want a low salt content fertilizer, then liquid fertilizers are the best.

Application Frequency

Liquid fertilizers are quick-release; they don’t last long. They require frequent application to keep the lawn green and healthy.

On the other hand, granular fertilizers are slow-release. They release nutrients into the soil gradually as required by the plant. Therefore, granular fertilizer is the better choice if you want to fertilize your lawn once throughout the season.

Storage Convenience

Liquid fertilizers have a shelf life of 4 to 10 years. It degrades easily once opened. The fertilizer is also prone to freezing, especially when the weather is too cold. It may also separate, leaving the inactive liquid on the top and a concentration of nutrients at the bottom. 

On the other hand, granular fertilizers can stay longer without going bad as long as they’re sealed and stored in a cool, dry place. This means you can buy in bulk and store for future use.

The Cost

If you are on a budget, granular fertilizers might be the best choice. They are less expensive than their liquid fertilizers. You may end up spending more at the end of the year when using liquid fertilizer to keep your lawn green and healthy.

Final thoughts

Both liquid and granular fertilizers contain the same nutrients to keep your lawn green and healthy. However, if you are having a new and struggling lawn, a liquid fertilizer may be a better choice to give your grass a quick boost. Dry fertilizers are slow-release, less expensive, and can last many years.