5 Best Organic Fertilizers For Your Eco Friendly Garden

Organic fertilizers are an excellent way to provide essential nutrients to plants while also promoting healthy soil and a sustainable environment. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers are made from natural sources such as animal manure, compost, and plant-based materials.

They provide a slow release of nutrients, which helps to prevent plant burn and promotes healthy growth over time. The use of organic fertilizers can also help to reduce chemical runoff and pollution, making them a more environmentally-friendly option.

In this article, we will explore the best organic fertilizers available on the market and provide valuable insights into their benefits and usage. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner, this guide will help you choose the best organic fertilizer to nourish your plants and promote a healthy, sustainable garden.

A Quick Glance At Our Top 5 Best Organic Fertilizers

IMAGE PRODUCT FEATURES PRICE
Best Overall
The Andersons Innova Premium Organic Fertilizer
  • OMRI listed organic fertilizer
  • Fertilize the lawn up to 2 months
  • 100% plant derived application
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Best Natural
PRO Organic Lawn Fertilizer by Shin Nong
  • OMRI listed organic fertilizer
  • Increase disease and moss resistant
  • Increase ability to hold more water & minerals
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Best All Purpose
HollandBasics Organic All Purpose Fertilizer
  • All-purpose organic fertilizer
  • Improve soil quality
  • Safe for people and environment
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Editor Choice
Pure Organic Micronutrient Booster- Simple Grow Solutions
  • Blend of essential micronutrients
  • Correct minerals deficiencies
  • Formula for healthy blooms & fruits
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Best For Plants
Plant Magic Premium All Purpose Organic Fertilizer
  • Build healthy nutritious soil
  • Prevent pests, disease & drought
  • Grow strong beautiful vibrant plants
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Best All Season Organic Fertilizer: The Andersons Innova Premium

Best Overall
9.8/10 Our Score

Specifications

  • OMRI listed organic fertilizer
  • 100% plant derived application
  • Won’t burn your lawn
  • N-P-K: 7-1-2

Pros

  • All natural plant based formula
  • Fertilize the lawn up to 2 months
  • Perfect for all types of grass
  • Safe for pets & kids

Cons

  • Expensive but worth it
  • May cause irritation if exposure

The Andersons Organic Fertilizer is an OMRI-listed and BioPreferred Application that contains a high amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and amino acid. The product is safe for pets, people, and the environment.

As a user of The Andersons Innova Premium Organic Fertilizer, one can confidently say that it is a fantastic product that delivers excellent results. The fertilizer is easy to apply, and the instructions are straightforward to follow. After applying the fertilizer, one can notice a visible improvement in the growth and overall health of their plants.

Another great feature of The Andersons Innova Premium Organic Fertilizer is that it is long-lasting. Unlike other fertilizers that require frequent application, this fertilizer can last for up to three months, providing a consistent supply of nutrients to the plants. Moreover, the organic composition of the fertilizer ensures that it does not harm the environment or leave behind any harmful residue.

Innova can be applied to all types of grass. You can apply it any time during any season whether hot or cold. Also, it does not burn your lawn in case of over-application. Make sure to read the label instructions before application.


Best Natural Fertilizer: PRO Organic Lawn Fertilizer by Shin Nong

Best Natural
9.9/10 Our Score

Specifications

  • OMRI listed organic fertilizer
  • Increase disease and moss resistant
  • Develop bigger and strong root
  • Increase ability to hold more water & minerals

Pros

  • Lush and maintain lawn at best condition
  • Safe for pets, people & environment
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Expensive but worth it
  • Keep out of the reach of children

Pro Organic Lawn Fertilizer is formulated with natural ingredients that influence the biological processes of plants and grass toward increasing their yield capacity.

The Shin Nong PRO organic lawn fertilizer uses microorganisms to ensure healthy lawn growth, stronger and bigger roots, and luxurious foliage. The main ingredients are castor meal, rice bran, and 17 other nutrients extracted from the rocks.

It helps the grass to develop bigger and stronger roots capable of holding more water and nutrients while it’s 100% organic nature eliminates harm to plants as well as the soil.

This product only comes in 22-pound bags, but with this kind of quality, you don’t need as much fertilizer anyway. And you will get the lush lawn and maintain the lawn.

Pro Organic is OMRI listed and 100% natural fertilizer. It does not harm your lawn and is safe for your kids, pets, and the environment.


HollandBasics Organic All Purpose Fertilizer

Best All Purpose
9.6/10 Our Score

Specifications

  • All-purpose organic fertilizer
  • Support resilient plant growth
  • Feed your plant all season
  • N-P-K: 4-4-4

Pros

  • Improve soil quality
  • Safe for people and environment
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • Don’t dissolve it in water

HollandBasics is an all-purpose organic fertilizer that is suitable for a wide range of vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs, and lawns. It improves soil quality to support resilience in plant growth.

This is great for you to choose if you are unsure, or if you have a lot of areas in your garden that you want to use just one product for. All-Purpose fertilizers have over 16 ingredients and all of them interact with the biology in your soil and give a better result.

HollandBasics organic fertilizer won’t harm your garden and is safe for kids, pets, and the environment. Read the instructions on the label before using it.

It’s a nice well-balanced formula that will give you spring, summer, and fall nutrients for your plant. The application is easy to use and slow release and feeds your plants all season long.


Pure Organic Micronutrient Booster- Simple Grow Solutions

Editor Choice
9.3/10 Our Score

Specifications

  • Blend of essential micronutrients
  • Advance formula for healthy blooms & fruits
  • Increase taste, color & quality
  • Best production processes

Pros

  • Enhance plant & turf vigor
  • Correct minerals deficiencies
  • 100% Risk free purchase
  • Quick results

Cons

  • Can’t be mixed with other product in same sprayer
  • Wear glasses to prevent from exposure

Pure organic micro booster is an ideal solution that keeps your plants and grass green and healthy by providing essential nutrients such as zinc, manganese, iron, magnesium, and sulfur.

This application considerably improves the growth of your plants, shrubs, lawn, flower, and citrus. And can be applied around lawn grass, vegetable gardens, flower beds, bushes, trees, potting soil, and more.

The product contains all essential nutrients to plants and grass, eventually increasing the immune system of the plant. Hence, increase the overall health of plants.

Apply this product during a sunny day in any season. But do not mix it with other products. But can be applied on the same day as other products. The application is safe for pets, people & the environment.

32 oz. bottle covers the area of 3200 sq. ft. Water allows the particles of the product to be better absorbed and perform more effectively. Apply micro booster 4 times a year to perform better.  

Read: Best Fertilizer For St. Augustine Grass


Best For Plants: Plant Magic All Purpose Organic Fertilizer

Best For Plants
9.3/10 Our Score

Specifications

  • Build healthy nutritious soil
  • Continuously feed on demand
  • Prevent pests, disease & drought
  • N-P-K: 6-5-5

Pros

  • All-purpose plant and soil formula
  • Grow strong beautiful vibrant plants
  • Safe for pets, child & environment

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Wear glasses to prevent from exposure during application

Plant Magic Premium contains all essential nutrients for all indoor and outdoor plants, flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruits, trees, and shrubs. The formula has more than 55 traces of minerals including millions of beneficial microorganisms that grow healthy plants and beautiful gardens.

The single application provides the benefits of compost and advanced nutrients that build healthy soil and feed them continuously for a long time. And helps the plants to get intense stem, leaf, flower, color, taste, and vitality like never before.

Mix 1 tablespoon of the fertilizer in a gallon of water for normal watering or foliar feeding. Just add directly to the plant’s root and soil everywhere at any time.

The product is 100% organic. No poison chemical can harm your pets, children, community, and environment. And there is no chance to burn your garden.

½ lb. bag easily covers the area of 1000 sq. ft. Make sure to read the instruction before use.


Best Organic Lawn Fertilizer Buyer’s Guide

Organic fertilizer products provide more complete nutrition to plants and help to improve the physical composition of the soil tip.

Not all natural fertilizer products can be considered to be organic because they are often byproducts of industrial processes and may contain substances that are not allowed in organic products.

Applying the best organic fertilizers to your plants, flowers, and lawns will help them to grow healthy and green without harming the environment and people. And the buying guide will make it easy for you in selecting the best organic fertilizer. 

Types of Best Organic Fertilizers

There are two types of organic fertilizers. Plant-based fertilizers and Animal-based fertilizers.

Plant-Based Fertilizers

Natural fertilizers made from plants usually contain relatively high levels of nitrogen. Some of these products such as soybean meal and alfalfa meal are processed for use as livestock feed and are used secondarily as fertilizers.

Cottonseed meal is a byproduct of the cotton industry. These fertilizers are good sources of nitrogen, but alfalfa meal, particularly, is a good source of organic matter and micronutrients.

Cottonseed meals may contain residues of pesticides that have been sprayed on cotton plants. Look for products that are certified to be free of pesticides.

Seaweed-based products such as kelp meal kelp powder or liquid kelp provide tiny amounts of the macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

But they are rich in micronutrients these products can be combined with other fertilizers to provide complete nutrition for plants.

Animal-Based Fertilizers

Bone meals and blood meals are byproducts of the meat processing industry. The former is a good source of phosphorus and the latter is high in nitrogen. Feather meal comes from the poultry industry it is a good source of nitrogen.

Although, it contains less readily available nitrogen than blood meal. Products derived from fish waste are generally high in nitrogen. Fish emulsion is a liquid product known for its unpleasant smell. While the fish meal is a dry product made from heat-treated fish waste.

Other products made from processed animal waste include bat guano which may be high in either nitrogen or phosphorus. And composted chicken manure, which is generally high in nitrogen and phosphorus composted cow manure, and worm castings are also available as fertilizers.

In addition to the macronutrients, they supply animal-based fertilizers are generally good sources of organic matter.

But due to excessive ammonia content, blood meal in chicken manure can burn grass if over-applied. Follow package instructions and apply suggested amounts. Flood meal emits a smell that can attract various wild animals and dogs into your yard mineral fertilizers.

Fertilizers made from powdered rock may contribute depending on their source. Different macronutrients to the soil such as green sand are high in potassium. Soft rock phosphate provides a source of phosphorus.

Things Our Experts Consider When Selecting the Best Organic Fertilizer

From organic fertilizers to organic weed killers and other farm chemicals, the advantages of choosing these products over traditional ones are many. The first and foremost advantage is that they take care of your soil without giving any side effects to the environment as well as your health. Some points will help you make up your mind when you are thinking about buying an organic fertilizer for your farming needs.

Do Not be Afraid to Ask Questions

Look for a supplier or retailer who can provide detailed information about the product he is trying to sell. Go through the label carefully before purchasing it. If there is no label with all the necessary information then do not buy it under any circumstance. This would mean that they have tried their best to hide something undesirable. If you are still not satisfied with the answers provided by them, then it is better to go for someone else.

Determine Your Budget

It is always good to have a budget in mind so that you can spend according to your needs and requirements. There are organic fertilizers available at different rates depending on the manufacturer or supplier that will suit your pocket as well as meet all of your requirements. You can also take help from some experienced person who has purchased similar products before. They might give you an idea about how much would be fruitful for you according to the size of your farm.

Know What Type of Soil You Need

The basic purpose of adding fertilizer to the soil is to maintain its fertility. This can be achieved with the help of organic fertilizers as they are considered more effective in this regard. However, you must also know that different types of soil need different types of fertilizer to restore their original state. On top of that, crops always prefer specific nutrients so it is necessary for you to choose something which will meet all these requirements.

Advantages of Plant Foods

Plant foods or fertilizers contain some elements like phosphorus or potassium but they do not offer any advantage over natural sources. They might even cause some side effects by reacting with other components present in nature and thus affect the growth of plants adversely sometimes. For example, animal manure contains a high amount of nitrogen which is beneficial during growth stages but can cause serious damage to plants if applied at the time of flowering.

Check for the Additives

You must check any additional components present in organic fertilizers before buying them. This will help you determine how useful they are and whether or not you should buy them for your farm. Some components like sawdust, CaCO3 sediment, etc., do not affect the growth of plants; on the other hand, some others enhance their health substantially even with small quantities so always go through labels carefully.

Read: How to Fertilize Your Lawn?

High Maintenance and Low Maintenance Lawns

Lawns characterized as high maintenance require relatively high levels of nitrogen and can benefit from types of fertilizers that contain a high concentration of that macronutrient.

High-maintenance lawns are those that contain fast-growing and even potentially invasive grass species such as Kentucky, bluegrass, and poa.

Low maintenance lawns and grass grew in shady areas require roughly half as much nitrogen. High-maintenance lawns do well when fertilized with products that contain a lower concentration of nitrogen. Low maintenance lawns contain slower-growing species such as creeping and red fescue.

Things You Will Need

  • Soil test kit
  • Soil sample test results
  • Fertilizer product labels
  • Spreader

FAQ’s

How to Determine Your Needs for Organic Fertilizer?

The results of the soil test determine the nutritional needs of your turfgrass. If your soil is not nitrogen deficient. Apply too much nitrogen can lead to poor root growth so you want to avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. And you can choose the best organic fertilizer according to the test report.

How to Apply Organic Fertilizer?

Here are some steps to follow when applying organic fertilizer:

  1. Determine the amount needed: Calculate the amount of fertilizer needed based on the size of the area you want to fertilize and the nutrient requirements of the plants you are growing.
  2. Choose the right type of fertilizer: There are many types of organic fertilizers, including compost, manure, bone meal, and fish emulsion. Choose the type of fertilizer that best suits your plants’ needs.
  3. Prepare the soil: Before applying fertilizer, prepare the soil by removing any weeds or debris and loosening the soil with a garden fork or tiller.
  4. Apply the fertilizer: Spread the fertilizer evenly over the soil, using a garden rake or spreader. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the amount and frequency of application.
  5. Water the area: Water the area immediately after applying fertilizer to help the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the roots of the plants.
  6. Repeat as needed: Depending on the type of fertilizer and the needs of your plants, you may need to apply fertilizer several times throughout the growing season.

Remember that organic fertilizers work more slowly than synthetic fertilizers, so it may take some time to see results. However, over time, they will help to improve soil health and create healthier, more productive plants.

How to Choose an Appropriate Organic fertilizer?

Check the label on each fertilizer product to determine the proportion of macronutrients it contains and choose the fertilizer that accommodates your soil’s deficiencies. A fertilizer label lists three numbers in sequence that indicates the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

What are the Benefits of Organic Fertilizers?

Organic fertilizers are manufactured from natural ingredients. They do not contain any synthetic material. These natural ingredients will provide more complete nutrients to your plants and help them to grow healthy and greener.

Conclusion

Hope the above buying guide and reviews help you in finding the best fertilizer for your lawns and gardens. First of all, find the type of grass in your lawn, and identify the deficiency in your lawn. And buy the best organic fertilizer according to that.

The Andersons Organic Fertilizer is an OMRI-listed formula that feeds your lawn for up to 2 months and won’t burn your lawn.

Pure organic lawn solution contains micronutrients that improve nutrients deficiencies in your lawn.

Reference

https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2020/05/organic-fertilizer-better-lawns

https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/25/4/article-p437.xml

https://juniperpublishers.com/artoaj/ARTOAJ.MS.ID.556192.php

Jon Dunn
+ posts

Jon Dunn has 12 years of experience as a seed and fertilizer specialist at the North Carolina Department have been immensely rewarding, and he looks forward to continuing to contribute to Lawnscanner. Read more