Lawn fertilization: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What lawn fertilization is

Lawn fertilization feeds the grass with nutrients at the rate and time the grass and soil need, often alongside weed control or lime. People hire it when the lawn looks pale, thin or slow to recover, and a soil test is the usual starting point.

Signs you need it

  • The grass is pale yellow or thin even after regular watering and mowing
  • The lawn recovers slowly after heat, foot traffic or disease
  • A soil test shows low nutrients or a pH that is out of range for the grass
  • Weeds are spreading into the lawn because the turf is too thin to crowd them out
  • You have been feeding the lawn yourself and the results change from year to year

What the pro does

  • The pro asks about grass type, sun, irrigation and past treatments, and reviews a soil test if one exists
  • They walk the lawn to check thin spots, weeds, insects and signs of disease before picking a product
  • They set the spreader or sprayer to the rate on the product label and the measured area of the lawn
  • They apply the product in overlapping passes so there are no stripes, and keep it off paved areas, gutters and water
  • They tell you when to water it in and how long to keep children and pets off the grass, and schedule the next application

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Lawn size and the number of applications planned for the season
  • Whether a soil test is needed before the product can be chosen
  • Whether weed control, lime or a wetting agent is added to the same visit
  • Grass type, since different grasses need different amounts of nutrients
  • Slopes and obstacles that change how the spreader or sprayer moves
  • Whether the work is an ongoing program or a one-time treatment
  • Access and whether the crew has to work around pets, gates or fences

What a written quote should spell out

  • The product type, the nutrient ratio and the application rate taken from the label
  • How many applications are planned and when they fall
  • Whether weed control, lime or other additives are included
  • What you need to do before and after, such as watering and keeping pets off the lawn
  • The result to expect and when, with no promise the lawn cannot control
  • Who applies the product and whether that person is licensed where your area requires it

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Did you do a soil test, and if not, why do you think a fertilizer will help my lawn?
  • Which product are you using, and what is the nutrient ratio?
  • Do you use a slow-release or quick-release product, and why for my lawn?
  • How long should my children and pets stay off the lawn after the application?
  • Who on your team is licensed to apply pesticide products, and does my area require it?
  • How do you keep fertilizer off the driveway, the street and the storm drain?
  • What do you do if a product burns patches of grass?

Red flags

  • They fertilize without looking at the soil, the grass type or the season
  • They apply a heavy dose to speed up green-up, which can burn the lawn
  • They cannot name the product or the nutrient ratio they plan to use
  • They spray weed control without checking which weeds are present or when they germinate
  • They spread product on wet grass or right before heavy rain, with no plan to keep it on the lawn

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can fertilize their own lawn with a spreader, following the rate and instructions on the product label and watering it in as directed. Call a pro if you are not sure which product your lawn needs, if the job includes weed control or lime you would have to apply in quantity, or if the lawn sits near a well or water where runoff is a concern. Keep product away from children and pets, and store leftovers in their original container.

Licenses and permits

Rules for applying fertilizer for pay vary, and some areas require a certificate or limit when and where it can be used; when the job includes weed control or other pesticide products applied for pay, many areas require an applicator license. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you hire or offer that work.

Lawn fertilization questions

Should I get a soil test before fertilizing?

A soil test shows which nutrients the lawn already has and what the pH is, so the pro can choose a product and rate that fit. It is a practical first step when the lawn is failing or has never been fertilized.

How often should a lawn be fertilized?

It depends on the grass type, the climate and the product, so ask the pro to set a schedule based on the season. Applying more often than the label allows does not make the lawn greener and can damage it.

Is it safe for kids and pets on the lawn after fertilizing?

Follow the product label and the pro's instructions on how long to keep children and pets off the lawn. Water the product in when the label says to, and keep the area clear until it is dry or watered in as directed.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More lawn, landscaping and trees guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request lawn fertilization