North Texas Lawn Care Tip: Which Fertilizer Is Better: Granular or Liquid?

Introduction

Whether you are a DIY gardener who wants to learn more about lawn care, or a homeowner who wants to get the most from your landscape maintenance service, it's helpful to understand a few fundamentals about lawn fertilization.

Of course, all lawns need regular fertilization. But how and when to fertilize is partly science, partly timing, and partly personal preference.

Basically there are two ways to apply fertilizer: one is to apply a dry, granulated product (usually with a standard fertilizer spreader). The other is to spray a liquid directly on the turf. This article looks at the pros and cons of each of these two methods. But before we begin, it's important to consider whether you are practicing an organic program or using chemicals.

Embrace Organic Lawn Care First

It's really simple. The best path to a beautiful lawn for North Texas residents is to follow an organic lawn care program.

Properly maintained organic lawns like this one are healthier than chemically treated ones.

Organic landscapes are far healthier than those treated with chemical products, because those chemicals destroy the billions of microorganisms in your soil that help keep problems in check. Chemical fertilizers, on the other hand, essentially force-feed your plants, including your lawn, by dumping concentrated amounts of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, along with lots of salt, which poison the soil.

Organic fertilizers — whether liquid or dry granules — work differently by enriching your soil. They feed the microorganisms in the earth, thereby creating the ideal environment for your plants to grow. By promoting a healthy, diverse soil eco-system, your lawn will enjoy a more robust immune system that is better at warding off pests and diseases, absorbing moisture, and taking up nutrients.

Basically, organic lawn care methods offer these benefits:

• Reduce the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides

• Save water by improving moisture retention

• Strengthen your plants' immune systems to prevent pests & diseases

• Enjoy thicker turf growth that helps choke out weeds

• Deter fire ants

• Create a safer environment for your family and pets

Imagine yourself being force-fed a thick, juicy steak every day, verses being able to choose from a smorgasbord of fresh vegetables, meats, and desserts.

Maintaining this balanced diet of beneficial fungi, bacteria, and other microscopic life starts with regular fertilizations. If you've recently switched from a chemical program, you may need to fertilize more often, but once you've restored the health of your soil, your lawn will require less maintenance.

Granular Vs. Liquid Organic Fertilizers

So what's the difference between granular fertilizers and liquids, and which should you choose?

Rather than one being better than the other, a better way to think about them is that they complement each other. While you may prefer a granular fertilizer in some cases, in others you may want to spray a liquid, and in others you may want to use a combination of both.

Ease of Use

Most DIY gardeners prefer to use dry fertilizers over liquids, especially on their lawns. The main reason is convenience. Granules are easy to apply with a standard fertilizer push spreader. You can quickly treat a large area, and because the granules typically remain visible, it's easy to see whether you've applied it evenly.

Organic granular fertilizers are more gentle on your plants than chemical products, and won't burn them even if you apply it more heavily than directed. Chemical fertilizers also need to be watered immediately to prevent burning, whereas organic granules can remain un-watered indefinitely until an upcoming rain event or regularly scheduled irrigation.

Liquid fertilizers offer the advantage of speed and can be sprayed just on the foliage or used to drench the soil. Plants are able to more quickly absorb nutrients for faster results. Liquids are especially beneficial for treating new lawns where roots are not well established.

Gardeners also often like to apply both a dry and a liquid product to maximize the benefits. The two can be applied simultaneously or in an alternating pattern.

Liquid fertilizers usually come as a concentrate and are either diluted with water in a tank sprayer or with a hose-end sprayer.

One disadvantage of tank sprayers is that they can be heavy to carry around the yard and, depending on the type of sprayer, may need to be hand-pumped to maintain air pressure. Hose-end sprayers obviously need to be connected to a hose, which can make it hard to reach some areas.

Soil Enhancement

Granular fertilizers also offer a slow, steady release of nutrients. And because they are solids, they contribute fresh organic matter to improve the consistency of your soil.

Liquids can also enhance your soil by providing a diverse range of bio-stimulants to your soil, which help make food available to your plants.

When to Fertilize Your Lawn

We recommend fertilizing two to four times per year with any high-quality granular organic fertilizer, such as Texas Tee, which is made with feather meal, alfalfa meal, organic composted chicken litter, molasses, humates, and potash. (See Marshall Grain's Lawn Care Schedule below.)

Texas Tee is our most popular organic lawn fertilizer.

Other excellent choices are MicroLife Multi-Purpose 6-2-4, Nature's Creation 4-2-2 poultry-litter formula, and for those who dislike the smell of poultry litter, Nature's Creation 6-1-2 alfalfa-based fertilizer.

Marshall Grain Organic Lawn Care Suggested Schedule

Stop using chemical fertilizers. Fertilize with organic fertilizers and amend your soil with humates, lava sand, compost, green sand or Azomite, and worm castings.

Common Lawn Problems & Solutions

Weeds – Apply corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent in fall & spring. Make your turf thick enough to keep weeds out. Improve the quality of your soil.

Shade – Thin your trees. Switch to a more shade tolerant grass.

Too much or too little water – Adjust sprinkler system for uniform coverage. Smooth out low spots that hold water. Let your turf dry out between waterings; water deeply when you water.

Fungus – Apply biological anti-fungals. Stop using chemical fertilizers and fungicides. Water only in early mornings.

Chinch bugs – Apply an organic insect killer (such as Perma-Guard) at the first sign of chinch.

Grass mites – Change to a different turf type.

Grubs – Inoculate your soil with beneficial nematodes.

Application Schedule

February – Corn Gluten Meal

March – Organic fertilizer/lava sand/nematodes

April – Liquid organic fertilizer

July – Humates

September – Corn Gluten Meal/liquid organic fertilizer

October – Organic fertilizer

Let Us Do It For You

Maintaining your lawn yourself can be difficult, so why not let Marshall Grain do it for you? We offer a full range of lawn and landscape maintenance services, and we can tailor a custom program for you based on your budget and your needs. Regular maintenance programs start at around $800 per year (in 2025).

Give us a call to get a quote today.