When it comes to caring for your lawn, you will need to find the best kind of lawn food so you can grow a healthy, green lawn that you can enjoy all year round.
However, finding the right kind of lawn food is not a simple process. There are many different types of lawn foods on the market today and each one has its own pros and cons.
Two popular types of lawn food are Milogranite and Scotts – both are very well known and praised brands of lawn food that many homeowners pick up to achieve the great, green lawn they desire.
This makes choosing between the two a very difficult choice for homeowners – which one is better, Milorganite or Scotts?
If you are stuck deciding between these two very popular brands of lawn food, then this is the place for you. We are going to dive into each brand in depth and discuss their pros and cons before comparing the two together.
Then, you can choose which brand is better for you and finally achieve the gorgeous healthy lawn that you are dreaming of.
Milorganite: What It Is And How It Works
So, let’s take a closer look at the first lawn food that we are discussing today – Milorganite.
We are going to jump into its origins, how it is made and what it actually does to your lawn. This way, you can have a better understanding of Milorganite and all of its benefits that make it so popular with homeowners all across the United States.
What Is Milorganite?
Milorganite fertilizer is a type of organic lawn food made by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.
In today’s age, we are far more concerned about recycling and reducing waste so many companies are now trying their best to improve the sustainability of their products.
This is where the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District comes in – they are concerned with improving the state of the world and have discovered a way to turn the sewage waste of Milwaukee into something useful.
Thus, they have turned the sewage waste of the city of Milwaukee into a completely organic and sustainable fertilizer for lawns.
This is a huge advantage in Milorganite’s favor as the fact that it is sustainable and eco-friendly makes it extremely attractive to those who are conscious about their carbon footprint. A lot of customers also love the brand’s dedication to recycling and doing its part at improving the environment.
How Is Milorganite Made?
Because it is made of recycled waste, Milorganite is super organic and natural slow-releasing fertilizer is also very versatile. This is because its organic status also makes it a great fertilizer for more than just your lawn – you can use it in your flower beds and anywhere you want happy, healthy plants to grow with no issue.
Milorganite uses microbes to be able to feed plants with everything they need. Microbes are leftovers from Milogranite’s origin as waste, as the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District must treat the waste first before it can be turned into fertilizer.
They take the waste from Milwaukee’s sewer system and filter out all the contaminants that won’t be advantageous to your plant. However, this process leaves behind microbes which absorb the nutrients that are advantageous to your plants and then press them to get rid of any excess water.
Then the microbes are treated with heat reaching temperature as high as 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any harmful bacteria, leaving behind a fertilizer that is densely packed with natural nutrients that boosts your lawn and plant’s growth.
A great nutrient contained in these microbes is iron. Over time, the Milorganite fertilizer slowly releases this iron to help your lawn achieve a rich, dark green shade that makes it seem fuller and healthier.
This is a look that a lot of homeowners want to achieve with their lawn but struggle to do it without burning or killing the grass.
Luckily, because Milorganite is natural and organic, it’s almost impossible to do this when using Milorganite fertilizer. It meets the standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency, so you know that using it is safe for the environment and won’t cause more harm than good.
How To Use Milorganite
Milorganite, despite its unusual origins and creation, is actually very similar to other fertilizers when it comes to application. The manufacturer does have a specific recommended application rate and even a schedule that you can follow – but there are other factors that you need to consider first.
You must consider things like the size of your lawn, the species of grass you grow, and the general area in which you live before deciding just how much Milorganite you should use.
Thankfully, because Milorganite is very similar to other fertilizer when it comes to application, this means it follows the rule of thumb to use a 32 pound bag of fertilizer for every 2,500 square feet of lawn space.
This means that for every acre of lawn you have, you will need to use approximately 18 bags of Milogranite (also, keep in mind to round up so you are not caught short).
Milogranite’s manufacturers recommend that you fertilize your lawn four times a year but if you only want to fertilize your lawn once, then early fall is the best time to do so.
This is because this is the time when your lawn needs the most nutrients to help it bounce back after winter, allowing it to be strong and green for the whole spring and summer season of the following year.
However, Milogranite is a slow release fertilizer which means that it will take a couple of weeks before you start to see the results of your Milorganite fertilizer.
This is not necessarily a bad thing; Milogranite feeds your soul as well as your grass, allowing the nutrients to stay there until needed rather than overfeed when it does not necessarily need the nutrients the most.
This is why it takes longer to see its effects than synthetic fertilizers but the results will be the same if not better.
In a few weeks after the first application, you will notice your grass growing stronger and greener than before.
Scotts
Now, let’s take a look at the competition – Scotts. We are going to take a closer look at this lawn food company and see how their products work as well, although we will compare it to Milogranite in a later section.
What Is Scotts?
Scotts is a company that makes a wide range of lawn care products under the brand name of Scotts Lawn Care.
The company has come a long way since their humble origins selling seeds in the 1860s, and is now one of the biggest lawn care product manufacturers and providers in the United States.
They sell more than just fertilizers but also seeds, mowers and power equipment all with the aim of creating a healthy yet tidy garden area for all.
Because of this, Scotts’ large size as a company and their range of products mean that they are always readily available and easy for homeowners to get their hands on. Their products are also said to be of a very high quality, making it a favorite brand of fertilizer for a lot of homeowners.
However, their reputation has not always been a positive one.
Scotts have been fined on many occasions by the US government, with charges ranging from selling bird seed coated in deadly pesticides that were a huge danger to natural wildlife to being fined for creating genetically modified grasses that soon spread and were found in areas miles away from the test sites.
Despite this, Scotts is still one of the go-to companies for lawn food and fertilizer. The company has been working with lawn care for decades and have put a lot of time and resources into perfecting their products.
Now, Scotts have made a lot more promises towards bettering the environment and connecting with worldwide communities to help reduce their product’s carbon footprint.
They believe that a happy healthy lawn is key to a happy healthy lifestyle so they have dedicated a lot of their funds and attention into finding the best possible fertilizer to keep your lawn in great shape.
What Scotts Has To Offer
Because Scotts have a range of lawn foods and fertilizers on offer, it’s tricky just picking one to compare with your Milorganite. Scotts offer lawn foods that are great for mid-season and also for fall use depending on the kind of climate you live in and what state your grass is in.
This range of products is great for customers as you can tailor which fertilizer you use to suit your lawn best, but Scotts also has a secret fertilizer weapon that makes it such a popular brand – the Four Step Fertilizer Program.
The Scotts Four Step Fertilizer Program involves four steps (each using a different fertilizer and herbicide) to completely take care of your lawn and provide with everything it needs so you can just kick back and enjoy your lawn with minimal effort.
This plan is designed for casual homeowners who just have a healthy, weed-free lawn so they can head outside in the summer and enjoy their garden space.
Because Scotts wants this plan to appeal to every homeowner in the United States, each step can be tailored to target different challenges for each lawn no matter where it is.
Southern states, western coast, pacific northwest – no matter where your lawn is, the Scotts Four Step Fertilizer Program can be customized to suit its needs.
The four steps included in this plant include using a crabgrass preventer, then some weed control, a summer boost lawn food and a final fall lawn food that will strengthen your lawn and keep it healthy through the winter.
This means that next year, your lawn will spring back in a green and healthy condition in no time.
Scotts’ lawn food products should be fed every six to eight weeks over the assigned seasons. Each product contains the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium needed to help your lawn grow strong and healthy, but it is not an organic product.
Instead, Scotts Turf Builder lawn food is made using Scott’s own formula which has been tried and tested for many, many years.
The Scotts Four Step Fertilizer Program comes in three different sizes – small (which is approximately 5,000 square feet), medium (which is approximately 10,000 square feet) and large (which is approximately 15,000 square feet).
This means that if your lawn is any smaller than 5,000 square feet, expect some leftover fertilizers, but application is generally the same as any other fertilizer.
It’s not too complicated to use and just by following the very simple steps clearly instructed on the packaging, you will be able to easily apply each step to your lawn.
Milorganite Vs Scotts: The Showdown
So now that we have looked at both brands of fertilizer and lawn food, let’s start to compare the two together to see which one is best for your lawn.
Brand Reputation
First up is reputation. Everyone wants to buy their fertilizer from a good company that is trusted to put out high quality products with little to no risk of there being any scandal or issue. In this category, Milorganite comes out on top.
Their dedication to improving the environment through lowering wastage and recycling has given them a solid reputation in many homeowner’s and lawn carers’ eyes.
The issue here with Scotts is that they have proven in the past that they can sometimes make huge mistakes when it comes to their products.
If they have already managed to coat their bird seeds with something so damaging to the environment and is toxic to birds themselves, then what if they do the same with their fertilizer and change its formula to contain something that accidentally kills your grass?
The argument against this is that Scotts as a company have been around for decades and because their fertilizer products are so widely used, the chance of this happening is very low. However, if you want to be cautious then Milorganite is the one to go with.
Organic Vs Synthetic
Milorganite is a completely natural and organic fertilizer made from human waste, while Scotts’ fertilizer products are all synthetic. This each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Synthetic fertilizers are known to be more convenient when it comes to use and purchase. They are widely available as they are already commonly used and they contain high amounts of nutrients that are also very accurate to the amount stated on the packaging.
On the other hand, organic fertilizers tend to fluctuate when it comes to its nutrients with each bag containing more than others, and this type of fertilizer is also more difficult to get your hands on.
But the main difference comes to how each one affects your lawn. Organic fertilizers like Milogranite are slow releasing, meaning that your plants will not be overfed for one period and then need re-feeding a short time later.
This makes organic fertilizers long-lasting and require less application. Although it does take a while before you see the results, your grass will grow at a controlled rate that does make it easier to maintain.
Synthetic fertilizer works differently. It is not slow releasing and instead, causes rapid growth for a short amount of time.
This not only means that you need to mow your lawn more often but after a few short weeks, you will need to reapply the fertilizer again to be able to see your grass grow with the same kind of strength and health.
This is because synthetic fertilizers like the Scotts products do not promote a healthy soil ecosystem when applied to your lawn. Because of this, your grass will not grow a strong root system and thus, need constant feeding.
Organic fertilizers do improve soil texture and water retention, as well as promoting healthy roots that keep your grass strong and healthy long after the fertilizer is gone.
So, for short term results you would use the Scotts products but for long-lasting results and overall more healthy and green lawn, Milogranite is the product to go with.
Plant Care And Environmental Safety
Every lawn owner knows that using too much fertilizer can lead to some serious problems. In some cases, too much fertilizer can burn your plants and their roots, damaging and killing them instead of encouraging their growth.
This is why fertilizers must be used so rarely, and this is another difference between Milogranite and Scotts.
Milorganite, being an organic fertilizer, is less likely to burn your plants’ leaves or roots. Because it is made from waste and manure, it’s a lot safer to handle and while you should still not overfeed your plants, you are less likely to make a simple mistake and ruin your lawn due to it.
Scotts, however, is different. As a synthetic fertilizer, it is more likely to do more damage if you were to incorrectly apply it to your lawn. This is due to the high amount of chemicals and salts in the fertilizer.
Not only that, but Scotts products cause rapid growth which while it makes your grass on top look green and lush in no time, causes serious strain to the roots below.
Over a longer period of time, you could actually be harming your grass by not supporting the roots and stressing them, affecting how they naturally help your grass to grow.
Run-off and leaching is also a huge problem when it comes to fertilizers. Run-off is when the nutrients in your lawn literally ‘run off’ with water drainage.
Not only does this mean your plants miss out on important nutrients, but those nutrients end up in streams and lakes where they cause algae to grow at rapid rates.
This will in turn block the sunlight needed for aquatic plant life to thrive and then by proxy, kill the wildlife that feeds off that plant life to survive.
Because of this, responsible homeowners want a fertilizer with minimal run-off and leaching. Milogranite does just that as it is an organic fertilizer. Run-off is expected but it is less likely than when using a synthetic fertilizer like those on offer with Scotts.
So, Milogranite is the winner when it comes to which brand is safer for your plants and the natural wildlife where you live.
Price And Versatility
Of course, a huge factor when choosing between Milogranite and Scotts is going to be the price.
Prices do vary from store to store so it is difficult to say for certain which is the more affordable choice, especially because factors like how much fertilizer you need comes into play and that is different for every individual.
Overall, Milogranite is the most affordable for a single purchase but the fact that Scotts include their law feeder in a program that bundles up a bunch of other vital treatments for your lawn, like crabgrass preventer and weed control, it makes it more affordable as it gives you more for your buck.
However, it is held back again by the fact that its minimum sized bag covers 5,000 square feet. If your lawn is just not that big, then you may end up wasting a lot of the Scotts product that you have bought.
So, we are tempted to declare Scott’s the winner here, especially when you consider how easy it is to access Scotts’ product and the range they have on offer when it comes to finding the right type of fertilizer designed for your specific lawn.
This means that Scotts’ products are more tailored to suit your lawn while Milogranite is sold in less stores (although it is still very accessible) and comes as a ‘one fits all’ kind of fertilizer.
Conclusion
So, which one is best for your lawn?
We have to go with Milogranite!
This organic fertilizer does its job amazingly well by providing your lawn with all the nutrients it needs to grow happy and healthy.
Not only that, but Milogranite also helps out the roots by promoting a healthy soil ecosystem which allows your lawn’s root system to grow strong along with the grass on top.
Although each bag may fluctuate in the amount of nutrients it contains, it is natural and organic, making it eco-friendly and sustainable.
It is also super gentle on your plants which makes it difficult to burn and destroy them by mistakenly overfeeding them, plus run-off is limited so it’s good for your surrounding environment too.
So, overall, we would recommend that you try out Milorganite over the Scotts products first so see if this eco-friendly fertilizer is the ideal one for you and your lawn!
Of course, every lawn is different and what works great for one lawn may not work so well with another, so try out Milorganite and see how it goes! Good luck!