Best Fertilizers for Bermuda Grass

To get that lush, green look, you need more than just water and sunshine. You need the right fertilizer. Bermuda grass loves nitrogen and so we’ll only be covering fertilizers that offer plenty of nitrogen. Before we dive into the best options, let’s talk about some main categories of fertilizers:

• High nitrogen synthetic fertilizers: For pushing growth
• Balanced fertilizers: For an overall boost
• Organic: For avoiding burn
• Starter: For new lawns
• Maintenance: For one-size-fits-all
• Micronutrients: For outside of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium

We will cover examples for all of them, regardless of your goal. Also, if you’re new, consider doing one soil test.

Fast Release Fertilizers

Fast release fertilizers like ammonium sulfate and urea are some of the cheapest, most effective and popular nitrogen sources you’ll find. However, don’t let their price fool you. These two bring excellent results to lawns and golf courses around the country. These fertilizers show results quickly and are a great way to push growth in a lawn.

21-0-0: Ammonium Sulfate

Now, for those of you in areas like Texas, where the soil is as alkaline as it gets, 21-0-0 is your secret weapon. This high-nitrogen, no-phosphorus, no-potassium formula is perfect for lowering soil pH. It’s like giving your Bermuda grass a shot of espresso – pure energy to green up and grow. But beware, it’s potent stuff. Overdo it, and you might just burn your lawn, especially if you choose to spray it in liquid form. It’s best to apply 5 pounds of product per 1,000 square feet per month (1 pound of nitrogen) to push growth and fill in bare spots.

Recommendation: Use this as your monthly fertilizer during growing months if you have high pH.

46-0-0: Urea

Speaking of pure energy, let’s talk urea. This high-nitrogen option is one of the most cost effective, in terms of dollars per pound of nitrogen. It’s like turbocharging your Bermuda grass, making it greener faster than you can say “lush lawn.” But, as with any high-powered option, there’s a risk. Use it wisely or risk damaging your turf with too much of a good thing. Urea is similar to ammonium sulfate, it’s synthetic and can burn the lawn, but it doesn’t affect pH which is ideal if you’re already around a pH of 6.

Recommendation: Use this as your monthly during growing months if you don’t have high pH.

27-0-2: Scotts Green Max

Although a bit overpriced compared to urea or ammonium sulfate, Scotts offers a decent blend that is mainly fast-related nitrogen. It also includes some slow release nitrogen but over 90% of the nitrogen is fast release. It includes no phosphorus which is perfect for bermuda grass, and a hint of potassium is always a good idea. This fertilizer also has iron. The only downside is this runs about $66 for a 33 pound bag from Amazon. The above Urea from Site One has more nitrogen, more fertilizer and at a cheaper price.

30-0-3: Sta-Green Performance Max

Similarly to the Scotts, but cheaper, the Sta-Green Performance Max is a solid fertilizer containing mainly fast-release nitrogen. A 43.2 lb bag is offered for $70 from Lowe’s, making it a better deal than the Scotts if you’re looking for a fertilizer that has a bit of all the essentials, and is available from a big box store.

28-0-0: Simple Lawn Solutions

If you don’t want to mix your granular into a liquid, there’s a solid option available from Amazon and big box stores. The upside to spraying fertilizer is you see quick results. Foliar uptake is far quicker than root uptake. Spraying also bypasses any sort of soil inefficiencies. I recommend spraying for quick transformations. The downside is you must apply fertilizer more frequently. I often do granular to ensure a consistent feeding is available at the roots (now that my pH and other soil test metrics are optimal) and then hit it with a liquid like this before major holidays or hosting house guests.

Slow Release Fertilizers

Slow release fertilizers come in coated, encapsulated or natural organic form. They are an excellent low-maintenance option but slow to show results. They are great for supplementing phosphorus or potassium sparingly and great for those who have new sod, but a poor regular choice for those looking to push growth in a neglected lawn.

10-10-10: Balanced Fertilizers

First up, balanced fertilizers like 10-10-10 or 13-13-13. These are your go-to if you’re not sure what to put down, haven’t done a soil test and haven’t put anything containing phosphorus in the last 12 months. These cover all of your bases. These ratios mean they offer an equal share of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This is also a great option when prepping for the growing season or the off-season. When it comes to prepping for summer, the potassium helps the Bermuda grass deal with stresses such as drought, heat and disease. In the winter, potassium helps dealing with the cold. The phosphorus helps push root growth before winter but applying phosphorus too frequently can cause problems as can nitrogen but phosphorus doesn’t deplete as fast as nitrogen, meaning it’s easy to overdo phosphorus.

Default recommendation: Use this at most once or twice a year.

Examples:

• The Andersons PGF Balanced 10-10-10 Fertilizer with Micronutrients and 2% Iron (5,000 sq ft)
• Expert Gardener All Purpose Plant Food Fertilizer
• Vigoro 40 lb. 10-10-10 Fertilizer
• LESCO Fertilizer L&O 14-14-14 40 lb.
• Sta-Green All Season 40-lb 6500-sq ft 13-13-13 All-purpose Lawn Starter Fertilizer

15-5-10: Maintenance Blend

If you’re not looking to push growth, and just want something that’s slow release that you can use on your Bermuda grass lawn year-round without switching to different fertilizers each month, a 15-5-10 is a good option. While not every soil needs phosphorus and potassium, many lawns do. It’s hard to go wrong with a blend like this. A balanced fertilizer is great if you’re applying for the first time, but for long term use you’ll want something with more nitrogen like this for ongoing basis as you don’t want your phosphorus and potassium to get too high.

Recommendation: Use this if you simply want one fertilizer to apply every other month for the whole growing season.

10-20-10: Starter Fertilizers

When establishing a new lawn or rejuvenating an existing one, a starter fertilizer like a 10-20-10 blend is ideal. This mix is designed to support strong root development and early plant growth, with a higher concentration of phosphorus (the middle number) compared to nitrogen and potassium. Phosphorus is crucial for root growth, which is essential for new or damaged lawns to establish a robust foundation. While mature lawns might not require as much phosphorus, new grass needs this boost to ensure a healthy start. A starter fertilizer like 10-20-10 is especially valuable during the initial planting or overseeding phases when rapid root and seedling development is critical.

Recommendation: Use this once when laying new sod or seed. Skip if you applied phosphorus in last 6 months.

6-4-0: Organic, Non-Burning, Slow-Release

Finally, there’s Milorganite, the eco-friendly, slow-release champ. Made from recycled biosolids, it’s not only good for your Bermuda grass but also for the planet. It releases nitrogen slowly, feeding your lawn over time. Plus, it’s pretty hard to overdo it with Milorganite, making it a great option for the more cautious or someone who doesn’t understand fertilizer math. Also consider similar alternatives to Milo. At the time of writing, Home Depot offers two alternative brands to Milorganite.

Recommendation: Use this to avoid burns if you don’t know how to weigh and calculate fertilize amounts.

Example Fertilizer Schedules

Let’s go through a few typical schedules. Start fertilizing when your lawn is 50% green, so we’ll assume green up is March.

Intermediate Approach

Month	Fertilizer
January	None
February	None
March	Balanced
April	Urea or ammonium sulfate
May	Urea or ammonium sulfate
June	Urea or ammonium sulfate
July	Milorganite, urea or ammonium sulfate
August	Urea or ammonium sulfate
September	Balanced, urea, ammonium sulfate or none
October	None
November	None
December	None

Beginner Approach

Month	Fertilizer
January	None
February	None
March	Maintenance (15-5-10 or similar)
April	None
May	Maintenance (15-5-10 or similar)
June	None
July	Maintenance (15-5-10 or similar) or Milorganite
August	None
September	Maintenance (15-5-10 or similar) or none
October	None
November	None
December	None

Micronutrients

While less important than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, some micronutrients are important to look at. Here are some fertilizer options to improve your micronutrients. These are all sprays which are ideal, as foliar application bypasses any nutrient uptake issues one may have with suboptimal pH levels.

When looking at fertilizers with iron, look for chelated iron. If you’re in Texas, you might have high calcium so also look for micros that don’t have calcium. Big box store iron products often have calcium which can cause problems when levels are already naturally elevated in some soils.

If you’re looking to push a dark green lawn via iron aggressively, consider sticking to frequent iron-only applications and then mix in a micronutrient iron (mentioned below) at a more normal cadence (maybe every 4-8 weeks). This dual-product strategy is not needed if you’re not looking to go overboard with iron.

Feature Iron

Feature Iron is probably the best catch-all option for micronutrients on the market. It provides essential iron for chlorophyll production and deep greening of grass. It also includes magnesium, crucial for photosynthesis and correcting yellowing lawns, which can be a sign of magnesium or iron deficiency. This dual-action formula addresses both nutrient deficiencies effectively in one application, ensuring your turf remains lush and vibrant.

Main Event

Similar to Feature, Main Event is another source of micros.

Main Event is available from Amazon and other retailers.

Nutrisolve

Nutrisolve is another excellent option for addressing micronutrient deficiencies in lawns. Although it doesn’t contain as much iron as the two options above, it’s designed to quickly penetrate the soil and deliver a balanced mix of essential nutrients. Ideal for correcting imbalances and preventing micronutrient deficiencies, Nutrisolve ensures your grass receives all the necessary elements for optimal growth and color. This easy-to-apply solution is perfect for homeowners looking to maintain a healthy, robust lawn throughout the growing season.

So which iron and micronutrient fertilizer is best? It depends on what your soil needs. A soil test can help. Blindly applying in small amounts might be harmless but when incorporating it into your regular schedule, be mindful. Excessive amounts of iron, manganese, boron, and copper in a micronutrient fertilizer can cause toxicity in Bermuda grass, leading to issues like black foliage, chlorosis, leaf burn, necrosis, and root damage.

	Feature	Main Event	Nutrisolve
N	✅	✅	❌
Mg	✅	✅	❌
S	✅	✅	✅
Fe	✅	✅	✅
Mn	✅	✅	✅
Zn	❌	✅	✅
B	❌	❌	✅
Cu	❌	❌	✅
Mo	❌	❌	✅

Iron

Iron is included in all the micronutrient products above, but if you want to maximize the benefit of iron and chase the darkest of greens, you should pick an iron product based off of your soil’s pH.

Chelate	Best Use	pH Range	Notes
EDDHA	Soil drench	4–9	Best for high pH tie-up, large molecule, best for soil drench, poor foliar uptake
DTPA	Foliar or soil	4–7.5	Best for foliar + mild soils, stable, decent uptake, affordable
EDTA	Foliar only	<6.5	Weak in soil, use only in acid soils, smaller molecule, faster leaf penetration

DTPA is a good all-rounder for foliar, but not the best in every case. Apply it with:

• 0.1-0.2 lb N/1,000 sq ft (as ammonium sulfate)
• Non-ionic surfactant (e.g. Hydrowet)

Spray tips:

• Foliar uptake improves in 65-85°F temps, high humidity
• Apply early morning or evening
• Let it dry slowly on the leaf for best absorption

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have it. Whether you’re looking for a balanced approach, need to adjust your soil pH, want a quick green-up, or prefer the slow and steady route, there’s a fertilizer out there for your Bermuda grass. Just remember, more isn’t always better. Choose wisely, apply responsibly, and get ready to enjoy the kind of lawn that’ll make your neighbors green with envy.