Lawn fertiliser buying guide: choose the right type
Updated: October 2026
Several lawn feeds promise different jobs. This lawn fertiliser buying guide settles the job, the month, the area and whether the bag contains weedkiller before you spend. The nine listings and current prices are in our [Wolf Garden lawn fertiliser comparison](/hub/fertiliser-soil-and-bark-mulch/wolf-garden-lawn-fertiliser). Order the decision as type, then season, then stated coverage, then brand. The table places the comparison's top pick and best value next to a spring weed-and-feed. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Several lawn feeds promise different jobs. This lawn fertiliser buying guide settles the job, the month, the area and whether the bag contains weedkiller before you spend.
Several lawn feeds promise different jobs. This lawn fertiliser buying guide settles the job, the month, the area and whether the bag contains weedkiller before you spend. The nine listings and current prices are in our Wolf Garden lawn fertiliser comparison. Order the decision as type, then season, then stated coverage, then brand. The table places the comparison's top pick and best value next to a spring weed-and-feed. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Job | Season | Coverage | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Miracle-Gro Miracle-Gro 4-in-1 autumn lawn care, 360 m² | Autumn feed and moss | September to November | Up to 360 m² | 10.0 | about £24.75 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  Miracle-Gro Miracle-Gro autumn lawn care, 360 m² | Autumn feed and moss | September to November | 360 m² | 9.2 | about £24.00 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Miracle-Gro Miracle-Gro Complete 4 in 1, 360 m² | Weed and feed | April to September | 360 m² | 9.0 | about £24.94 | View offer |
On this page
Which job does your lawn need done?
Start with what you can see. Weak growth may need feed only. Broad-leaved weeds are a different job. Moss can point to shade, compaction, poor drainage or close mowing, so a bag may not fix the cause. Feed with seed is for thin turf, and the seed still needs soil contact, moisture and suitable weather.
Plain feed has nutrients and no herbicide. Weed-and-feed controls only weeds named on the label. Moss-and-feed commonly uses iron, and dead moss may still need raking out. Autumn feed is for the season. Westland SafeLawn is described as helping grass outcompete weeds and moss, which is not a kill claim. Miracle-Gro Complete 4 in 1 is sold for several jobs from April to September. If weeds or moss decide the bag, read the weed and moss guide before you check the month.
Which month are you buying in?
A suitable type can still be wrong in the wrong month. Listings may say April to September, February to October, or September to November. The pack label governs. Do not apply only because the date fits if the turf is drought-hit or frozen.
The Royal Horticultural Society says most lawns do not need feeding as a matter of course, and that spring or summer feed is for poor growth. It also says not to feed beyond August with a spring or summer formulation. Use an autumn product in October only when the lawn needs it, and water it in if rain does not arrive. A half-used summer bag is a poor October choice. The calendar is on the autumn lawn feed guide.
How big is your lawn, and what does a pack cover?
Multiply length by width. A 12 m by 8 m lawn is 96 m². Split an irregular lawn into rectangles, then subtract beds and patios. Pack weight is a poor comparison because rates differ.
Price per stated square metre is a rule of thumb. The listings run from roughly £0.07 to £0.50 per stated m². SafeLawn at about £26.75 for 400 m² is about £0.07. WOLF-Garten SQ 120 claims 120 m² beside a field showing 100, so that coverage is unresolved. SQ 120 and SW 100 were the dearest per stated square metre. The top pick, Miracle-Gro 4-in-1 autumn lawn care, 360 m², has unresolved pack data, so check the bag before you treat the price as value. Buy for one application at the label rate.
Children, pets and listing evidence
Pet-friendly wording does not mean granules are safe to eat. Keep children and animals off for the period the label states. The Health and Safety Executive says to follow the label, avoid extra product and observe access restrictions. That matters most for weed-and-feed and moss treatments.
SafeLawn may suit a household that wants feed without a conventional weedkiller. Store it securely and keep to the labelled wait if a dog grazes. Read the rating count with the stars. A 5.0 from two ratings is weaker than 4.4 from 1,736, and 3.8 from five ratings cannot show a consistent result. The WOLF-Garten review files are German. Scores do not prove pesticide authorisation in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Settle the type, the month and the measured area, then compare prices on the shortlist of lawn fertilisers.
Common questions
Should I buy weed and feed or a plain lawn feed?
Choose plain feed when weak growth is the problem and you do not need herbicide. Consider weed-and-feed only when the target weeds match the product label and its application window. Using herbicide just in case adds restrictions and does not fix poor drainage, shade, compaction or incorrect mowing.
Which lawn feed is right for moss?
A moss-and-feed product may blacken existing moss and feed the grass, but moss often returns unless you address shade, drainage, compaction or mowing height. Check the label for timing and aftercare. SafeLawn claims to help grass outcompete moss. It does not claim to kill moss.
How do I work out how big a bag I need?
Multiply the lawn's length by its width in metres, then match the total square metres to the pack's stated coverage at the labelled rate. Split irregular ground into rectangles and add them. Do not rely on bag weight, and investigate conflicting coverage fields before comparing cost.
Is lawn feed safe for dogs and children?
No lawn-feed granule should be treated as safe to eat. Follow the exact label, store the pack securely and keep children and pets away for the stated period. Wording such as natural or pet friendly does not cancel those instructions, particularly if a product also contains herbicide or iron.
Can I feed my lawn in October?
Only if the lawn needs feeding and the product is specifically formulated and labelled for autumn use. RHS guidance says not to continue spring or summer feeding beyond August. In October, do not use leftover summer feed simply to finish the bag. Follow the autumn product's watering directions.
Can I trust a 5.0-star score?
Check how many ratings sit behind it. In the researched listings, one 5.0 score came from only two ratings, which is too little evidence for a confident judgement. A slightly lower score supported by hundreds or thousands of ratings is more informative, although ratings still do not prove suitability for your lawn.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK and manufacturer sources used for this comparison; last accessed 15 October 2026.
- HSE: Pesticides in gardens and homes (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Pesticide approval (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Manufacturing and marketing fertilisers (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- RHS: Moss on lawns (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- RHS: Autumn lawn care (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Animal PoisonLine: Fertilisers and pets (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Westland SafeLawn fact sheet (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- WOLF-Garten: SQ 120 product page (retrieved 15 October 2026)