Fertilizer helps keep a lawn green, lush, and healthy. Professional lawn fertilization typically ranges from $64 to $385 per visit, including labor.
Prices vary with factors such as lawn size, fertilizer type, and location. To save money on lawn fertilization services, consider buying an annual package rather than individual applications. Or apply the fertilizer yourself.
This guide draws data from our survey of fertilization prices across the U.S., including both g and small cities.
Cost by location
The cost of lawn fertilization is impacted by where you live. Lawns in northern regions need fewer applications of fertilizer per year. In the South, the growing season is longer, and winters are also warmer, so you’ll need more fertilizer applications.
This means the cost of fertilization, either pro or DIY, could double for those in the South.
You also pay more or less depending on the city you live in. In cities with high costs of living, the cost of lawn fertilization is higher.
See the table below for a snapshot of the costs of fertilization across the country:
| City | Average Range (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Portland, ME | $64 – $391 |
| Boston, MA | $78 – $480 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Biloxi, MS | $56 – $332 |
| Atlanta, GA | $60 – $363 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| Madison, WI | $65 – $379 |
| Detroit, MI | $68 – $420 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Missoula, MT | $59 – $348 |
| Boise, ID | $63 – $379 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Phoenix, AZ | $60 – $357 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $66 – $376 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $66 – $410 |
Cost estimator by lawn size
While total fertilization costs rise with the size of your lawn, prices per square foot tend to be lower.
For example, companies charge between $.02 and $.08 per square foot to fertilize a lawn. The bigger the lawn, the closer to the lower end the cost will usually be.
| Size of the lawn | Average cost per application |
| 1,000 sq. ft. | $20 – $80 |
| 2,500 sq. ft. | $50 – $200 |
| 1/6 acre (7,260 sq. ft.) | $145 – $580 |
| 1/4 acre (10,890 sq. ft.) | $220 – $870 |
| 1/2 acre (21,780 sq. ft.) | $435 – $1,740 |
| 3/4 acre (32,670 sq. ft.) | $655 – $2,615 |
| 1 acre (43,560 sq. ft.) | $870 – $3,485 |
Cost by fertilizer type
For the average lawn size, costs vary with fertilizer type from $105 to $515 (including labor costs for professional application). Prices are higher for:
- Liquid lawn feed
- Crystalline fertilizers
- Slow-release products
- Organic plant food
Note: Choose the right fertilizer formula for your lawn’s specific needs. Take a soil test or hire a professional to find the best choice.
| Type of fertilizer | Average cost range |
| Fast-release | $105 – $320 |
| Gradual-release | $200 – $440 |
| Moss and fungus control | $105 – $325 |
| Weed and feed | $105 – $325 |
| Granular | $135 – $350 |
| Water soluble | $170 – $365 |
| Liquid | $150 – $515 |
| Crystalline | $200 – $440 |
Fast-release vs. gradual-release fertilizers
For an average-sized lawn, applications of gradual-release fertilizers cost between $200 and $440. You need fast-release fertilizers more often, so the price is lower, but you have to buy them more regularly. With fast-release fertilizers, you can expect to spend $105 to $320 for an average yard.
Granular, water-soluble, or liquid lawn feed
When choosing between liquid and granular fertilizer, you should take into account a few important differences.
| Granular | Liquid | |
| Recommended uses | Safest for DIY | Better when applied by a pro |
| Price | $135 – $350 | $150 – $515 |
| Over-fertilization risk | Low; slow release, protects the plants | High; you can easily burn the grass |
| Nutrient release | Typically slow-release. Benefits last longer, but you won’t see results right away. | Typically fast-acting and powerful. Choose for immediate results. |
| Frequency of use | Less frequent, once every six to eight weeks | More often, once every four weeks |
| Form | Ready-to-use product | Ready-to-use product or concentrated, easy to dilute with water |
| Application | Use a spreader to disperse the granules on the lawn. They dissolve in time with water. | Apply with your regular hose. Professionals use a sprayer. |
You also have the option to use water-soluble fertilizers. These concentrated granular or powder products are more difficult to dissolve correctly in water. A beginner might burn the grass if the solution is not mixed correctly. That’s why water-soluble fertilizers should only be used by pros. The cost ranges from $170 to $365.
Weed and feed
Some fertilizers can also help prevent or stop the growth of weeds, moss, and fungus. They have herbicides in the mix for weed control.
Look for pre-emergent formulas to prevent plants such as crabgrass from growing. Choose post-emergent for weeds already grown. You can buy fertilizers with weed control at an average price of $105 to $325 for a medium lawn.
For more information, read our articles:
- When to Water After Applying Weed and Feed
- How and When to Apply Weed and Feed on Your Lawn
- Best Weed and Feeds [Reviews]
- Is Weed and Feed Bad for Your Lawn?
Cost by fertilizer formulation
| Fertilizer formulation | Typical price range |
| Synthetic | $100 – $300 |
| Organic | $200 – $500 |
With synthetic options, you can fertilize your lawn for around $100 to $300. It can cost twice as much, from $175 to $434, if you choose organic fertilizers.
Synthetic fertilizers are man-made, usually from by-products of petroleum. They are a mix of:
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
Some might include iron, pesticides for insect control, and herbicides for weeds.
Synthetic fertilizers are easier to find, more powerful, and typically fast-acting. You will see your grass getting greener and thicker in no time. They focus more on plant growth and less on soil enrichment. They also lack some micronutrients found in organic options. This is why experts say to use an organic fertilizer at least once a year, in summer or fall.
Organic grass food takes longer to make, so prices are higher. These fertilizers are usually made with:
- Bone meal
- Blood meal
- Wood
- Crushed shells
- Cottonseed meal
- Manure
- Compost
- Seaweed
Organic fertilizers break down slower and focus on making the soil healthier. This prevents over-fertilization and burning. It also makes them safer for beginners and DIY projects.
Pro cost vs. DIY cost
You can fertilize your own lawn with minimal cost and effort. All you need is fertilizer and a spreader. Since these products are relatively affordable, DIY is significantly cheaper than pro, especially for large lawns.
A spreader costs between $11 for a simple handheld model to $248, and then $27 to $72 for the fertilizer. Compared to lawn care companies’ pricing of $64 to $385 for each application of granular fertilizer, DIY looks pretty good.
If you want to apply fertilizer yourself, read our article: How to Fertilize Your Lawn
Still, there are a few things a pro can do better than you:
- Deciding the right fertilizer type and quantity. You need to consider grass type, climate, location, and soil characteristics. With more than one factor, choosing can be difficult.
- Setting a fertilization schedule. While fertilizing less is not a problem, it’s important to do it when your type of grass is growing. For a pro, it is easier to pinpoint the best time.
- Spread fertilizers evenly. If you spread too much fertilizer, you could burn your grass.
- Diagnosing your lawn’s needs. A professional can test if your property needs aeration or dethatching before fertilization.
Other factors that affect cost
You can pay more or less than the average for lawn fertilization depending on a few other factors:
Labor costs
The cost of lawn fertilization also varies due to the skilled hands that bring your green haven to life. Labor costs, which range from $50 to $100 per hour, can significantly affect the overall cost of fertilizing your lawn.
These costs cover the expertise required to understand your lawn’s unique needs and the time invested in applying fertilizers with precision. The hourly rates depend on factors like location and experience.
Sun exposure
Full-sun lawns should get an average of 3 ounces of nitrogen per year for each 1,000 square feet. In full sun, grass needs more fertilizer to grow and recover from heat stress. On the other hand, shaded lawns need only half that quantity of nitrogen, so it will cost less.
Type of grass
You should always fertilize during your grass’s growing season because this is when:
- The grass is hungry for nutrients and absorbs them more efficiently.
- You get better results with less fertilizer.
- Fewer chemicals leach into the groundwater.
The best time to fertilize cool-season grasses is in fall and spring, with an application before temperatures peak in the summer. They only need 1 to 2 ounces of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year, costing less to fertilize per year.
On the other hand, warm-season grasses grow in late spring and summer. They need 3 to 4 ounces of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. So, if you live in the South and have a warm-season lawn, you might pay double to keep your lawn green.
Grow a Greener Lawn
Fertilize your lawn correctly, and you’ll step on green, lush, thick grass every morning. You can buy and apply the fertilizer yourself, or you can hire a pro. Either way, make sure it’s the right fertilizer, at the right moment, perfectly spread.
Maria Isabela Reis contributed to this article.
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Main Photo Credit: ronstik / Adobe Stock
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