Fertilization and the ongoing maintenance of your lawn are important considerations when designing your outdoor living space. While both organic and synthetic fertilizers ¹ play a role in keeping your lawn looking green, each has benefits and drawbacks. In the sections below, we explain the significant differences to help you decide which product is better for you.

Soil Health

One of the important variables in determining the appearance of your lawn and other plants that you fertilize is the health of your soil. Organic fertilizers work by breaking down and releasing their nutrients, adding microorganisms and other nutrients as they decompose. These fertilizers ultimately build the quality and texture of your soil which contributes to overall plant health. Organic fertilizers also improve the soil’s water retention, but the fertilizer will need to be reapplied to maintain this benefit.

Synthetic fertilizers quickly release a predetermined quantity of chemically-based nutrients to the soil, but they do little to improve its overall health. In many cases, these products can damage your soil because they do not replace the vital nutrients used. After repeated application of synthetic fertilizers, the soil may be depleted of essential nutrients and become infertile, requiring a full replacement. Synthetic fertilizers can drain away from the soil, which is called leaching, when mixed with water, and may result in applying the fertilizer multiple times in a single growing season.

Best Use

Organic fertilizers are best utilized in areas where children and pets play or where food is grown. Using an organic fertilizer in a food garden can improve the quality of the fruits and vegetables grown because of the reduced exposure to toxic chemicals.

The use of synthetic fertilizers is best in low-traffic areas like front lawns or other high-profile areas when rapid results are needed. Synthetic fertilizers are also best used in areas where there is limited water runoff so that you do not need to continually reapply the fertilizer throughout the growing season.

Results Over Time

Organic fertilizers work by slowly breaking down over the growing season and adding nutrients to the soil. Nutrients stay in their natural form, which is more time-consuming. These types of fertilizers require warmth and moisture to work properly, so they are limited by the weather and can only be used in late spring through early fall.

Synthetic fertilizers ¹ are available in fast-acting and slow-release formulas that provide different results. Fast-acting formulas provide nutrients to the soil immediately and can stimulate plant growth quickly, but they do not last long and will likely need to be reapplied to continue seeing the same results. These products can build toxic concentrations of nutrients that result in plant death. Slow-release formulas gradually break down over a longer period, but the nutrients are not available immediately and require more water.

Environmental Concerns

Organic fertilizers are environmentally friendly, renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable. As these products are made from unprocessed, natural ingredients like manure, compost ², or corn meal, organic fertilizers are one of the best solutions for creating a healthy environment for plants to grow. Often, organic fertilizers are sourced locally and can be purchased in large quantities from farms, greenhouses, and other livestock or farm operations, reducing the environmental footprint even further.

Synthetic fertilizers are made from a variety of different products including rock salts and petroleum products that are heavily processed to ensure consistency in the ratio of nutrients. The processing is potentially damaging to the environment because it requires additional chemical inputs and the use of more water. Repeated use of synthetic fertilizers may result in the buildup of toxic chemicals, like arsenic and uranium, which creates a hazard to people, pets, and plants.

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