6 Best Summer Lawn Care Fertilizers 2025 in the United States

Scotts Green Max Lawn FoodFL is a well-regarded summer lawn care fertilizer that stands out for its dual-action formula combining fertilizer and iron supplement. An impressive feature is its ability to feed the lawn for up to 3 months while providing visible greening in just 3 days, thanks to Scotts All-in-One Particles technology, which ensures a balanced distribution of nutrients in each particle. This makes it convenient for homeowners who want quick results and long-lasting care without frequent applications.

Additionally, it's suitable for all grass types, enhancing its versatility. The product covers a substantial area of 10,000 sq. ft., making it ideal for medium to large lawns. Its slow-release nature helps maintain nutrient availability over time, reducing the need for constant reapplication.

However, it's important to note that Scotts Green Max Lawn FoodFL is only available in Florida, which limits its accessibility to residents in other regions. Also, while the granule form is easy to apply, users must water their lawn post-application to activate the formula, adding an extra step to the process. The N-P-K ratio of 33:0:2 is highly nitrogen-focused, which is excellent for promoting grass growth but may lack balanced support for root development.

The Scotts Turf Builder Southern Summer and Spring All-In-One Particle is a solid choice for those looking to maintain a healthy lawn in Southern climates. One of its strengths is its tailored formulation for Southern lawns, making it effective for grass types like Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. This fertilizer is designed to be applied in both Spring and Summer, which provides flexibility in your lawn care routine.

Covering up to 15,000 square feet, it is suitable for large lawns, and the granules ensure consistent distribution of nutrients, promoting even growth and color. The product also enhances root strength, improving resilience against heat and drought, which are common in Southern regions. Additionally, its formulation aids in better water and nutrient absorption, contributing to a healthier lawn.

One of the major conveniences is that you can re-enter the lawn immediately after application, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space without interruption. Despite these minor shortcomings, it is a reliable product for enhancing lawn health in Southern climates.

The Ultimate 3-18-18 Lawn Food is a liquid fertilizer designed mainly for summer and fall lawn care, emphasizing strong root development and turf health. Its N-P-K ratio is unique, with low nitrogen (3%) but high phosphorus and potassium (both 18%). This makes it ideal if your lawn needs help with root growth or endurance rather than rapid top growth, which nitrogen drives. The fertilizer is synthetic and comes as a concentrated liquid, applied easily with the included hose-end sprayer, covering up to 3,200 square feet per bottle—making application straightforward and convenient for homeowners.

This product suits a wide range of grass types like Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bluegrass, which is great if you have mixed lawn species. It acts more as a root stimulator and stress defender than a quick green-up fertilizer. Because it focuses on phosphorus and potassium, it’s especially useful for establishing new lawns or correcting nutrient deficiencies. If you’re looking for fast leafy growth or weed and pest control, this fertilizer doesn’t address those directly and has no weed or pest control ingredients.

The liquid form allows nutrients to be absorbed quickly, though it does not specify slow-release technology, so you may need to reapply during the growing season. It’s made in the USA by a reputable family business with turf industry experience, adding to its reliability. If you want an easy-to-use product that strengthens roots and helps your lawn survive summer stress, this fertilizer is a solid choice. Keep in mind it won’t promote lush green growth rapidly or manage weeds and pests on its own.