Milorganite is by far the best organic fertilizer of choice for people who want to grow a healthy-looking lawn. But sometimes, it runs out of stock, or some people just don’t see great results with it.
So, what Milorganite alternatives are good enough to work as substitutes? I’ve tried several great Milorganite substitutes, but the 6 most effective are:
- Safer Brand Lawn Restore
- The Andersons Innova
- Scotts Lawn Food
- Purely Organic Lawn Food
- Superior Nitrogen and Potash Lawn Food
- Epsoma Organic All-Season Lawn Food
Read my detailed reviews to determine the best option for your lawn.
Best Milorganite Alternatives
In a hurry? See our top picks…
CLICK on any option below to see Ratings and Reviews on Amazon
Table could not be displayed.Milorganite NPK Ratio is 6-4-0 so look for alternatives that offer a slow release and higher nitrogen number.
The basic things to look for are as follows:
- The fertilizer has to be slow-release
- It must contain high nitrogen content
- It should not burn your lawn
- Some good organic fertilizers have an iron content for greener lawns.
That said, when there’s a Milorganite shortage, try the following alternatives.
With that in mind, you want to choose an organic fertilizer that releases slowly. You can go heavy with the application without the risk of burning your lawn.
The next time there will be a Milorganite shortage, choose from the following best alternatives to Milorganite organic lawn fertilizer.
1. Safer Brand Lawn Restore – No Phosphate
No products found.
- Works in the same way as Milorganite – feeding bacteria and fungi to produce lawn nutrients.
- Can be used on both warm and cool-season turfgrasses – Bermuda grass, St. Augustine, Rye, Kentucky Bluegrass, etc.
- It does not burn your lawn even with heavy applications.
- Uses only plant-based ingredients.
- It helps limit the spread of weeds.
- It is a slow-release organic fertilizer and lasts a lot longer feeding your lawn just like Milorganite.
This fertilizer is organic and made from plant material and no bio-solids from animals and animal waste.
As the name suggests, this organic fertilizer will feed your grass with the right nutrients – especially plenty of nitrogen. However, unlike Milorganite, it does not contain iron, meaning you’ll have to supplement that with a different application such as Ironite (my favorite).
No products found.
2. The Andersons 7-1-2 Innova Organic Fertilizer
No products found.
If there’s an organic fertilizer out there that can give Milorganite a run for its money, it is the Andersons 7-1-2 Innova Organic Fertilizer. But why? Here are some great features it has:
- It has the best NPK ratio of 7-1-2 for every lawn owner. – Make sure you perform a soil test first before applying any type of fertilizer.
- It does not use waste products such as feces, animal parts, etc.
- It is made from plant material
- It will NOT BURN your lawn even with heavy applications
- It contains high amounts of amino acids – great for a healthy lawn.
- The downside is that it does not contain any iron.
There are a few reasons why I think this is a great alternative to Milorganite. First, it is made of plant material as opposed to waste. Plant material can be controlled while waste will still be waste even after refining.
Second, with a soy-based organic fertilizer, you’re sure you are applying a pet-safe and children-safe fertilizer on your lawn.
No products found.
3. Scotts 47503 Lawn Food
- It is made of feather meal, meat meal, bone meal, blood meal, and sulfate of potash.
- It is safe for pets and children.
- Kids can play out on the lawn immediately after application.
- High nitrogen ratio in the 11-2-2 NPK formulation – here’s how much nitrogen you need for your lawn.
If you find Milorganite out of stock, you can solve that shortage with this product as well. An application can build a thick, green lawn organically, just like Milo. Scotts 47503 is OMRI-listed as a safe product for pets and children.
The downside to this organic Milorganite alternative is that it is not sold in CT, MD, ME, MN, NJ, NY, WA, and WI.
In addition, it may contain some pesticides so check the ingredient list carefully. Also, being a product made from such ingredients as bone meal and chicken feather meal, it may be attractive for dogs. You might find your dog eating this organic fertilizer.
4. Purely Organic Lawn Food
No products found.
This is one of the best organic fertilizer alternatives to Milorganite. It is purely plant-based lawn food made of some soy meal in the ingredient list. It is a little different in formulation because Milo is generally made from wastewater (or human waste matter if you like).
You’ll notice its formulation is a 10-0-2 in ratio, meaning that the Purely Organic Lawn Food does not have potassium but will release lots of nitrogen into your lawn.
Another difference you’ll notice is that the color varies completely from that of Milorganite. When you apply the Purely Organic lawn food, you’ll not see the usual blue-green color that appears on your lawn.
The difference with this organic lawn fertilizer is that it does not have the iron ingredient that’s common with Milorganite.
To get iron on your lawn, you’ll want to apply an iron product such as Ironite or Lawn Energizer from Simple Lawn.
To get the best out of Purely Organic Lawn Food, water your lawn after the application because it is a granular product with 7% soluble nitrogen.
No products found.
5. Superior Nitrogen & Potash 15-0-15 NPK- Lawn Food Natural Liquid Fertilizer
No products found.
- Contains powerful soil conditioners – humic and fulvic acids
- Can intensify the greening of your lawn
- Acts faster than most fertilizers.
- It can be applied to all grass types.
On this list, this is the only liquid fertilizer for lawns. The list of ingredients is very interesting. Notably, it does not have phosphorus but loads nitrogen and potassium in an equal ratio.
The natural liquid lawn food is a great blend of nitrogen, potassium, humic acid, and fulvic acid. These are all great for growing a healthy, greener lawn.
It can be applied as an alternative for Milorganite on all grass types including Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, Palmetto, Zoysia, Fescue, Bluegrass, Buffalo, and Centipede.
The only drawback to the Simple Lawns Superior Nitrogen and Potash 15-0-15 NPK lawn food is that it is not a slow-release formulation like the other granular alternatives reviewed above.
Here are more Potash Fertilizers I reviewed.
No products found.
6. Espoma EOLF28 Organic All-Season Lawn Food
No products found.
- Has a 9-0-0 NPK formulation which is great for greening lawns.
- Contains 2% non-staining iron, making it a great Milorganite alternative
- Purely organic – made from poultry manure, iron oxide, and elemental sulfur.
- Slow-release and can feed your lawn all year round.
- It can be applied during any season.
- It does not burn the lawn.
Espoma EOLF28 Organic All Season Lawn Food contains BioTone microbes and comes as an all-nitrogen formulation. The good thing is that it contains 7.6 water-insoluble nitrogen, meaning it is a great slow-release organic fertilizer for your lawn.
No products found.
Other great organic fertilizer alternatives
If you can’t find any of the above fertilizers in your state, you might want to try these organic lawn foods as well:
- Wiggle Worm Soil Builder Earthworm Castings Organic Fertilizer
- Pearl Valley Organix Coop Poop Garden Food
Benefits of Organic Fertilizer
The reason why we’re all looking for substitutes for Milorganite is because of its benefits:
- Good for every grass type as it has Nitrogen and some iron.
- Can put it down at any time.
- It’s heat-activated which you won’t have to worry about in a warm climate.
- It is safe for pets and children.
- Does not burn the lawn
Milo grows your soil microbes and bacteria to help them create nutrients for your lawn. Soil microbes don’t like the salts in synthetic fertilizers (potassium and sodium salts).
If you want to grow a healthier lawn that will remain attractive for a long time, you want to use organic fertilizer. It will keep the lawn safe from chemical burns, soil pH imbalance, and chemical pollution. Read more about the benefits of organic fertilizers.
Related Posts
How Much Does TruGreen Actually Cost?
When to Fertilize New Grass for Best Results?
Do You Need to Fertilize Your Lawn Every Year? Yes, and Here are The Best Tips on How to Do it Correctly…
Best Nitrogen Fertilizers for St. Augustine Lawns
What are the 4 Best Drop Spreaders? Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
What are the Best Tow Behind Spreaders? Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Hi, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up I remember that my family had one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Richly green and lush. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring and tending for not only my family’s lawn but also my neighbors. I can say I have years of experience, and I am here to share it with you.
Besides milorganite/BSF , what are other organic fertilizers that are kid & pet safe? For those of you that go the organic/non chemical route, how do you deal with things like grubs, weeds, & moss? Thanks in advance!
I got tired of trying to chase down Milo, so I switched to Procare Natural from Lowe’s. Essentially the same thing and always there. I don’t mess with grubs at all, never have had a problem. Mowing practices can help with weeds naturally. I try to go organic as much as possible but you can only take it so far. Eventually had to spray for weeds
I am having issues with my grass turning yellow. I believe I should be using something with iron in it? Any suggestions?
I live in central Florida. Had our new yard sodded with St. Augustine last fall. Looked good thru this past summer but around 1st of September started looking brown and started spotting.. I’ve used an organic fertilizer and was told at nursery it appeared to be root rot and might be getting too much water from sprinkler system. I spread peat moss over the affected area and cut back on watering. Any ideas or suggestions as to lawn which I might do or don’t do? Soil is sandy and is well drained with no pooling. Thanks for any suggestions.