Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass

If you're planting grass seed, you need a starter fertilizer. And if you only want to buy one product without researching NPK ratios, Scotts Starter Food is the safe default. It's the most popular starter fertilizer in America for good reason — the 24-25-4 formula is perfectly balanced for new grass establishment.

The high phosphorus content (25) is the key. Phosphorus drives root development, and new grass seedlings need strong roots more than anything else in the first 4-6 weeks. The nitrogen (24) provides a green-up boost without being so high that it forces top growth at the expense of roots. And the light potassium (4) supports overall plant health.

Application is straightforward: spread at 4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft when you seed, water it in, done. The 15 lb bag covers roughly 4,000 sq ft, which matches well with most consumer grass seed bags.

Scotts Starter Food can also be used with sod, plugs, and overseeding — it's not limited to new lawns. For overseeding, apply at the same rate right before or after seeding.

The one knock is that it's a synthetic fertilizer, which bothers some organic-minded homeowners. If that's you, look at Milorganite instead — though Milorganite is a maintenance fertilizer, not a starter.

We pair this recommendation with virtually every grass seed in our catalog. It's the natural cross-sell because it genuinely helps your seed succeed.