The most dependable homemade approach is to leave short grass clippings on the lawn and compost suitable yard and kitchen scraps for use as a soil amendment. Neither is a precise, complete lawn-fertilizer formula: nutrient content and availability vary. Start with a soil test, and use a separate compost analysis if you need to calculate nutrients from compost.
How do I make homemade fertilizer for my lawn?
There is no single kitchen-scrap recipe with a reliable lawn application rate. Two practical options are returning clippings as you mow and making finished compost to spread as an amendment. Choose between them based on your lawn’s needs and how much preparation you want to do.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Scotts Green Max Lawn Food, 16.67 lbs. | $33.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food, 12.5 lbs. | $18.62 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food, 37.50 lbs. | $45.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food, 14.06 lbs. | $25.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| Option | What it does | Preparation and predictability |
|---|---|---|
| Grass clippings | Recycles nutrients where the grass is growing. | Little preparation when clippings are short. It is not a measured fertilizer dose. |
| Finished compost | Adds organic matter and some slow-release nutrients. | Requires time to decompose. Nutrient content varies; analysis is needed to calculate an application rate. |
Return grass clippings as you mow
Mow often enough that clippings are short and can settle between the grass blades, then leave them in place when practical. UC IPM says returned clippings release nutrients and can allow you to use less fertilizer. Treat this as nutrient recycling, not as a reason to add a second blanket nitrogen application. The lawn’s nutrient needs still depend on its grass type and soil conditions. UC IPM’s lawn fertilizing guidance explains the role of clippings and fertilizer use.
Build a compost pile and let it finish
Mix nitrogen-rich “greens” with carbon-rich “browns.” Iowa State University Extension lists fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, and fresh garden debris as greens; leaves, straw, shredded paper, and cardboard are examples of browns. A carbon-to-nitrogen ratio near 30:1 promotes efficient decomposition, though exact proportions are not critical for home composting. Follow Iowa State’s composting guidance, and let the material decompose into finished compost before using it on turf.
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Keep meat, bones, grease, dairy, pet waste, diseased plants, weeds with seeds, charcoal or coal ash, and pressure-treated or pressed wood products out of the pile. Extension guidance identifies possible problems including pathogens, pests, odors, and harmful substances. If grass clippings were treated with herbicide, Iowa State advises waiting until after the second or third mowing following application before adding them to compost.
Can I use coffee grounds on my lawn?
Use coffee grounds as one ingredient in a compost pile, not as a thick layer directly on turf. Their inclusion among nitrogen sources does not make grounds a balanced lawn fertilizer. Washington State University advises soil testing before applying grounds and cautions that thick standalone layers can compact and interfere with air and moisture movement. WSU’s coffee-ground guidance describes these cautions.
Rank #2
- WHERE TO USE: Lawn fertilizer for grass can be used on any grass type
- GRASS FERTILIZER FOR LAWNS: Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food feeds and strengthens your grass to help protect against future problems
- STRONG ROOTS: Our pesticide-free lawn food for grass builds strong, deep roots, improving your lawn's ability to absorb water and nutrients (vs unfed lawn)
- HOW TO APPLY: Apply to a wet or dry lawn in spring, summer, or fall
What nutrients does homemade compost provide?
Homemade compost can contribute organic matter and nutrients, but it is not a guaranteed complete fertilizer. Iowa State’s reference table gives approximate analyses of 0.5-0.5-0.5 to 4-4-4 for homemade compost and 0.5-0.2-0.5 for green grass clippings. These are source-table ranges, not a guaranteed analysis of any particular home batch. The figures are from Iowa State’s organic fertilizer information; its page does not state a publication date.
Compost also releases only part of its nutrients in the year it is applied. University of Maryland Extension reports that about 5 to 10% of compost nitrogen and 30 to 50% of compost phosphorus are available to plants in that year. Those are Maryland Extension figures, not universal values for every compost or location. Its guidance also says compost top-dressing will not meet all turf nitrogen and phosphorus needs. See Maryland Extension’s compost guidance.
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Rank #3
- WHERE TO USE: Lawn fertilizer for grass can be used on any grass type
- GRASS FERTILIZER FOR LAWNS: Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food feeds and strengthens your grass to help protect against future problems
- STRONG ROOTS: Our pesticide-free lawn food for grass builds strong, deep roots, improving your lawn's ability to absorb water and nutrients (vs unfed lawn)
- HOW TO APPLY: Apply to a wet or dry lawn in spring, summer, or fall
- COVERAGE: One 37.50 lb. bag of Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food covers 15,000 sq. ft.
Test the lawn soil and compost separately
A soil test guides lawn nutrient decisions
Identify your grass type and test the lawn soil before choosing nutrients. Cornell Turfgrass Program recommends using soil-test results to determine whether phosphorus or potassium is needed, rather than applying those nutrients without evidence they are low. Its guidance notes that organic nitrogen release depends on warm, moist soil and microbial activity. A lawn soil test assesses the soil; it does not tell you the nutrient content of your homemade compost. Cornell’s turfgrass fertilizing guidance explains soil-test-based decisions.
A compost analysis measures the amendment
If you want to calculate how much nutrient your compost contributes, get the compost analyzed separately. Maryland Extension says a standard soil test is not a compost test; homemade or farm-sourced compost needs its own analysis to measure nutrient content. Soil-test interpretation and local extension recommendations can help determine what the lawn needs, while a compost analysis characterizes the material you plan to spread.
Rank #4
- SOUTHERN GRASS FERTILIZER: Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food is a pesticide-free lawn fertilizer specially formulated for Southern lawns
- WHEN TO APPLY: Apply this fertilizer for grass during the growing season in spring, summer, or fall; for fast results, lightly water in after application
- WHERE TO USE: This lawn care product is formulated for Southern grass types; people and pets can re-enter the lawn after application
- BUILDS STRONG ROOTS: The included Scotts All-in-One Particles in this lawn food for grass build strong, deep grass roots to protect against heat and drought
- COVERAGE: One 14.06 lb. bag of Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food covers 5,000 sq. ft.
How much compost should I put on my lawn?
There is no defensible universal rate for homemade compost without knowing both the lawn’s needs and the compost’s nutrient content. Use the soil test to guide the lawn’s nutrient decisions and a compost analysis to assess the amendment. Consider nutrient analysis, the plant-available fraction, whether the nutrients match the soil-test results, and local timing before deciding on an amount. Do not assume top-dressing alone will meet the lawn’s nutrient needs.
When and how should I apply nutrients?
Fertilizer timing and rates depend on grass type and local conditions. UC IPM’s California guidance, on a page updated in October 2025, gives a broad annual range of 2 to 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, generally divided into 3 to 4 applications, and generally advises applying no more than 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet at one time. These are California figures, not a universal recommendation or an application rate for untested homemade compost. UC IPM advises fertilizing only actively growing grass and identifying the grass type to choose timing and rate. Check UC IPM’s lawn fertilizing guidance and follow local extension advice and current local fertilizer rules where you live.
To limit runoff, keep fertilizer on planted areas, use a drop spreader to reduce off-target application, sweep material from hard surfaces back onto the lawn, and avoid overwatering. UC IPM warns: “Too much or improperly applied fertilizer can injure lawns and can contribute to water pollution through runoff.”
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