I do use a recycling mower and leave clippings on. I know about lime. I'm asking about lawn fertilizers and that's specifically what I was asking about, am hoping someone has some ideas of a reasonable cost organic lawn fertilizer vs. what I'm finding at local nurseries, am open to order online as well if someone makes such a recommendation for a reasonable organic lawn fertilizer online. Thanks.

Maybe you would like to try composted, screened manure.

Using a mulching mower should reduce fertilizing requirements to a minimum. If you do opt to fertilize, a single application of organic fert is a reasonable supplement. Unlike the synthetic ferts, organics are rather slow acting and do not need to be reapplied frequently during the growing season. The fall or late season fertilizing is more important than the spring if you only want to apply once.

Corn gluten meal can be purchased at feed stores and is a perfectly acceptable organic fertilizer as well as helping to prevent weed development. It is just pretty low dose (9-1-0) and offers not much other than nitrogen.

Far more important than fertilizing your lawn - especially if using a muclhing mower - is an annual aeration of the lawn using a plug aerator. This is by far the best thing you can do for lawn health.....doesn't hurt at all to then spread a layer of screened compost and forget the expense of any kind of fertilizing.

Thanks for the responses everyone! Hey, a side question but still about lawns here in the Pacific Northwest (specifically greater Tacoma area), the compost often found around at nurseries/etc. is Cedar Grove Compost. Anyone have any opinions on Cedar Grove Compost vs. Tagro sold by the city of Tacoma for a topdress of lawn? The Tagro is $10/yard when picked up in Tacoma, quite inexpensive.

I've never used Tagro and am curious anyone who has opinions of Tagro vs. Cedar Grove Compost for things like top dressing a lawn (or planter bed).

Thanks again!

I found a organic lawn fertilizer named Milogranite that seems to be getting very food reviews and is reasonable cost, available on websites but also found it at a local Fred Meyer. $15 for 36 lbs.

As far as doing an annual top dressing I'm still exploring options of the Cedar Grove Compost and Tagro, would be curious opinions on that.

i am in the compost on top of 1/4 10 gravel school of top dressing. then seed with drought resistant, low fertilizer seeds. no need to fertilize with this as an annual procedure.

Here is a link that might be useful: joycreek advice

Milorganite and Tagro are of course municipal sludge based, so I would never use them myself.

I didn't know Milorganite was municipal sludge based until you mentioned it. Somehow I missed that on their website but ofcourse I don't think they want to feature that. As far as using it on my lawn I don't care (unlike you who evidently does).

Based on that info I started looking how SoundGro pellets (about $3/bag for 50 lb bag) sold in University Place WA compare to Milorganite ($15 for 36 lb bag Fred Meyer). SoundGro states 6-7-0 N-P-K, Milorganite 5-2-0, both pelleted for easy application. Milorganite states 4% iron. Based on this I think I'm going to give SoundGro a try, seems like a lot of bang for the buck.

Interesting posting I found web surfing: http://www.nwbiosolids.org/EventPubs/MiltnerTurf.pdf

Load up free Sumner Grow at

Sumner Bonney Lake Wastewater Treatment Facility
13114 - 63rd Street E, Sumner WA 98390
253-299-5760

Bring your own buckets & shovel to the shed in front of the anytime. I also wear a mask because it's dusty. If you're putting it inside a vehicle bring lidded containers or plastic bags you can tie shut. The dust can blow all over your vehicle...along with the odor. Bring a separate pair of shoes to put in a bag if you don't want to track it into your car. The shed is a 3 sided structure & the material spreads out from there, so you stand in the residue to shovel from the back.

It's dry granular black with dust & is dense in weight like gravel. A little goes a long way. The smell is distinctive, but not horrible. My family doesn't like the smell nor do deer. I've not used it for a year on the lawn & ornamental plants because of the smell. Not ever in our edible gardens.

Do call ahead if you're getting a pick up load. The shed doesn't hold that much.

Corrine

Here is a link that might be useful: about free Sumner Grow

With the similarity in naming I suspected that would be sludge based also.

I'm sure the lawn and ornamentals will love all the hormones, antibiotics, and antidepressants, not to mention the Ed meds......
and we worry about GMOs......!?
ei, yi, yi,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Take a stroll over to Organic Lawn Care Forum Plenty of good advice their. Most of the reccomended "fertilizers" not actually fertilizer. They are mostly stock feed such as Alfalfa Pellets (horse feed), Cracked corn, Soy bean meal, etc that you can get at any feedstore.

although, depending on how "breaking the bank" is defined, stock feed as fertilizer might do the trick.

what is "stock feed"?

food you feed to livestock; the stock is fed with stock feed.

LIke the corn gluten meal mentioned previously - other seed meals are typically offered at feed stores and prices are very reasonable.

Screened manure and sand work for me. My neighbor raises two cows every summer.
Moles are my biggest problem, hence, the sand. Sand and manure make a great filler for the collapsed mole tunnels as well as the mounds they leave. I try to keep my lawn sq. ft. to a minimum.
My wife has a different view.
Mike