Which Simple Lawn Solutions Should You Buy? 16-4-8 vs 15-0-15 vs 28-0-0 (2026)
James ThorntonLawn Equipment & Maintenance Expert | 20 YearsAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Simple Lawn Solutions makes it easy to apply a liquid feed and slightly harder to pick which one. Three formulas cover most lawns, and they are not interchangeable. Here is the quick way to choose between the 16-4-8, the 15-0-15, and the 28-0-0 based on what your lawn actually needs.
For the wider field including iron and starter formulas, see our best liquid lawn fertilizer guide.
The short version
Buy the balanced 16-4-8 if you want one all-purpose feed for routine spring and summer color. Buy the 15-0-15 if your lawn is established, you are feeding through summer heat, or you live where phosphorus is restricted. Buy the 28-0-0 if the lawn is pale and hungry and you want maximum nitrogen for a fast green-up. Most lawns only need one of these; some rotate two across the season.
Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8: the default
Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 is the balanced all-purpose pick, with nitrogen for color, a little phosphorus, and potassium for resilience. If you are not sure which to buy, this is the one. It handles routine feeding on any grass type through the whole growing season. We reviewed it in depth in the 16-4-8 review.
Simple Lawn Solutions Superior 15-0-15: the summer specialist
Simple Lawn Solutions Superior 15-0-15 trades phosphorus for extra potassium, which makes it the better choice for established lawns going through summer stress and for anyone in a phosphorus-restricted area. Reach for it when the lawn is mature and you want hardiness more than raw growth.
Simple Lawn Solutions Maximum Green 28-0-0: the fast green-up
Simple Lawn Solutions Maximum Green 28-0-0 is almost pure nitrogen, so it pushes the hardest, fastest color of the three. Use it when the lawn is pale and you want a quick correction, but skip it heading into dormancy or in peak heat. It is the specialist, not the everyday feed.
How to choose in one minute
Ask three questions. Is the lawn newly established or do you just want all-purpose color? Go 16-4-8. Is it an established lawn under summer heat, or are you phosphorus-restricted? Go 15-0-15. Is it pale and hungry and you want color now? Go 28-0-0. If you still want the formula numbers explained, our guide on how to read fertilizer numbers breaks down what each digit means.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 16-4-8 or 15-0-15 better? 16-4-8 is the better all-purpose feed; 15-0-15 is better for established lawns in summer heat or phosphorus-restricted areas. Match the formula to your situation rather than looking for a single winner.
- What is the difference between 15-0-15 and 28-0-0? 15-0-15 balances nitrogen with high potassium for stress tolerance; 28-0-0 is almost pure nitrogen for a fast green-up. One hardens the lawn, the other pushes color and growth.
- Can you use more than one Simple Lawn Solutions formula in a season? Yes. A common program is 16-4-8 or 28-0-0 in spring, 15-0-15 through summer heat, and a starter or iron as needed.
For a season-long plan that maps each formula to the calendar, see our liquid lawn feeding schedule.
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