Milorganite calculator
Milorganite's label rate is 12.8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft, and the label caps you at 4 applications a year. Enter your lawn size and ZIP to see the exact pounds per feeding, how many 32 lb bags to buy, and the classic Memorial Day / July 4th / Labor Day / Thanksgiving schedule shifted to your region and grass.
Other top-rated lawn fertilizers
- Check price
The Andersons Professional PGF Complete 16-4-8 Fertilizer with 7% Humic DG (5,000 sq ft)
Premium professional-grade fertilizer with 16-4-8 NPK and 7% humic DG. Super-fine particles distribute evenly with twice the particles per square foot of standard fertilizers. Top performer in lawn-care community testing.
- Check price
GS Plant Foods Liquid Kelp Fertilizer
OMRI-listed liquid seaweed concentrate for root development and stress recovery. 1 gallon makes 800+ gallons of solution for lawns and gardens.
- Check price
PetraTools Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer 28-0-0
High-nitrogen liquid fertilizer for quick green-up through foliar or soil application. Slow-release 28-0-0 formula, 32 oz. Ideal for spring and summer feeding.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Spreader setting for Milorganite 6-4-0. See what we can verify for this bag, plus the calibration steps.
Look up my settingLabel rates at a glance
Every product below has its own label rate and application limit. The calculator uses the label rate as the source of truth and reports the nitrogen it delivers, so you can compare products fairly.
| Product | N-P-K | Rate / 1,000 sq ft | Bag / bottle | Max apps / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milorganite 6-4-0 | 6-4-0 | 12.8 lbs | 32 lb / 2,500 sq ft | 4 |
| Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food | 32-0-4 | 2.5 lbs | 12.5 lb / 5,000 sq ft | 4 |
| Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed | 28-0-3 | 2.9 lbs | 14.3 lb / 5,000 sq ft | 2 |
| Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action | 25-0-2 | 2.8 lbs | 11.3 lb / 4,000 sq ft | 2 |
| Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food | 32-0-10 | 2.8 lbs | 14 lb / 5,000 sq ft | 4 |
| The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8 | 16-4-8 | 3.6 lbs | 18 lb / 5,000 sq ft | 6 |
| Lesco 24-0-11 | 24-0-11 | 4 lbs | 50 lb / 12,500 sq ft | 4 |
| Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 | 16-4-8 | 10 fl oz / 1,000 sq ft | 32 oz / 3,200 sq ft | 6 |
| Ironite 1-0-1 | 1-0-1 | 3 lbs | 15 lb / 5,000 sq ft | 4 |
| Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass | 24-25-4 | 3 lbs | 15 lb / 5,000 sq ft | 1 (at seeding) |
Why your schedule depends on your ZIP
A Milorganite schedule in Cleveland is not a Milorganite schedule in Atlanta. Cool-season lawns feed hardest in spring and fall and skip summer nitrogen in hot regions. Warm-season lawns feed through summer and stop before their fall dormancy. The calculator shifts each product's application windows using your region's frost dates and growing season.
Cool-season lawns
Feed hardest in spring and fall. In hot regions the calculator drops summer nitrogen entirely, because feeding heat-stressed fescue or bluegrass does more harm than good.
Warm-season lawns
Feed from full green-up through late summer. The last application lands about 6 weeks before dormancy, so late-fall feedings are dropped automatically.
Your region
Northern ZIPs shift every window later; southern ZIPs shift earlier and open a longer season. The same product gets a different calendar in each region.
Milorganite questions, answered
Can I apply Milorganite every month?
No. Milorganite's label allows 4 applications per year, roughly 8 weeks apart. The classic schedule is Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. Monthly applications waste product and push past the yearly nitrogen limit.
How much Milorganite do I need for 5,000 sq ft?
64 lbs per application, which is 2 of the 32 lb bags. That is the label rate of 12.8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft. The calculator scales this to any lawn size.
When should I apply Milorganite?
Cool-season lawns follow the holiday schedule (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving). Warm-season lawns feed spring through late summer and skip the dormant-season feeding. Your ZIP shifts each window by up to a month.
Does Milorganite need to be watered in?
Watering in helps the slow-release nitrogen and iron start working, but Milorganite will not burn if you skip it. Apply to a dry lawn and water afterward, or let rain do it.
