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.

Label 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.

ProductN-P-KRate / 1,000 sq ftBag / bottleMax apps / yr

Milorganite 6-4-06-4-012.8 lbs32 lb / 2,500 sq ft4

Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food32-0-42.5 lbs12.5 lb / 5,000 sq ft4

Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed28-0-32.9 lbs14.3 lb / 5,000 sq ft2

Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action25-0-22.8 lbs11.3 lb / 4,000 sq ft2

Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food32-0-102.8 lbs14 lb / 5,000 sq ft4

The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-816-4-83.6 lbs18 lb / 5,000 sq ft6

Lesco 24-0-1124-0-114 lbs50 lb / 12,500 sq ft4

Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-816-4-810 fl oz / 1,000 sq ft32 oz / 3,200 sq ft6

Ironite 1-0-11-0-13 lbs15 lb / 5,000 sq ft4

Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass24-25-43 lbs15 lb / 5,000 sq ft1 (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 genuinely different calendar.

Have a different bag? The fertilizer rate calculator works with any N-P-K, and the full fertilizer calculator builds a season plan from your grass type.

Rate calculator Full fertilizer plan

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.