Scotts Starter fertilizer calculator
Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food (24-25-4) is a high-phosphorus feed for new grass, applied once at seeding or sodding at about 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft. Enter your lawn size for the amount and bags, then switch to a regular fertilizer after 6 to 8 weeks.
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Spreader setting for Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass. 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.
Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass questions, answered
How much starter fertilizer do I need?
The label rate is about 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft, so a 15 lb bag covers roughly 5,000 sq ft. The calculator scales it to your lawn size.
When do I apply starter fertilizer?
At planting time, right when you seed or lay sod. It is a one-time application; move to a normal lawn fertilizer 6 to 8 weeks later once the grass is established.
