The 10 Best High Nitrogen Fertilizers For 2023 And How to Use Them

Fertilizing your garden is an important step in ensuring that your plants get the nutrients they need to grow big and strong. Not all fertilizers are created equal, however, so it’s important to know which ones will work best for your needs.

Nitrogen is a key component of plant growth. Without enough nitrogen, plants will be small and weak, struggling to reach their full potential. This is why fertilizers with lots of nitrogen are so popular among homeowners with lawns and gardens. By adding a nitrogen-based fertilizer to your routine maintenance plan, you can help your plants achieve their maximum size and health.

This guide provides a list of the 10 best high nitrogen fertilizers for 2023 as well as how to use them for optimal results. So, whether you have a vegetable garden or a flower bed, be sure to add one of these top-rated fertilizers to your shopping list!

What Is Fertilizer?

Fertilizers are specific substances you introduce into soil or plant tissue in order to give nutrients to grass and plants. It is typically manufactured from either natural or synthetic materials, and there are multiple distinct types of fertilizer, which are used in any number of applications. Fertilizer helps your lawn and garden to obtain the minerals and nutrients they need to develop healthy plants.

Originally, fertilizer was made almost entirely of organic ingredients, e.g. human and animal manure, compost, mined minerals, and agricultural rotations. Synthetic fertilizers have become popular in the last several centuries, and the vast majority of fertilizers nowadays, both organic and inorganic, contain the three ingredients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

How Does Fertilizer Work?

Fertilizers, in essence, encourage plant growth. This can be done two ways. The first way is by providing the necessary minerals and nutrients that vegetables, grass, and plants use to grow, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, among others.

Some fertilizers may have a second purpose, which is that they enhance the soil’s ability to retain moisture and support aeration. However, this is not very prevalent, and is minor in significance when compared to the added nutrients.

The Three Main Macronutrients – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium

The three main nutrients that fertilizers contain are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Each of these three nutrients perform specific tasks in the soil and the plant structure, in order to help plants and grasses grow to their full potential.

Fertilizer brands generally list the NPK components in ratio form, such as 10-10-10 or 4-3-4, which gives you the amount of each nutrient in that specific fertilizer. The sequence is always Nitrogen (N) first, then Phosphorus (P) and then Potassium (K).

NPK Ratio

The nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) ratio is one of the most crucial elements to consider while selecting fertilizer since it determines plant growth. Your objective when selecting a fertilizer should be to find a ratio that is appropriate for your plant’s species type based on its specific demands.

For a high Nitrogen fertilizer, you want one with an NPK ratio that has 3x the amount of Nitrogen as Phosphorus, and 1.5x more Nitrogen than Potassium. For example, you’re looking for a 15-5-10 ratio, or similar. Many nitrogen-based fertilizers have only Nitrogen in it, and therefore the NPK ratio looks like 16-0-0 or similar.

Nitrogen

The macronutrient nitrogen is used primarily to promote leaf and petal growth in plants and grass, and it also provides them with their dark green color.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus, also sometimes listed as phosphate, is a primary component of roots, flowers, seeds, and fruit. It’s necessary for plant growth in every stage.

Potassium

Potassium, also known as Potash, helps to promote the development and growth of plant stems and roots, as well as aid in water circulation in grass and vegetables, in addition to flowering and fruiting.

Other Nutrients

In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, there are three other common macronutrients: calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, as well as numerous micronutrients including copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and boron.

Types of Fertilizer

There are several different types of fertilizer, and each one is used for a specific type of application. Some examples are:

Liquid Fertilizer

One popular option is liquid fertilizer – a type of spray-on fertilizer that comes either in organic or synthetic forms. Liquid fertilizers are typically applied directly to the leaves of plants and work by providing a boost of nutrients right where they are needed most.

Regardless of which type you choose, be sure to follow the instructions carefully when applying your liquid fertilizer, making sure that it gets evenly wet all over the leaves to ensure maximum effectiveness.

You don’t want to water the roots of plants, however, as this will not have much effect. And overwatering newly planted seeds can cause them to wilt and die. Liquid fertilizers tend to need reapplication every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season.

Granular Fertilizer

Granular fertilizer is another one of the most popular fertilizer options. This type of fertilizer consists of small granules that are typically spread out over the ground. These pellets contain all the necessary nutrients to help your plants thrive, and they are easy to spread over your yard with a fertilizer spreader, and then mixed into the soil with a rake or by hand.

Fertilizer Spikes

Fertilizer Spikes, which have a low-profile design, are the most efficient way to deliver fertilizer to the roots of your plants. When they are watered either with a hose or by the rain, the nutrients in the spike are released, and the plants are automatically fertilized.

Simply plant fertilizer spikes next to a living plant, once per year, and that’s all there is to it. Place the spikes evenly around the plant’s root zone and push them into the soil, and they provide immediate nutrient release by running along roots where they’re needed and can be used on most landscape types.

Slow Release Fertilizer

Granular fertilizer comes in either quick-release or slow-release types. Slow release fertilizer is that which has more nutrients and plant food, but it releases it over a longer period of time, typically about a month or two.

Quick Release Fertilizer

Quick release fertilizer, on the other hand, has less overall nutrition for the plants, but they release it much more rapidly, typically within a week or even a few days. These types of fertilizers need to be reapplied much more frequently.

Liquid fertilizers are almost primarily quick release, for reference. Check which type yours is, so you know how often to apply it.

Organic Fertilizer

Regardless what type of fertilizer you use – liquid, granules, spikes, etc. – it will either be inorganic or organic. These two subsets of fertilizer differ on two levels. First, they use different ingredients, and second, the nutrients get introduced to the plants in different ways.

Organic fertilizers come mainly from plant and animal sources. Common examples of organic fertilizers include compost, manures, blood meal, alfalfa, cottonseed, and kelp meal, and bone meal. The NPK ratios in these fertilizers are often lower than inorganic ones, however, they all have high concentrations of nitrogen. They also add vital organic matter to the soil that synthetic fertilizers do not. This enhances moisture movement and works in tandem with living microorganisms in the soil to nourish plants.

Organic products tend to break down more rapidly in water (quick release) than their synthetic counterparts (slow release) do, so if you have an area where water may pool after rainstorms, you may want to stick with synthetic, quick-acting products.

Inorganic Fertilizer

Synthetic, or commercial, fertilizers are the most common type of inorganic fertilizer. These are also known as manufactured fertilizers because they are produced in factories, even though the majority of them include nutrients from naturally occurring mineral deposits. These fertilizers are highly concentrated and deliver exactly what your plants and grasses need and nothing more.

Inorganic, or artificial, fertilizers are produced primarily from the chemical compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that have been synthesized in industrial processes. They contain one or more of these ingredients in high concentrations, and focus on providing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the plants, with a lack of other vital organic matter.

How to Use High Nitrogen Fertilizer

Nitrogen is of vital importance to plant growth, and it is frequently responsible for a plant material’s green growth. Nitrogen is an excellent assistance for young plants just starting to develop, giving them the best possible start in life.

Nitrogen is very useful in the early days and weeks of plant development, but it also helps support the plant after this stage, as it matures. Using nitrogen on your plants results in larger, more vibrant blooms that will give you the most out of your garden.

If you have vibrant, green grass on your lawn, such as St. Augustine Grass, Zoysia Grass, or Bermuda Grass, nitrogen would be great for developing that green hue and making your grass look colorful, lush, and full. With a thicker grass lawn, you will have less space for annoying weeds to break through, resulting in a healthier overall environment.

All forms of plant growth require nitrogen, which is essential for maintaining the health of plants. A sufficient seasonal supply ensures a lot of shoots, blooms, fruit, vegetables, and it works wonders for feeders such as corn, spinach, broccoli, and lettuce.

However, you also need to be careful when using a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, because nitrogen can burn your lawn or the plants you are fertilizing. If you use too much nitrogen, or use it in the summer months when the weather is too warm, the roots of the plants can become overstimulated by the fertilizer, causing them to die. Because of this, it is better to under-fertilize your lawn rather than over-fertilize it.

The Top 10 Fertilizers High in Nitrogen For Your Garden

#1. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food

Our #1 recommendation for high nitrogen fertilizer is Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. This is a great fertilizer that is ideal for both indoor and outdoor plants, vegetable gardens, and flower beds, and it will help your plants grow twice as big as they would be without feeding.

Miracle-Gro Plant Food contains a perfect blend of 10 essential nutrients and minerals that work to strengthen the plants and vegetables from their roots deep in the soil all the way up to the top of their leaves. This fertilizer has a high amount of nitrogen as well, boasting an NPK ratio of 24 – 8 – 16, so your plants will have strong, green leaves and solid foundational roots and stems.

To use this Plant Food you dissolve and dilute it in water and then water the soil around the base of the plants, as well as their leaves. You can use this quick release fertilizer every two weeks throughout the growing season from early spring all the way through late summer. It is also child and pet friendly. However, you don’t want to fertilize your plants in direct sunlight, and don’t overwater them because that could burn them and cause them to wilt.

#2. PetraTools Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer Spray

The PetraTools Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer Spray is one of the most recommended and sought after nitrogen fertilizers on the market. This high-nitrogen feed is a smart choice for obtaining fast results. This plant supplement promotes quick development of your plants and lawn grasses. This fertilizer spray is composed of an ultra-high nitrogen mix that helps to grow plants thicker, lusher, and greener.

This is a two-in-one liquid nitrogen fertilizer with a unique formulation that gives fast growth to plant leaves and slow growth to their roots. 70% of the fertilizer is quick release, giving your plants a blast of nutrition right off the bat, and then the remaining 30% is slow release, so they will have enough fertilizer to last for several weeks. The quick and slow-release technology provides an easy solution for all plants food in one single application.

This lawn and plant food is effective on a wide range of plants, including grass. It allows you to return your grass or garden to its natural green color. It’s also beneficial for both cold-season and warm-season grasses, such as Zoysia grass, encouraging strong plant development for both. It’s super-effective in all areas of gardening. It has an NPK ratio of 28 – 0 – 0, so it is entirely nitrogen-based and will provide the most nitrogen to your plants of any fertilizer available.

Spray your lawn with a sprayer to give it consistency; by mixing 5oz of nitrogen per gallon of water you get constant growth and maintenance, and with 10oz of nitrogen you can restore the nitrogen level and fast development of depleted plants.

#3. Down To Earth Blood Meal Fertilizer Mix

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The Down To Earth Blood Meal Fertilizer Mix is an effective and powerful all natural fertilizer that contains high amounts of nitrogen. In fact, it has a 12 – 0 – 0 NPK ratio, which means nitrogen is the only macronutrient it has, and it is listed by the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) for use in organic crop and food production.

Blood meal is one of the classic and most traditional organic fertilizers. It helps compost piles heat up and break down quickly and promotes fast vegetative growth. This fertilizer is ideal for starting fruit-bearing plants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, and it’s wonderful on vegetable gardens, outdoor containers, and row crops.

However, blood meal is very strong and can burn plants or vegetables if you use too much, so we recommend you use only 2-4 pounds per 100 square feet of soil, and thoroughly mix it into the top 3 inches of the soil. You only need to do this once per month. And always be sure to follow to application guidelines on the bag.

#4. Jobe’s 5001T Houseplant Indoor Fertilizer Food Spikes

The Jobe’s 5001T Houseplant Indoor Fertilizer Food Spikes are the perfect option for keeping your indoor plants well-fed and healthy. Just set these spikes in your plant soil and forget about them! This will leave you with much more free time to spend outside with your lawn and garden plants.

Jobe’s Houseplant Spikes deliver a steady stream of vital minerals to the roots, where plants need it most. The pre-measured, precisely balanced spikes are simply dropped into the soil around your plant. These spikes eliminate waste, risks, and odors, and they can’t be washed out and rendered useless with water. The slow release fertilizer means you only have to reapply them every 8 weeks.

Each spike has an NPK ratio of 13 – 4 – 5, so while it primarily provides nitrogen to your household plants, it also has enough phosphorus and potassium macronutrients, and in addition comes packed with calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. They feed plants at the roots, where they can use it most effectively.

#5. Espoma EOFW30 Organic Fall Fertilizer

The Espoma EOFW30 Organic Fall Fertilizer is an organic lawn fertilizer that is free of chemicals and safe for use for anyone who wants their garden and lawn to grow healthy and full, even homeowners with children and/or pets. Every fertilizer in the Espoma organic line has a unique profile of benefits, and they are all specifically developed to enhance the health of your lawn, while also delivering 2.5x more slow-release nitrogen than conventional grass fertilizers.

The Espoma EOFW30 is made of feather meal, poultry manure, and an extra amount of potassium in order to make the next spring’s growth greener and more plentiful. Made especially for use as a fall fertilizer, it is perfect for protecting and strengthening your lawn throughout the winter and having it ready for greening in early spring. It comes as a 30 pound bag that can fertilize up to 5,000 square feet of lawn.

It has an NPK ratio of 8-0-6, so it has a great amount of nitrogen and potassium, although it is missing any phosphorus. Even with the high amount of nitrogen, it won’t burn your lawn; it’s an all-natural, environmentally-friendly, non-burning and long-lasting fertilizer. It will help you grow a greener lawn that has deep and healthy roots.

#6. CESCO Urea High Nitrogen Fertilizer

The CESCO Urea High Nitrogen Fertilizer boasts the highest concentration of nitrogen of any fertilizer on this list, with a staggering NPK ratio of 46 – 0 – 0. If your plants or grass need nitrogen, then this urea fertilizer will deliver it in spades. The Urea CESCO uses is produced with the highest grade of water-soluble urea, which is a natural and organic element found in the human body and that of most mammals.

The CESCO nitrogen fertilizer, which is composed of high purity Urea, will enhance the proper development of all your indoor flowers, grass, and garden vegetables, all in an environmentally-friendly, sustainable product. It aids with green leaf growth and leads to lush vegetation in your lawn and garden. It has a neutral pH, and is compatible with the soil of most yards, so you don’t have to worry about your soil becoming too acidic or uninhabitable for your plants.

Application is simple – all you have apply 2 pounds of urea fertilizer per 1,000 square feet approximately once every 4-6 weeks. Urea is also used in tie-dye and batik DIY projects, so you can use this fertilizer in a variety of ways.

#7. Simple Lawn Solutions High Nitrogen Lawn Food

The Simple Lawn Solutions High Nitrogen Lawn Food is an incredible lawn food supplement with a high nitrogen formula that to stimulates green growth and treats nutrient deficiency in your lawn grass and garden plants. It has a 28 – 0 – 0 NPK ratio, so the high amount of nitrogen content will get your grass looking full and green in no time.

It has a unique 70-30 ratio of fast-release to slow-release nitrogen. The burst of fast-release nitrogen will help your lawn jump start its growth and give it a pop of color, and the remaining slow-release nitrogen will provide it with the nutrients it needs throughout the weeks between applications.

As the name suggests, this is a very simple fertilizer to apply – simply add a hose and get spraying. It is also made with only the finest food grade ingredients that are all natural and organic. It can be sprayed on any type of lawn grass you might have, including Bermuda Grass, St. Augustine Grass, Zoysia Grass, Buffalograss, Centipede Grass, Palmetto Grass, and Bluegrass. In addition, it is safe to use in spaces that have children and pets playing on them.

#8. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food

The next fertilizer on our list of the best fertilizers with high nitrogen content is the Miracle-Gro Evergreen Water Soluble Lawn Food. Dubbed the ‘fast way to a thick, green lawn’, it is a fast acting fertilizer but also can last long, so that you only have to reapply it to your lawn once a month throughout the spring and into the autumn.

This Miracle-Gro product is high in nitrogen and iron, which promotes a green and lush lawn. In fact, its NPK ratio is 36-6-6, meaning it is abundant in nitrogen, while also providing enough phosphorus and potassium, which makes sure your lawn grows strong roots, and makes the grass more disease resistant. It is also safer for your lawn, because the nutrients are dissolved in water before application, meaning there is far less risk of scorching.

It is also very easy to use, just simply stock the Lawn Food into your Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder and you’re off and running. With this Evergreen fertilizer, you will have a richer, healthier, lusher, and greener lawn in just five days, with its stronger roots more ready to absorb water than ever.

#9. Hoffman 20505 Dehydrated Super Manure Fertilizer

The Hoffman 20505 Dehydrated Super Manure Fertilizer is an easy-to-apply organic fertilizer that is made entirely of poultry manure. It is very efficient and useful in fertilizing lawns, gardens, flower beds, and rows of vegetables, and comes in a simple, pellet form.

While the NPK ratio is relatively low at 4 – 2 – 3, manure has additional organic material and capabilities that most synthetic fertilizers do not have. It both improves the texture of your garden soil and builds its humus content, all without burning your crops or grass.

It also encourages earthworm activity, which provide the soil with more nutrients as well as a natural cleaning process that eliminates a lot of built-up harmful material. You can use this product wet or dry, and it has very little odor when wet and almost no smell at all when dry.

#10. N-Primer Nitrogen Supplement

The N-Primer Nitrogen Supplement is a perfect lawn food supplement that supplies a steady and strong source of nitrogen for vigorous plant and vegetative growth. It contains a slow-release nitrogen formula that helps your lawn and plants grow dark, green, dense leaves through constant feeding.

You can maintain the correct balance of nitrogen with this proper ratio of liquid nutrients, which supply both positively and negatively charged nitrogen. The components are meant to be bio-available in the soil and released slowly over time into your plants’ roots and stems. It also stimulates plant uptake, which increases nitrogen metabolism, and it generates a stress response that encourages plant absorption.

Every TPS fertilizer and supplement is nutrient-dense, minimizing waste while ensuring you don’t pay for excess amounts of water. Every aspect of the process was designed with sustainability in mind; TPS Nutrients only uses high-quality, long-lasting materials. Use it during the vegetative and early bloom stages.

Conclusion

Nitrogen is one of the three main macronutrients that plants need to thrive, and it’s found in high quantities in many different types of fertilizer. Now that you understand a little more about fertilizers and the different nutrients they contain, it’s time to choose the best one for your garden.

In this blog post, we’ve outlined the top 10 high-in-nitrogen fertilizers for your garden in 2023 and how to use them, with our top choice being the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. We’ve also provided a brief overview of what fertilizer is, how it works, and the different types you can choose from.

These fertilizers on our list are sure to help your plants reach their full potential in terms of size, blooming, and flavor. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to avoid over- or under-fertilizing your plants, and if you want to learn more about nitrogen or any other nutrient, be sure to check out our other blog posts on the topic.

Thanks for reading and happy gardening!