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I am excited to share this post with you today! This is a cheap, easy and very effective homemade lawn food that you can use in place of fertilizer.
One of our most viewed posts last year was this homemade plant food recipe (click here to check it out).
What readers enjoyed most, was the science backed aspect of how it worked!
I love hearing all of your success stories on it too! In fact, my father in law uses this exclusively in his garden now.
If you have a success story from the eBook or another chemistry solution, please send us an email to let us know!
First, let’s talk about this recipe, then we will share with you the amazing chemistry behind why this works so well!
Remember to always test small areas first before use. Please use caution around other plants, this is ONLY for grass!
Easy Homemade Lawn Food
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Update 7/25/17 – I have had some readers tell me this looks like Jerry Bakers Formula. I have never heard of him, so I searched for his lawn food to see what he has. It is VERY similar to his with some minor differences. I use club soda and epsom salt, his contained corn syrup and some other different things. The only one I have used is this one below. I learned part of this recipe in college from our textbook. I have since changed up a few things to make to better for the grass. Thanks to all my wonderful readers for letting me know about Jerry Baker, so I can make sure to check out his posts! Again, I cannot vouch for his recipe because I have never used it before. This is the only one I use and know to work. If you have used his recipe and are coming to this blog, please keep in mind this is NOT the same thing.*****
Ingredients Needed For Homemade Lawn Food:
- 1 bottle of beer (it can be anything you have!)
- 1 cup mild baby shampoo (like THIS one, DO NOT use anti-bacterial)
- 1 cup club soda (any type you have or find for cheap)
- ¼ cup – 1/2 cup Epsom (NOT scented, like this one)
- 1 cup household ammonia (same as ammonium hydroxide, like this one)
- Hose sprayer with settings (this is my favorite one)
Directions:
Check out this video on putting it all together! Feel free to add us to Instagram for more videos and behind the scenes.
- First, combine ingredients into a big jug (I am using a leftover Silk almond milk bottle). Make sure it is something with a lid. I like to use 1/4 cup epsom salt, but you can use up to 1/2 cup of epsom salt. Both measurements are fine!
- For ventilation, mix this up outside or a place with air flow (like near an open window).
- Cap the lid, then add all the ingredients to a 32 oz sprayer hose container (this one is the best and affordable). ***Make sure to set it no more than 3 or 4 oz per gallon!
- Next, spray evenly over your lawn. You can water within a few minutes after application. The more you water while using this fertilizer, the more the solution will soak into the soil and feed roots. Always ALWAYS test a small portion of your lawn. Everyone has a different climate, so please test to see how it works first.
- Apply every 2-3 weeks when daytime temperatures are below 85 or 90 degrees. If you aren’t getting rain, make sure to water your lawn while using this.
Lawn Size For One Application of DIY Lawn Food:
This amount will cover a small yard using the hose sprayer. If you get a lot of rain or water often, you can use this to do 1/2 of your yard and make another bottle for the other half. For large yards, you will need to make a few batches.
Remember to test your grass first!
Success stories
I’ve had many emails and comments from readers who have used this and love it! I also had a reader share his before and after on instagram. Just search #chemistrycachet on instagram
Why this Homemade Lawn Food Recipe Works:
What is the Science Behind This DIY Lawn Fertilizer?
Each ingredient in this recipe has a specific use. After testing out many different types of ingredients, I have found the combination of these ingredients below is what makes this work so well. Let’s check out the purpose for each ingredient.
Why is Beer Used For Homemade Lawn Food?
Beer is a unique item to add to your soil. Since it is fermented, it adds beneficial chemicals to the soil that aide in healthy bacteria growth. It also distributes nutrients to the grass.
If you have treated your lawn with chemicals before, beer can help restore the natural bacteria. Do not use any other alcoholic beverage like wine, liquor, or other drinks!
Mild Baby Shampoo
The key to this is allowing the homemade lawn food to adhere to the soil and grass, and it also helps the soil open up to soak in nutrients. Make sure to NOT sure anti-bacterial soap. You want to keep all the natural bacteria. I have found baby shampoo to be the most mild form of soap without suffocating the grass. Remember this homemade weed killer? It contained dish soap which allowed the solution to stick, and helped the plant to absorb the vinegar, salt, and arthritis rub which killed it quickly.
This works the same way, but we are using a gentle soap and helping the soil and grass absorb vital nutrients.
Club Soda
Club soda is another unique option. Carbonated water is a fantastic source of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, good sodium like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). This is very important for grass growth and helps for a deep green lawn.
Chemist Tip: I have read about people using sprite or coke for plants…it is the same principle that helps this work, but those drinks contain a large amount of sugar. This isn’t good for soil and attracts bugs. Avoid those problems by using club soda instead!
Epsom Salt
Grass and soil benefit from magnesium and sulfate. Epsom salt is a great way to get a deeper green for plants and grass. Do not use table salt! Regular salt kills grass and weeds, so always use epsom salt.
Ammonia
I have had questions about ammonia in the past. To clarify this is HOUSEHOLD ammonia you find in the cleaning section of your grocery store (like this one). The label will read ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium hydroxide is a solution of ammonia and water which means it will be safe and diluted for household use. It is one of the best ways to get a large dose of nitrogen to plants!
I did a small portion in a few patches of our back field that have never been treated so I could show you a before and after. What I noticed most is the grass gets a deeper green, and the grass starts growing thicker!
Sadly, we’ve had some not so nice comments about this lawn food recipe. I can assure you, I NEVER share anything unless I personally used it. I walked outside and took a picture of my lawn just now. We’ve had 100+ weather all of July in Texas with minimal rain. We water about once per week due to water restrictions. The only fertilizer I use is this homemade lawn food.
FAQs on Making this Homemade Lawn Food
Over the years, these questions below are the most asked!
How many square feet does this cover?
This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on your climate, grass quality, and type of grass. We’ve worked out the math for another reader who has a very large lawn. For this one gallon batch at 3 oz per gallon, it covers roughly 1000 sq ft of lawn.
I prefer to answer this question by saying you lightly spray your yard with this solution, then water thoroughly. You can get a feel of it and use it like you would any other liquid fertilizer.
How fast does this work?
For healthy yards, this is a subtle way to nourish soil and grass. It will allow your lawn to stay healthy with good bacteria.
For poor quality grass, you might see a difference in a few weeks with proper watering.
This is meant to be a long-term treatment that will continue to nourish grass and soil. It helps recover chemical usage that can kill good bacteria overtime.
What if I don’t want to buy beer or don’t have any?
This solution CAN work without the beer, but it really helps with soil quality which helps grass grow better. I recommend using it for the full benefits of this homemade lawn fertilizer.
What if it’s really hot outside?
As with all fertilizers, even store-bought, you don’t want to use this when temperatures are above 90 degrees. Nitrogen can scorch grass in extremely hot weather. That is why spring is such a great time of year to feed your lawn!
If you aren’t now sure, test it on a small area!
What if I don’t have that spray attachment you mention?
This attachment is the easiest way to use a liquid fertilizer. You can also add 3 oz of the fertilizer to one gallon of water. Carefully water over the lawn with this. Just be cautious to evenly distribute over the lawn.
What if I don’t like using ammonia?
The most important aspect of this homemade fertilizer is the nitrogen content. The easiest way to get a large does of nitrogen in the home is from household ammonia. I don’t like using ammonia for cleaning since many of my family members have breathing issues. So, I only use it for outdoor things like this. It is very safe outside and will not harm anything! It is much safer than many store-bought fertilizers.
Also, I have been using the same bottle of household ammonia for over a year since I only use it for this plant food and this lawn food.
Can I use any baby shampoo?
YES! Get the cheapest you can find, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Just remember to make sure it is NOT anti-bacterial 🙂
Enjoy feeding your lawn!
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This is the coolest thing ever! Wow can’t wait to try. I never thought about making homemade lawn fertilizer but what a great idea.
It is so neat to make and it has really helped the quality of our soil/grass. Especially in areas that don’t get much attention! Works really well right before a big rain too. Thank you!
With our area, we have to save on water. I am considering clover in my backyard. Little to no mowing. Does anyone spread clover on their grass?
I have no heard of anyone mixing it in with grass, but I no people who just use clover instead of grass. I am not sure how well it would do mixed in with grass
I have been using this recipe for quit a while now. But did not know the science behind each of the ingredients. Thank you, helps make it a lot more sense.
It helps to know the science! 🙂
I love your before and after pictures of your gorgeous, thick green lawn! Will this solution work on mine? It’s about 1/2 crabgrass and 1/2 grass. I’ve never used pesticides or lawn fertilizers in my totally organic yard, but I’d be happy to use your natural recipe!
Paula Kentucky
It will help all grasses. It works slowly to nourish soil, and in turns helps nourish grass to make it more green and thick. Thank you!
Oh, how awesome! This would be great for my front yard I think – we have spotty grass. haha
It has really helped fill out our grass!!
thank you soo much… I spent over a hundred $ fertilizing my lawn this spring and now with no rain… I am having to spend that amount to water, lol
It’s amazing how expensive fertilizer is! And now that it’s been so dry, the grass needs even more help!!!
This sounds fascinating… beer, shampoo and ammonia, on my lawn?! I know, it chemically breaks down to feed and nourish my lawn, but my head tilted and said “huh” first. You are a fount of (fun) info! Daisy likes to eat grass occasionally; would this upset her stomach?! I’m sure it’s pretty dilute and subsequent watering helps, but this dog mom had to ask!
It’s amazing how many beneficial chemicals are found in everyday things! Beer is a favorite among gardeners for soil, it is so cool how much it helps the soil!! Since this is applied with a watering sprayer, it is really diluted. Daisy should be fine, nothing in this will harm her. After I apply it, I also water so it soaks into the ground pretty fast!
Can this be used on dirt before I plant grass seed, as well as to prepare a flower bed or even a vegetable garden, prior to planting, basically just using this on just dirt?
I have a ton of dirt and- wall to wall weeds in my yard and no grass yet, but wanted to prepare the soil. Thank you.
This is made to really green the grass, so to just feed the soil, I would eliminate the shampoo and ammonia. The rest of the items will provide good nutrients for dirt! You can use it like that, then when your grass starts growing you can use the full ingredients 🙂
WHAT?! The ingredients in this solution blow my mind. How amazing is this?! I’m going to use this for my yard. After we reseeded, there are still some spots that could use some love.
It is amazing how well it works! My yard has gotten much healthier, especially in the areas that don’t get much attention. I have already had some readers use this and say they notice a difference! So, it is worth trying 🙂
is there a breakdown to figure out how much for different sized yards? For instance i have about 15,000 sq ft of grass. how much product would i need to make?
It will be similar to the square footage of any liquid fertilizer per gallon. For this one gallon batch at 3 oz per gallon, it covers roughly 1000 sq ft of lawn. You would definitely need to make at least 10-15 batches of this to cover that large of an area. I would recommend using a larger sprayer as well. You can use one that holds 5 gallons, make 5 batches of this to put inside and that would help cover a larger area. I have only used this on small lawns, but you can definitely make more batches as needed. Let me know if you have any other questions!
I use a 20 gallon tow behind sprayer, my yard is about 1 1/2 acres. What would be a good mixture to spray?
This makes 32 oz, so about 1/4 of a gallon. To get one gallon, you would need to multiply each ingredient by 4. Then, multiply this number by 20 to get 20 gallons total. I don’t recommend this mixture for a large area like this, it isn’t as economical. We have had readers use it for up to 2 acres, but it is harder to put together this much.
Are there certain zones this should NOT be used in? We live in southeastern NC, zone 8A? Also, when I click on “Private Policy” & “Terms of Services”, nothing comes up.
I live near Fort Worth, zone 8 and this does well. The more important thing is applying it during good temperatures. Temps above 55 degrees and below about 85 degrees are the best times to do it. When the weather starts getting too hot and dry, I stop fertilizing for the summer. I start up again in the fall when temperatures get lower. Our privacy policy is found at the top of our website. Here is the link.
Can you use it on southern grases?
I live in Texas, so this is really best for all southern grasses 🙂
I just built a new house and am desperately trying to grow grass. Its very patchy and stubborn. Would this help get the stubborn grass growing??
It can definitely help is grow stronger and eventually spread out. What type of grass is it? I have southern bermuda and it has helped for our area. I am not sure how it would help other types to branch out. It will help the existing grass get greener.
Honestly I don’t know what type of grass it is since the builder put it down. But we did add Kentucky bluegrass which is being equally stubborn. I am in Northwest Indiana and the weather can be a bit goofy.
This should help nourish your grass, just make sure your day time temperatures are above 50 degrees. I know it can be much cooler there. To get our grass to grow better, we use this every month and water a lot!
Hi
We have heavy clay soil and I have read with this type of soil less fertilizer is more. Is this correct?
Yes, this is true. We also have very heavy red clay, making the grass harder to grow. I have not had good luck with store-bought solutions because they are too strong. I use this one periodically, and it has responded better. So, you definitely don’t have to use as much fertilizer.
A persons (or my) natural assumption for clay soil would be to add sand to mix as an aggregate to the fine clay particles but I discovered it is not the case. Turns out gypsum is what you’d want. It comes in pellet form for use with spreader from lawn supply houses.
You mention it is not for flower beds, how about the trees that are surrounded by grass?
Homemade plant food is better for flowers. This solution stays on top of soil to nourish grass and soil, so it won’t have any bearing on trees. It won’t harm them, but it also won’t do much for feeding them since their roots are so deep.
My lawn was in bad shape with really thin grass. After using this a few times, I notice my grass is much thicker! And more green. So happy to have found this and it is safe for my kids.
It really helps! My lawn is more thick and green too after using this. 🙂 THank you!
This is great! I love all of these “hacks” for the house/around the house. So simple to use what you have laying around to benefit or clean what you use everyday. Definitely a fan of this fertilizer, works wonders on the lawn in the Texas heat .
It’s so nice to use cheap things around the house that benefit your home and garden! This lawn food is so good for hot climates without scorching grass 🙂
Hi there! Am totally wanting to try this but… my question is this: I have 3 rescue dogs peeing on the grass and they produce ammonia (so I am told) so should I leave it out as to not over saturate the grass with it? Thoughts? 🙂
Hi Roxanne! Dogs urine has ammonia and urea, in fact my dog pees in the SAME spot everyday lol so it kills the grass. Too much nitrogen on the grass can do that, especially in the hot summer months. The ammonia in this will be a little more gentle and will be delivered more evenly, but I wouldn’t want your lawn to get too much nitrogen with your dogs also peeing. You are welcome to try it without the ammonia, this solution will nourish the soil and feed healthy bacteria even without the ammonia. The nitrogen from the ammonia is going to help with intense green grass though. I would play around with this, try it without the ammonia, or try it out on a small area of your lawn with the ammonia and see how it works. This lawn food is definitely a gradual, overall nourishing solution. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thank you! You are awesome!!
You’re welcome Roxanne 🙂
Can i substitute the Top Job Basic Lemon Ammonia, with the all clear Ammonia?
I recommend using clear ammonia for all our recipes, but if you only have lemon on hand, that can work too
Hi! Thank you for sharing this recipe! We live in SA, TX and just bought our house. The grass is pretty patchy and ugly looking, IMO. I’m excited to try this. I had one question though… Is this something I need to prepare right before I put this on the lawn, or can I prepare it and store it? Please lmk. Thanks again!
I would make sure your lawn is nice and watered before application, especially if the lawn is patchy. With our warm Texas weather, you can continue to water into November and apply this until the weather gets below 55 degrees. I usually do my last one in mid-November.
Thank you so much! Can I store this, or should I use everything at once?
It’s best to use everything at once. It won’t stay fresh for more than a day 🙂
I am not sure why people would think this is like Jerry Bakers formula???? It is totally different lol… I looked his up and watched the video too, so it sounds like people aren’t actually reading your recipe. I used this at the end of last summer and part of fall. It made my grass much healthier. Can’t wait to use again in the spring. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your success! I agree, I am not sure why people have though that, but this is the only one I have used 🙂
I have Jerry’s Book. It was on a PBS pledge drive about 20 years ago when you donated you had an option of getting the book. I got the book from the pledge drive and the recipes are great. My yard was one of the best on the block and I still use his formulas today. My grass was like walking on carpet.
The only difference in the recipe is he uses regular soda, he did not specify which kind other than just do not use diet soda because of the chemical used for the sugar content. He wanted the sugars from the regular to feed the micro organisms in the soil. He also added from time to time Listerine mouth wash as an antiseptic to cleans the yard, and It was 1 cup of Epsom salt not 1/2 cup.
I am so glad I see others using the same practices because people always thought I was weird when they asked about my yard and how it looked so lush and green. But the look on their face was priceless.
I had never heard of him until recently, so I looked up some of his information on youtube. He had some interesting mixes. It is fun to put together things we have right in our home 🙂
Your recipe says 1/4 cup of epsom salt and the graphic says 1/2 cup salt. What is the correct amount?
You can use up to 1/2 cup of epsom salt. Both are fine, I prefer to do 1/4 cup since I have a high sulfate level in my soil, but up to 1/2 cup is great for most.
Thanks for the info. I didn’t want to destroy my lawn with wrong ingredient measures.
You’re welcome! Better to be safe! Sorry for the confusion on it 🙂
Is there a time limit that people or pets can not walk or be on the lawn after this is applied? Most fertilizer solutions say “wait until grass is dry before re entering treated area”.
This solution is mild, so it soaks in fast. It also depends on the type of climate you have. I usually only need to wait a few minutes before solution as soaked into grass and soil, but you might need to wait longer.
Just found your recipe and look forward to trying it out!! I’ll be back in a few months with my success! ???
Hope you love it like we do! I just started applying it again for the spring 🙂
I just need to wait for the snow to melt here… I’m in Connecticut so we just got a snow storm yesterday…. So unfortunately I’ll need to wait. Question: should I wait for it to be a certain temp outside or the ground to be a certain temp… It’s been difficult to do yard work with this weather… ?
You will definitely want to make sure grass is no longer dormant and there are no more possibility of freezes.
i live in the Houston area and am trying to revive my lawn…i’ve tried another tonic similar to yours. my question is, the other tonic i’ve used says to add mouthwash because it kills bugs and grubs, is this a good idea? everything seems to be the same expect your tonic uses Epsom salt and the other uses mouthwash.
thanks for the help.
When we studied this back in college, the mouthwash made no difference for bugs of anykind in our area. The ammonia does that just by scent, so I’ve never dealt with insects in my lawn. I live in the DFW area. The other difference in some homemade lawn foods is the use of soda. I don’t like to use soda due to the sugar content, so I like to use plain carbonated water.
i think i am having a grub issue in my soil. thatch is building up and brown spots are popping up everywhere. what can i do?
I haven’t dealt with grub issues, so I am not sure. I have contacted my county extension agent before about some issues I have had, they are usually very helpful for what is best for your area and climate.
Can you still use it if you haven’t used it all?
You can, but it won’t stay fresh for more than a few days.
Great information. Now when you say it helps all grasses, Does that include crab grass? I’d really like to not have crab grass
It works similar to other lawn fertilizers, so it will nourish most grass. I’ve never had it make crab grass grow more, but I try to put down a preemergent in the fall.
I have a 2.5 gallon tank fertilizer injector. Basically combines/injects/distributes the liquid fertilizer via the sprinkler system. Can you recommend a portion size for this?
This makes about 32 oz, so for 2 gallons (256 oz or so), you would need to multiply everything by 8. It doesn’t have to be an exact measurement, but that should make enough for the sprayer.
I plan on overseeding my lawn. Will this solution be ok on the newly spread seeds?
I’ve never personally used it on seeds, but some of our readers have with success. I can’t give personal experience on it though. To be safe, always test a small area first.
Do you think this would work while growing corn. It has similar nutrient requirements to grass.
I have a few readers who have used it for vegetables including corn. They have liked it, but I don’t have personal experience trying it out. I always recommend to test a small area first.
heh, my mac is stuck on all caps….sorry,
What to youy recommend to get rid of creeping charley or clover type of weeds?
Thanks,
Joe
Those weeds are tough to get rid of in grass without damaging the grass itself. It is best to buy a solution formulated specifically for those weeds so it doesn’t harm the grass. I have used organic ones and regular, both I got from my local nursery.
Thanks for the huge effort to share and explain. A quesrion. I have an area of dog urine damage. I know it is from wxcess nitrOgen. Would the soulution less amonia be benefitial?
You can definitely use this without the ammonia if you have an area with excess nitrogen. It will still provide good nutrients for that soil especially being damaged by dog urine.
Thank you for this post! I have been Loki g for something to make at home. Instead of beer, would yeast and warm water work to help encourage good bacterial growth? We do not buy beer or even drink it, however, I always have yeast in my freezer.
It won’t have the same fermentation like the beer will, but you can definitely give it a try! It won’t harm anything
Do you have any suggestions dealing with fungal diseases in grass such as Brown Patch or Dollar Spot (type/amount of ingredients to use)? I have seen various “home” remedies but was curious on your thoughts.
Hi Chris! I haven’t found any homemade remedies that I like for that. I have used an organic one from my local store, but it wasn’t 100% either.
Do you put it everyday.
Every few weeks while the weather is good. Once it gets hot in the summers, I stop using it.
Can I apply this at night time? Here in West Texas temperatures are still about 80 degrees?
As long as day time temps aren’t above 85 or 90, it is okay
Can this be used on St augustine as well
I’ve never used it on st agustine grass, but many of my readers have with success. I would always test a small area first 🙂
I followed the mix as is and tried on my bermuda grass, it killed the lawn and the grass turned yellow. So everyone please try it on a small part of the lawn and if the results are good then do it for the entire lawn. Alexis can we use this on bermuda grass, if yes any idea why the grass turned all yellow and dead ?
All my readers have loved this, so I’m very sorry to hear that, but yes, please always test on a small area! I say this throughout the post because everyone has a different climate. I use it on my Bermuda grass without isssues. One of my readers just shared his before and after on IG with his Bermuda grass too. So, that type of grass has been the main kind for my readers. What is the temperature where you live? If it’s too hot, it can burn grass. I don’t apply this when daytime temps are above 85 or 90, which is early June or May for me. It’s also important to water regularly. Other than that, I’m not sure! I haven’t had this happen before 🙁
Been using this in the early summer. Biggest thing I’ve noticed is greener grass. My Bermuda is a mix with some St. agustine I’m there too, it’s alsays been light green even with regular watering. This has made it darker green and some patchy areas are getting thicker too. Should I stop using now that it’s 90+ here?
That’s great! Yes, I would not use it over 85 or 90 degrees so the lawn doesn’t burn. I start using it again in the fall.
found your side via youtube and this has piqued my interest. we’re having sod laid down soon (bermuda/rye mix). i live in AZ, so hot temps are definitely a concern for me. your formula would be ok to use thru early May i’m thinking. after that, do i do nothing except regular waterings? and resume again late Sept/early Oct?
It is best to use this when temperatures are below 80-85 during the day. I use mine through May, then again in the fall. This is formulated for mature grasses, so I am not sure about using it on seeds or sod. I would test a small area first to be sure
Ok , great. Thanks!
Hi Alexis! I have a very large yard (3.5 acres) and use a 40 gallon spray tank on the back of my tractor to apply herbicides and fertilizers. Do you have any advice for mixing the appropriate amounts of each product to make a 40 gallon solution?
My lawn consists primarily of bermuda grass, but I will be slowly transitioning it to zoysia through plugs and overseeding.
Hi Greg! It would take a lot of mixture to go into a 40 gallon sprayer. This solution makes 32 oz…40 gallons has 5120 oz. 5120 oz/32 oz in this solution is 160, so everything would need to be multiplied by 160 to fit into your sprayer. I have never used it for a large surface area, but I have had a few readers do it. I would mix up one batch of 32 oz and test on your grass first to see does. I use it on Bermuda, but have not used it on zoysia. Hope this helps!
I have had a horrible weed problem this year. Will this also make the weeds grow faster and stronger. The one thing I don’t want to grow? Thanks New to lawn care
This isn’t formulated for specific types of grass, and weeds don’t need much help to grow (they grow in any type of conditions). This won’t make them grow more, but you do need to address the weeds. A pre emergent needs to be put down in fall and early spring to keep the weeds from populating. It takes a few years, but eventually the grass will take over. I use this lawn food every year and it helps the grass to grow greener and stronger which in turn keeps weeds out. But if you have a bad weed problem, I would make sure to treat the weeds specifically
Hello
Doesnt the shampoo help the solution “stick”. I have seen a few drops of Dawn dish detergent used for various yard treatments. Would Dawn work in this recipe?
Hi Maureen! Yes it does help it stick. You can scroll down to the chemistry section where I go into a little detail on the purpose of it. Dawn is a key ingredient in many of our recipes, but for this you want something more mild and gentle. Baby shampoo makes a good option 🙂
Hello! Would a shampoo or soap made from saponified oils, like Dr. Bronner’s, work? When you mean avoid anti-bacterial shampoo, are you referring to chemical anti-bacterial agents? Thx!
I have it listed under the chemistry section, but baby shampoo is the most mild form of soap, so it won’t chance suffocating the grass. I have never used a soap like Dr. Bronner’s, so I don’t know how well it would work. I am sure it would be okay, but baby shampoo is best. You don’t want to use any type of anti-bacterial because you want to keep the natural bacterias in the soil and not offset the beer
If I remove the ammonia, this should work as a soil conditioner right? It could then be used during the summer?
I would also remove the epsom salt if you would like to just use it for that! It won’t help the grass grow, but the ingredients can help keep a healthy bacteria balance
It won’t help grass grow if theres no ammonia. Are you sure? Making the soil healthier will help alone the beer alone is huge.
I WILL TRY IT, HOPE IT WILL WORK. THANKYOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION
GERARDO RODRIGUEZ
FROM TEXAS , VERY HOT
Hope you enjoy it! I live in Texas too, it is too hot right now to use this lawn food, so make sure to wait until temperatures go back down below 90
I have it mixed up and the rain came early can I wait till tomorrow or do I need to use right away?
It still works to apply after it rains. I would recommend to follow up with a watering the day after too
Hi, I’m just wondering if cloudy ammonia is the same. The bottle of cloudy ammonia says it is Nh3 on the ingredients list. Thank you, looking forward to trying this one out.
Cloudy ammonia is a mixture of ammonia and a soap for cleaning. I don’t recommend it for this solution. It is a different concentration of ammonia, but also has the added soap ingredient. For this lawn food, regular household ammonia will be best. Hope this helps!
Big mistake!!!
I ended up using white vinegar (5% acidity) instead of ammonia. I bought the vinegar by mistake (good thing I didn’t put ammonia on my salad).
What can happen? I have started watering heavily no try to dilute the vinegarm
Hi Andy, it should be okay if you are watering it well. It takes quite a bit of white vinegar to cause any damage, so just continue to water it well! If you don’t see any issues after a few days, then it will be fine
Hi there,
I wonder if you can advise me if I can use the same recipe here in South Africa , Johannesburg.?
Because as you are in Texas it can be quit warm here as well and you mentioned it works on any grass type and I have a mixture of grass in my yard ( bermuda/kikuyu/LM grass)
I want to make it thicker and greener so I just need confirmation I can use it on this site of the world .
Best Regards, Alex
It works on most grasses! The most important thing to make sure of is to not apply when it is too hot (above about 85 degrees F) and not below a certain temperature (about 55 degrees F), also make sure to water regularly
Wow! I knew vinegar killed things but never knew you needed other products to make it work.
Thank you!
They work together to make a great weed killer!
Hi Alexis and good morning! Hope you and yours are well:). I’ve read many of Jerry’s recipes BUT never used them . . . So yours will be the first! About the beer, you mention a bottle, what is the difference of using a can? Should it be “high test” or light? Thanks!
Any type of beer is fine, and it can be in a bottle or can. I just recently heard of Jerry Baker after publishing this recipe, this is a much different solution than he has posted about, but readers have had success with his formula! And they also enjoy this one 🙂 Hope you enjoy it too!
Thurs. 5/7/2020 Thank you Alexis for answering my question about the beer and Happy Mother’s Day:).
As is always the case, once I get planning, other questions pop up:) During these unusual times, Ammonia is hard to find. I did manage some cloudy and read that you advised against it. Any other substitute? Can I use your recipe on a newly seeded lawn? What do you recommend for flowers, shrubs and bushes? Finally, what about insects on flowering shrubs?
Thank YOU:)!
I don’t like to use the cloudy ammonia because it is ammonia with soap. I have found it to be too sudsy. We have had readers use it before with success, but it is not my first choice. However, there really isn’t another substitution for home use to get that nitrogen content. If you have to use the cloudy ammonia, I would eliminate the shampoo in this mixture. Do not use on newly seeded lawns, any type of fertilizer is too strong for new grass, so I wait until it is more established. For flowers, I use this recipe. I don’t have anything for insects as far as homemade, but I do have a fungicide that can be used and it helps with insects too. I hope this helps!
Hi, I’m going to give this a try. My question is, could I use a gentle, unscented, natural liquid soap instead of the baby shampoo? I have plenty of unscented, mild, liquid castile soap like Dr. Bronners sitting around. Could I substitute that instead? I’m guessing it’s the surfactant quality of the soap that’s important? Or should it be more detergent based instead of soap based?
The baby shampoo works to open soil up, but also helps ingredients to adhere. I have had most luck with the gentle shampoo, but a few readers have told me they used castile soap and it worked okay!
I’m wondering if I could use homemade kombucha instead of beer ?
You can try kombucha…kombucha does have more sugars in it, so this can be a disadvantage. I don’t like using things with more sugars when can attract bugs. You can test out a small area with kombucha to see what it does
I am very interested in trying this but I want to know if anyone has had an increased in ticks or ants with this formula?! We keep our lawn mowed and the ‘active’ area is away from wooded area but I am just curious if this formula is more enticing to them.
Thanks!
This does not increase bugs of any kind although with fertilizer use, you want to make sure you are watering properly and often. Increased water will attract ants, like after it rains. But the solution itself does not attract bugs 🙂
How big of an area do you recommend testing and how long should I wait to apply it on my whole lawn after the test area is good?
I usually test a small corner area or something not noticeable. Maybe a foot long area, just something to notice how it works. I would wait a week or so 🙂
I recently applied a weed and feed to my yard, before I knew about this solution. How long would you wait before applying this after using a weed and feed?
For any type of fertilizer, it is best to wait at least 2 weeks before applying another one
Hi. Can I use Lemon ammonia(scented) ?
As long as it isn’t cloudy ammonia you can
Can this be used in a backpack sprayer? I have about 1/2 acre of grass they front is finally starting to get in good shape. But the back is very spotchy. Grass is scattered and very thin.
My back yard is about 4000 sq feet. So what would my mixture be?
This mixture can cover roughly 1200 sq ft. So I would probably triple the mixture. I have never used it in that type of sprayer before, but some readers have with success. Just make sure you are able to set the nozzle correctly as shown in this post to make sure not too much mixture comes out at one time.
Would I still need to add water? Or should I just get a hose end attachment?
You still need to have water flowing for the mixture to be set at the right gallons. I have mine set at 3-4oz per gallon so it is dispersed correctly
You don’t specify the volume of beer to use. I bought a 24-ounce can. How much should I use for this mixture? Also, you mention that one could use 1/2 cup or 1/4 cup of epsom salt for the mixture. In which cases would it be advisable to use 1/2 cup, versus 1/4 cup? Also, the graphic does not specify the units for the epsom salt.
A standard bottle of beer which is 12 oz, but if you have 24 oz that is fine too. It is okay if it is slightly more or slightly less, that is the great thing about this recipe. We have the 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup because if you have soil high in magnesium or sulfate, you wouldn’t need to use 1/2 cup. Most people don’t know their soil measurements, so this is really up to you. I use 1/2 cup. This recipe is forgiving and estimations are fine since you set this up through a spray nozzle and it will be diluted with water 🙂 Hope this helps!
So I am actually going to be using a 30 gallon pull automatic behind sprayer. I am trying to cover a 1/2 acre. What would my mixture be? I will be adding water to the sprayer as well as the mixture.
This covers about 1000 sq ft to 1500 sq ft or roughly the size of a small yard. 0/5 acres is 21780 sq ft… so you would need to multiple each ingredient by about 14. This isn’t as economical for large spaces, but we have readers who have done it with success and like to use it. It does best in smaller batches since it isn’t a concentrated solution like you get when you by a store-bought version. It is definitely worth a try, and again, we have had many readers use it on large spaces with success.
Hi Alexis. I enjoy your newsletter and website, and have tried many of your various formulas.
I’ve been using this fertilizer formula for years, and it’s always worked well. I have found that applying within a day or two of a rain works best. Our area here in North Texas has a high chance of rain for the next two days, so I just applied this fertilizer to my entire Bermuda lawn today.
Asking for a friend :), is there a way to add some type of soluble iron to this formula?
I am so happy you enjoy it! I live in North Texas too, and we are looking for more rain any day now with the hurricanes! For iron, you can add a ferrous sulfate for plants. I have never added it to this solution, but I have applied it separately. You can search that on amazon and find some options. I wouldn’t add it to this recipe though since the ratios are just right. You can try applying some in between this lawn food application
Will it harm insects on the lawn? Don’t want to kill anything, especially bees and butterflies.
No, it doesn’t harm any insects
This is an excellent DIY liquid fertilizer that’s easy on the wallet! I apply this formula (and 4oz of Sea Kelp) every 2 weeks during the growing season on my Mazama Kentucky Blue Grass / Turf Type Tall Fescue lawn.
**For those saying to use Cola or molasses.. I would also recommend against it. All that sugar content into your soil is asking for trouble. Pest insects and disrupting the pH balance will have negative effects on your lawn.
For me this lawn food recipe works best when applied late afternoon as a foliar feeding, then early next morning I water the lawn for a deep soaking.
What this does is allow the leaf tissue to absorb all the goodness while the microbes do their magic all night long.. then watering the next morning so the grass roots & soil benefit as well. That’s why the baby shampoo (dish soap is okay, but too mild IMO) is key here. Helps a great deal with compacted soil.
Thanks for this recipe!
Thanks for such a helpful comment! I am so happy to hear you enjoy using it!
You mentioned that you use a preemergent if you have weed issues. Can I use that prior to using your formula ? If so how long do I wait to apply your formula after using the preemergent?
I use preemergent in the fall which has been the most help. If using it in the spring, I would wait a few days before applying this lawn food
Hi Alexis
I was wondering if I could replace the ammonia with dried chicken manure, and if so how much dried chicken manure would I use. I don’t want to use the ammonia because I have outdoor cats who lick their feet and a puppy also.
Thanks,
Diane
Hi Diane! You can use manure of any kind. I wouldn’t add it into this solution though, it wouldn’t flow well. You can eliminate the ammonia, and spray this mixture with other ingredients. As far as how much manure, I am not sure on that either. It depends a lot on climate and soil. I would just sprinkle a light layer of manure on grass, then follow up with this spray and water well after
Hi, I’m really looking forward to trying to on my lawn. One question. Would lemon scented ammonia be okay to use? Thank you!
The lemon scented is fine to use as long as it doesn’t have the addition of soap. If it does have a soap addition, I would try to find the regular kind for this recipe
Just an FYI….”America’s Master Gardener” Jerry Baker passed away in March, 2017 – the same year “America’s Master Handyman” Glenn Haege passed. Both from and based in SE Michigan, coincidentally.
Thanks for letting us know! I was never familiar with Jerry Baker until readers shared his information with us many years ago
What can I replace the ammonia with ? Can’t find pure Ammonia in Canada. Thank you
THere is really no substitute for the ammonia in terms of Nitrogen content. You can eliminate this from the recipe and use it without, then you can sprinkle coffee grounds on the lawn for added nitrogen. It won’t have the same concentration, but it is homemade way to get nitrogen on the grass.
Hi. Just wanted to clarify. Are you really saying 1,000 sq. feet. is the average coverage for this mix?
Thanks.
At these settings with a hose sprayer, yes about 1000-1500 sq ft is the size I get when I applied. This is holding the mix on a surface for a few seconds. You can stretch it by not putting as much solution on the grass as it goes through hose. It really depends on application when it comes to how much coverage you get
I have .25 acres and 1400sf home with a 3’ flower bed on 3 sides and deck and patio on two. A double batch at 4oz/gal was just fine. Could’ve used a smidge more. Question: I’m in SE MI, put this down around noon, cloudy, humid, about 80 degrees and son mowed around 6pm. How long should one wait to mow ideally? Was 6-ish hours enough time to soak on to the roots?
It is probably okay, but I always like to put the lawn food down after mowing, so it has a lot of time to work its way down. I would do that next time
Some websites state that house hold ammonia strips the protective coating off the wax blades. Is that true ?
This would probably be true if you used pure ammonia without dilution and used it often. With this recipe, 1 cup is diluted with this formula but also the water going through the hose, so there is no concern of it being too strong
I have a 25% amoniak Liquid.
Is that the correct one?
What about Club soda? Its just water with Gas?(im from Germany, just for understanding)
What about mouth water several times i read that should be helpfull, too.
The kind of ammonia we have here at the store is only about 5-10% in strength, so you would need to dilute 25% strength with some water or just use about half of what the recipe calls for in this. Club soda is typically carbonated water with baking soda and other minerals. I don’t recommend using mouth wash like some recipes mention
Hi, what is the height of your cut when mowing the lawn and also what type of grass do you have?
We have bermuda grass. We cut it to about an inch or so, maybe higher in the summer
Has anyone tried this on zyosia grass?
I’ve never used it on that type of grass. I would test a small little area first
Can you use nonalcoholic beer in the lawn treatment formula?
Yes that should be fine
Two questions: (1) Is it ok to apply this to wet grass? and (2) How soon after application can I water the grass? I’m assuming that it is fine to water afterwards as you mention this in the article. I’m unsure of question #1.
Yes you can apply to wet grass and you can water grass right away. The water helps this soak into soil even more
Hi: You mention that using Coke, etc. has sugar and attracts bugs. What about Diet soft drinks? Those have artifical sweeteners and I wonder if that would be OK or would it have the same problems (or present new ones). Thanks in advance for your response!
It is too sticky and has the caramel coloring in it, so regular and Diet drinks aren’t the best option. Regular coke has the sugar, but it is also the caramel coloring found in both regular and diet which can attract bugs also
Hi Alexis, can I use non-alcoholic beer or should it be the alcohol version. We don’t have grass down yet but will be trying this when we do. We’re in Sydney, Australia. Thank you for this!
Yes you can use non-alcoholic for this one
Someone said carbonic acid from carbonic drinks is harmful to the lawn and better to let them get a day old first. What’s your take?
This recipe uses club soda which is just carbonated water. If you let it sit a day, it would lose the carbonation. This recipe is better using fresh club soda as the carbonated water is a good source of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Some recipes use another carbonated drink like coke or sprite, but I don’t recommend those due to the sugar content
They claim the carbon and carbonic acid is harmful to the grass lol
I think they’re mistaken. Your recipie works.
For years I have used lemon ammonia and beer and lemon juice with the shampoo to keep mosquitos away from my campsite. I will plan on adding the Epson salts and club soda to fertilize the lawn along with the lemon which reduces mosquito.
I will water it down a little more and use a siphon on the sprinkler system.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Good Bad or may work
The only conflict is the lemon juice is acidic and this solution is overall basic due to the ammonia, beer, and shampoo. They will have a reaction together and can neutralize some of the bases. I would recommend trying your recipe, and applying the lemon juice in a separate step. I wouldn’t add it into the mix itself. The lemon ammonia is okay because it typically uses just the lemon oil (limonene) for scent, so it doesn’t impact the pH of the ammonia.
Looking to use this on my lawn, however I just down some bermuda grass seed a couple days ago. How long would you recommend I wait before applying? Located in Austin, TX.
It is best to wait at least a month after it sprouts before applying this!
Noted! Any advantages in spraying the mixture without ammonia (or very little) on the relatively new grass seed? Or could do more harm than good? It has been germinating now for ~ 3 days.
There could be advantages to spraying it without the ammonia, although the most important aspect is the ammonia for the nitrogen content.