Can You Use Lawn Fertilizer on Vegetables and Shrubs?

Miracle-Gro Lawn Food (36-6-6) is designed for grass—not vegetables, flowering shrubs, or perennials. Using it on the wrong plants causes nutrient imbalances: too much nitrogen, too little phosphorus.

Why N-P-K Ratios Matter

• Nitrogen (first number) – drives leaf growth. Grass needs lots; tomatoes need moderate.
• Phosphorus (middle) – essential for flowers, fruit, roots. Lawn fertilizer skimps here.
• Potassium (last) – overall vigor, disease resistance.

What Happens If You Misapply

Leafy greens, herbs, shrubs – tolerate high nitrogen, grow lush foliage.

Tomatoes, peppers, roses, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower – produce huge plants with few flowers/fruit. Root crops fork and deform.

Better Alternatives

• Bone meal – phosphorus-rich, slow-release, perfect for flowers and roots.
• Balanced organic fertilizers (5-5-5, 4-3-3) – safe for everything.
• Compost tea – living nutrition for all plants.

Check the Bag

If your lawn fertilizer contains herbicide (weed control), never use it on edibles or ornamentals. The herbicide persists and kills broadleaf plants.

Match fertilizer to plant purpose. Your vegetables and flowers will reward you with better yields and blooms.