Update Location
Enter a ZIP code to get product recommendations and information tailored to your area.
Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass
Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass
$17.99
Find a Store
Need it fast?
Find a Store
*Availability and inventory are subject to change.
Overview
- Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass is specially designed to be used when planting new grass
- This starter fertilizer grows new grass 70% thicker and 35% quicker (on average vs. unfed lawns)
- Apply anytime you're planting new grass, whether it's starting a new lawn, reseeding an existing one, or installing sod, sprigs, or grass plugs
- This lawn care product is safe to use on any grass type
- One 3 lb. bag of Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass covers 1,000 sq. ft.
Specs and Details
Fertilizer Analysis
- 24-25-4
Cautions
- While there are no restrictions on reentering the lawn with this product, we recommend watering the product in and waiting until it is dried before going back on the lawn.
Disposal Methods
- If empty do not reuse contain. Place in trash or offer for recycling if available. If partly filled, call your local solid waste agency for disposal instructions. Never place unused product down any indoor or outdoor drain.
Product Label
- This is not the product label. Always read and follow the product label before use.
- Download Label
- Safety Data Sheets can be found at scottsmsds.com
Description
Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass is specially designed to be used when planting new grass. It contains a combination of nutrients to help your new lawn grow strong roots and to grow in thicker and faster than if not fed at all. Use anytime you are planting new grass, whether it is starting a new lawn, reseeding an existing one, or installing sod, sprigs, or grass plugs. Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass is safe to use on any grass type. It can be applied immediately before or after planting grass. We recommend using a Scotts® spreader to apply this product. For Scotts® broadcast/rotary spreaders, use a setting of 3 ¼. For Scotts® drop spreaders, use a setting of 6. Water daily or as needed to keep the soil surface moist until the seedlings reach at least 2 inches tall. One 3 lb. bag of Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass covers 1,000 sq. ft.
Step by Step Instructions
How to Use
Lawn products work in harmony with the environment when used correctly. Do not apply near water or storm drains or draining ditches. Do not apply if heavy rain is expected.
- Apply with a drop or rotary spreader. For best results, use a Scotts® spreader.
- SET - Set spreader to appropriate setting for best results. Spreader settings can be found on back of bag or on Scotts.com
Follow the color coded map to ensure your lawn receives the right amount of fertilizer. Apply as directed.
- APPLY - Fill spreader and apply over newly seeded area or over entire lawn for root development boost
- CLEAN UP - To keep lawn products from reaching storm sewers, sweep or blow stray particles back onto lawn. Return unused portion of fertilizer to original container. Run any remaining product out of spreader over lawn.
- WATER - This product does not require watering in. However, watering is the critical step to seeding success. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings reach 2 inches high.
When and Where to Use
Where Not to Use
- Do not apply near water or storm drains or draining ditches. Do not apply if heavy rain is expected.
When to Apply
- Use when planting seed, sod, sprigs or plugs.
How Often to Apply
- Apply to newly seeded areas or over entire lawn for root development boost
Rated 4 out of
5
by
jrbtazz from
Great use for new seeding
Used with new seeding in one part of yard. Where used with seed compare to areas I did not use the area I used starter was faster and better growth.
Date published: 2014-09-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
PeterVas from
This bag of starter food for new grass is great!
In mid May I planted Scotts grass seeds in a large area of my front lawn of which it gets covered in the winter with snow, salt and sand. I then followed up by using this bag of Turf Builder starter food for new grass and found it to be very helpful in growing new grass!! The area looks great and it blended in very well with the existing grass.
Date published: 2014-09-04
Rated 4 out of
5
by
billfpete from
Easy and Effective
I have been using this product in various places throughout my yard. I was able to see the results right away when I started to patch some bare spots. I did some spots with the Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass and some without. The areas where it was used flourished quicker.
Date published: 2014-08-18
Rated 4 out of
5
by
MrCub96 from
Worked well for patching
I used Starter Food in an area where I fixed numerous small bare spots in a well-shaded area. It helped the spots fill in quickly and turned a patchy mess into the best area of my yard! I thought the price was a little high for the size of the bag, but I will definitely use it again.
Date published: 2014-08-16
Rated 4 out of
5
by
dgordon from
great product for my new grasss
fertilized with this product before spreading new seed. The results are absolutely amazing.
Date published: 2012-09-28
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Lawrence from
Good value to use when overseeding in fall
Purchased this fertilizer to use with my recent fall aeration and overseeding project. Both this year and last, my lawn stayed nice and green throughout the fall and winter. I think it also helped with some of the new grass growth that I had in bare spots.
Date published: 2012-09-27
Rated 4 out of
5
by
NicholasDus from
Got my new grass started quicker
Started to see new grass growth about a five days earlier than my past experiences of not using starter fertilizer.
Date published: 2012-09-27
Rated 4 out of
5
by
John27302 from
Spreads evenly and effectively
This product spreads much more evenly than other products I have tried. The effect of this even spread makes the product work more efficiently. It also seems that the application of this product goes farther that other products.
Date published: 2012-09-27
Rated 3 out of
5
by
JoeB2 from
Scott’s starter fertilizer
Used on newly seeded areas. Very low germination rate. Not sure if it was fertilizer or seed but did not get the growth I expected.
Date published: 2022-05-11
Rated 3 out of
5
by
VeteranE8 from
Beware of settings
Back of bag recommends "double" amount of fertilizer. Best to read your spreader owners manual which will tell you the correct setting for Scotts Starter Fertilizer.
Date published: 2012-08-29
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Glen424 from
Texture of clay
I bought this today as tried spreading it in my Scott's manual spreader. It was so wet, the constituency of clay, that it wouldn't spread, I tried to evenly spread it by hand but it was nearly impossible. Is this how this product is supposed to be? I'm fearful of a burned lawn now.
Date published: 2020-05-06
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Puddy from
Ratio of sticks, plastic and glass in bag
I used 1/4 of my bag and I had more sticks, plastic (hard and soft) and also small chips of glass. My kids run barefoot and I do not want them to have glass in there feet.
Date published: 2019-04-28
Rated 2 out of
5
by
MississippiUser from
Not for humid environment
Of course, the product works.... wherever it tends to fall. The problem comes when the product cakes so badly that it doesn't fall onto the spreader. I have always used locally bagged commercial fertilizer and have had no problems with it. It's also even cheaper than this product that I bought on clearance at Walmart. I grew up farming row crops and this material is silly. It cakes onto the spreader wheel's baffles and the spread pattern becomes more and more narrow leaving stripes where you've been if you don't clean off the spreader wheel. Now, this probably won't happen to you if you're only putting out fertilizer on your yard if it is small to medium size. I did use it on 14 small yards and it started caking up the spreader on the 3rd or 4th yard, so it could work for a homeowner but not for someone buying and using 5 bags or more at the time.
Date published: 2017-09-20
Rated 1 out of
5
by
KMich from
Product would not spread
I bought this product to help with a newly seeded lawn and the fertilizer was all clumped together in the bag and would not work in my spreader. I have talked to others that have had good luck with this product and they told me that it should spread easily. I am worried that there might have been moisture in the brand new bag? Please help
Date published: 2023-05-10
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Sadlawngirl from
Disappointing Results
Planted tall fescue and in a week had great green lush spots. Used this hoping to help in the sparse areas and within 3 days my new grass is fried.
Date published: 2021-07-15
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Carmencita from
I don’t know what happened, but used this coz I followed scotts advice when you plant new Bermuda grass seeds. I used it few times already for 6 weeks, but nothing is happening. There’s more weeds than Bermuda too.
Date published: 2021-05-13
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Drjack from
Forget drop spreading!
This product does not work with the Scott’s drop spreader despite the statement on the packaging that it does. It immediately cakes up and clogs the distribution holes. Useless with my new Scott’s drop spreader.
Date published: 2021-01-01
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Alysha28 from
Killed all my new grass
We had seed drilled into our new yard, grass was coming up beautifully. I was recommended to use Scott’s new grass fertilizer to accelerate the process and the next day all my wonderful green grass was now brown and completely gone.
I have a Scott’s seed and fertilizer bucket where I set it to what it said on the bag. Such a waste of time, money, and drilled seed. I now have to pay the company to come back out to clean up this mess and re drill seed in.
I was so diligent in the process and once I laid down this fertilizer all my hard work was gone!
Extremely disappointing, I will never recommend this product to anyone. Maybe I’ll have grass next month.
Date published: 2020-07-03
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Heidi84 from
Environmental impact
We have a dying mother robin on our deck which has a nest nearby after it ingested pellets after application of this product. It really makes you think about the products you put out there in the environment. I'm regretting using this product. What is the price we pay for a green lawn?
Date published: 2017-07-24
Rated 1 out of
5
by
John4702 from
Bad directions
Website info and info on the bag are completely useless. No information on bag to know when to apply etc.
Date published: 2016-10-29
Rated 1 out of
5
by
pcb62 from
Grass Killer
Live in the northeast, Binghamton, NY suburbs. Very dry summer and some small thin spots appeared in the yard. Bought a large bag of Scotts Turf builder grass seed and a bag of the Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass. Spent half a day on hands and knees digging up dead grass, planting seed, covering lightly with soil and placing the Scotts starter food on that and around the edges of bare spots. Threw some more seed on other grass as well as the starter food. This was 2 days before a week of good rains hit our area. Nice rains with lots of sun mixed the same days. After 3-4 days, noticed my grass was dying everywhere I spread the starter food. My lawn looks like a joke now. Nothing grew, Grass was killed off-burnt where I put the starter food. The bag says its good for any type of grass. Bullcrap!
Date published: 2016-08-19
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Prettyupset from
Posted several days ago still not here
Product is horrible this year. I've always used Scott's and never had these problems. Guess I will post on Google.
Date published: 2016-06-11
Rated 1 out of
5
by
JLN401 from
Extremely disappointed
I used the starter fertilizer and landscapers mix, some of the seed came up (not even 50%). The new grass turned yellow at root and died after approx 2 wks. I have a lot of time and money in my lawn. I have always used Scott's and never had a problem until this year. Now we are going into 90 degree weather and it's not the ideal time to plant new seed but I have no choice.
Date published: 2016-06-09
Rated 1 out of
5
by
exgolfer1 from
product burnt my grass up
planted new seed looking to use when new sprouts were seen .. applied scotts starter fertilizer and my whole new seedlings were turned brown in couple days .. burned up after research most landscape places said the starters first number way to high for my little seedlings.. replanted again used a 1-2-1 starter and bam nice yard would not reccommend
Date published: 2015-10-27
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Bunkie44 from
MANY PROBLEMS***WILL NEVER USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN!!!!!
When using this product it clogged our spreader many times and we had to unload the spreader, clear it, refill it, and start over. When it would come out of the spreader it was a dust and we are not sure how evenly it was spread on our lawn or where it was blowing to. It also covered both the tractor and the spreader in the dust which lead to a considerable amount of additional clean up time and the waste of the fertilizer. Too many problems with this product and definitely not worth the effort. We will never purchase or use this starter again, A huge waste of almost $100.00.
Date published: 2015-04-23
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Lollip1515 from
Not impressed
We purchased this product because our local "big box" retailer recommended it and said it was one of Scotts best products. We followed the directions exactly as the bag said and well I am looking at my lawn this week (2 weeks later) and I see a ton of crabgrass, clover, and other weeds and only a little grass. I am very disappointed we paid so much for the product and we have a bunch of weeds. I would not recommended it at all, especially for the price we paid per bag.
Date published: 2013-04-13
Rated 1 out of
5
by
strangewine from
no grow
My neighbor has a beautiful yard. He is a firm believer in Scotts and Ortho Products, and gives them much of the credit for it. I had him help me with my lawn and my turnout was completely different. I started with Turfbuilder with weed control for my back yard. Followed all directions with his help, and no new grass. And now I have more weeds. I tried again with some freshly tilled soil in the front. This time we used the Starter mix. Again, no grass. So we stepped up to the EZ Seed, which may grow on concrete, but not on my soil. Finally I put down some cheap off brand as my wife was complaining about the money I was spending. It took off with no problem. I can't really say Scotts is a bad product, because it has given him the nicest lawn on the block, if not the whole street. But I had no luck at all. I'm hoping to find out what went so wrong.
Date published: 2012-06-22