Why Do So Many Pre-Seeding Fertilisers Use a 6-9-6 NPK Ratio?

If you’ve spent any time looking at pre-planting or pre-seeding fertilisers, you’ve probably noticed something strange:
almost every granular option seems to be 6-9-6.

Is that because 6-9-6 is the perfect NPK ratio for lawns and turf establishment?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: it’s about manufacturing convenience, white labelling, and the illusion of choice.

Is 6-9-6 the “Perfect” Pre-Seeding Fertiliser?

A 6-9-6 fertiliser is not a bad ratio.
It provides:

• Nitrogen (N) for early growth
• Phosphorus (P) for root development
• Potassium (K) for stress tolerance

But it’s not perfect, because there is no single perfect NPK ratio for all soils, seasons, or turf situations.

So why does nearly every company sell one?

The Illusion of Choice in Granular Fertilisers

Despite how many brands exist, there are very few true granular fertiliser manufacturers in the UK.

What happens instead is:

• One (maybe two) manufacturer produces the base fertiliser
• Multiple brands white-label it
• Each brand markets it as “unique”, “premium”, or “advanced”

That’s why:

• Granules often look identical
• Analysis numbers repeat across brands
• Packaging changes, but the product doesn’t

As consolidation increases, particularly with large global players buying up fertiliser companies, real choice in granular fertilisers is shrinking, not expanding. For example, Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL) recently purchased Greenbest.

When Granular Fertilisers Do Make Sense

Granular fertilisers still have a place, especially when:

• You’re working on dry turf or bare soil
• The lawn hasn’t yet established leaf cover
• You don’t have access to spraying equipment
• Cost is a major factor

In dry conditions, granules can move quickly down to the soil surface and perform well at pre-planting or pre-seeding.

They’re also:

• Cheaper per application
• Easier for homeowners to apply
• Less equipment-dependent

The Hidden Downsides of Granular Fertilisers

Once turf is established, granules become far more problematic.

1. Leaf scorch risk

If there’s any moisture on the leaf:

• Granules can stick to the grass blade
• Nutrients concentrate on the leaf surface
• Scorch and tissue damage can occur

This is one of the biggest risks on fine turf and sports surfaces.

2. Inferior nutrient forms

Many granular fertilisers rely on chloride (chlorine) salts because they are:

• Cheap
• Easy to formulate
• Highly soluble

But chloride-based fertilisers are:

• The lowest-grade nutrient sources
• Potentially phytotoxic in small amounts
• Less suitable for high-performance turf

This is one reason professional turf managers tend to avoid granular feeds during the growing season.

Why High-Value Sports Turf Relies on Liquid Fertilisers

Liquid fertilisers dominate sports turf for several key reasons:

Better nutrient quality

Liquids allow the use of:

• Higher-grade nutrient forms
• Non-chloride salts
• More plant-available ingredients

Even distribution

Spraying provides:

• Consistent coverage
• No clumping or striping
• Reduced scorch risk

Even a small 16-litre sprayer can deliver far more uniform results than a spreader.

Greater flexibility

With liquids, you can:

• Adjust nutrition week by week
• Respond to weather changes
• Fine-tune nitrogen inputs
• Reduce stress during heat, drought, or wear with the inclusion of premium biostimulants

Liquids Allow More Than Just NPK

Another major advantage of liquid fertilisers is what you can’t do with granules.

Liquids allow you to apply:

• Biostimulants (generally more effective in liquid form)
• Silicon (not available in plant-available granular forms)
• Trace elements and stress-mitigation products
• Multiple inputs in a single pass

This makes liquid programmes far more adaptable across the season.

Granular vs Liquid Fertiliser: A Practical Comparison

How to Buy Granular Fertiliser More Intelligently

If you do choose granules, ask yourself:

• Does this product look identical to cheaper alternatives?
• Is it genuinely unique—or just white-labelled?
• Who likely manufactures it?
• Am I paying for nutrients or branding?

If two products have the same NPK and look the same, they probably are the same.

Final Thoughts: There’s No Magic Ratio

The reason 6-9-6 appears everywhere isn’t because it’s perfect—it’s because it’s convenient to manufacture and easy to sell.

Granular fertilisers still have their place, particularly at establishment, but once turf is growing:

• Liquids offer better nutrient forms
• Greater control
• Lower scorch risk
• Superior integration with modern turf management

Understanding where your fertiliser actually comes from, and how it behaves on the plant, is far more important than the number on the bag.

If you are looking for an effective liquid fertiliser you should check out our Premium Turf Fertiliser 12‑4‑12 designed for lawns and sports turf. Delivers instant and sustained growth, deep green colour, and improved wear tolerance with triple nitrogen, stabilised phosphate, and chloride-free potassium.

Article by Dr Russell Sharp

If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to our other podcasts! Links can be found bellow:

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