If, despite regular care, you are constantly bothered by brown spots in the lawn, rampant weeds and dense moss growth, then this could be due to a depleted soil. A special lawn activator or soil activator can help here. In our guide you can find out why the product gives soil and lawn a boost and what you need to look out for when buying and using it.
Problems with broken lawn? Lawn activator can help!
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Oscorna floor activator 25kg
EUR 36.90 To the product| quantity / packaging | 25 kilograms |
|---|---|
| Enough for | up to 250 square meters |
| shape | granules |
| ingredients | purely natural ingredients, organic and mineral |
| Nutrients included | Main and secondary nutrients, trace elements |
| period of application | all year round |
| Price/m² | approx. EUR {PRICE/250} |
The floor activator from Oscorna has been the undisputed winner of the comparison for years. The product can be used both when laying out a new lawn and to improve the soil on existing lawns. In addition, the Oscorna soil activator is also suitable for other garden areas, such as for the vegetable bed or the ornamental borders. With the soil activator you counteract the breakdown of the humus layer, remedy a lack of various main and secondary nutrients, raise the pH value that is too low or loosen compacted soil - all causes that promote the growth of weeds and moss in the lawn.
our recommendation
Plantura organic soil activator with 3 months long-term effect, 10.5 kg, low-dust granules, harmless to pets, animal-friendly, long-term fertilizer
39.99 EUR To the product| quantity / packaging | 10.5 kilograms |
|---|---|
| Enough for | up to 140 square meters |
| shape | granules |
| ingredients | Organic-mineral, mostly of plant origin, animal-free |
| Nutrients included | NPK fertilizer with sulfur and magnesium |
| period of application | February to November |
| Price/m² | approx. EUR {PRICE/140} |
The Plantura soil activator in organic quality consists of purely vegetable raw materials, does not contain any animal substances and is therefore suitable for users who value animal-free products. In other respects, too, it is an animal-friendly product that is non-toxic and therefore harmless for everyone living in the house and garden. The NPK ratio is 4+1+2.8 plus a two percent share of high quality magnesium. The additionally contained mycorrhizal fungi should also improve soil fertility. The soil activator from Plantura is suitable for lawns as well as useful and ornamental plants as well as perennials and shrubs.
our recommendation
Compo Bio soil activator for lawns, ideal for laying turf and laying new lawns, 10 kg
19.99 EUR To the product| quantity / packaging | 10 kilograms |
|---|---|
| Enough for | 133 square meters |
| shape | granules |
| ingredients | purely natural ingredients |
| Nutrients included | k. A |
| period of application | March to October |
| Price/m² | approx. EUR {PRICE/133} |
This soil activator from Compo Bio is specially designed for lawns - especially for new plants and for rolled turf. This is also based on only natural ingredients, so it is not dangerous to humans or pets (or other animal garden dwellers). Due to its composition, the product is also suitable for ecological horticulture - that pleases everyone who cares about the natural management of the garden. The optimized nutrient mix helps to refresh depleted soils, the organic components improve the soil structure and stimulate soil-dwelling organisms to produce new humus.
Purchase Criteria
ingredients
Every soil activator is also an NPK fertilizer because it contains all the important main nutrients, as well as mostly minerals and trace elements. Many of these products mainly contain phosphate, potassium and lime, i.e. nutrients and soil additives that are particularly important for plant nutrition. Limescale in particular is a problem with many lawns, since moss growth primarily takes place on soil that is too acidic. Ergo, the lawn activator should not only stimulate soil life, but also stabilize the pH value.
composition
Soil activators are usually available in granular form, which is why they are particularly easy to dose, easy to apply (e.g. with a spreader) and can also be used on large lawns. There are also liquid, highly concentrated products that you dilute with the irrigation water and then distribute with the watering can. However, this method only makes sense on small areas or on useful or ornamental beds. Who would like to water several hundred square meters of lawn with a watering can?
shape
Although the lawn activator contains a nutrient cocktail, it is intended to feed the micro-organisms in the soil rather than the plants. However, this is only possible with purely natural ingredients of plant, animal and / or mineral origin. For this reason, a soil activator should be composed of purely natural substances, since the use of chemicals destroys soil life rather than promotes it. Beneficial ingredients are, for example, compost, humus (e.g. earthworm humus), primary rock flour, garden lime (9.70€) or mycorrhiza fungi.
period of application
Depending on the composition and purpose, the lawn activator is more suitable for use in spring or autumn. For a new planting, new sowing or new planting, you should apply the product in the spring: Any necessary liming should have been carried out in the autumn of the previous year. In the case of existing areas, however, it is recommended to use it in autumn so that the soil activator can take effect throughout the autumn and winter months and the lawn can grow again in spring.
crowd
The commercial packaging varies depending on the manufacturer and brand. You can get the lawn activator in small quantities of five or ten kilograms, but also in larger bags weighing 25 or even 50 kilograms. Granules in particular can be stored for years as long as they are kept cool and dry. Liquid soil activator is available in bottles of 250, 500 or 1000 milliliters, which are always concentrates to be diluted.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a soil activator?
If, instead of grass, weeds and moss are growing on the lawn, then the cause may be weak, exhausted soil. Like the plants themselves, the microbial life in the soil must also be carefully nurtured and cared for, which is best done with a special lawn activator. This is a special organic fertilizer.
How does the soil activator work?
Those who use chemical fertilizers supply their plants with nutrients, but neglect the microorganisms in the soil. These literally starve, especially since lawns are mowed regularly and the organic matter is therefore withdrawn from the cycle. With the lawn activator you feed the soil-dwelling microorganisms, which in turn gradually increase the formation of humus and thus the fertility, water storage capacity and looseness of the soil.
Which manufacturers offer soil activators?
Renowned brand manufacturers such as Oscorna, Compo, Neudorff and Beckmann offer high-quality products. In addition, soil activators are also available from other manufacturers (e.g. Cuxin) and as private labels from discounters and garden centers such as Aldi or Lidl. Especially with the cheap no-name products, make sure that the ingredients are of completely natural origin.
How do you use the soil activator?
How you use the lawn activator depends on the one hand on its shape and on the other hand on the intended use. When sowing or planting a new seed, lift both the granulate and the finished fertilizer solution with the excavated soil or place it in the planting hole. For existing lawns, distribute the granulate evenly over the area and then water it vigorously.
How often should you apply the soil activator?
As a rule, the soil activator should be applied once a year - either in spring or in autumn. After all, the remedy is not intended for plant nutrition, which is why you have to fertilize additionally. Incidentally, when laying out a new lawn, you can spread the seed and the granules at the same time - in contrast to fertilizing and liming, no special time intervals have to be observed here.
Can you also make a soil activator yourself?
In principle, all organic fertilizers such as compost, well-rotted stable manure from poultry, horses or cattle as well as plant manure that you have prepared yourself (e.g. nettle, comfrey, horsetail, wormwood, tansy) act like a natural soil activator. For example, you can fertilize tired lawns with compost. Diluted plant manure, on the other hand, is rather impractical to spread on larger lawns, but is well suited for small areas or garden beds.
equipment
spreader
our recommendation
GARDENA spreader L: universal spreader for spreading fertiliser, seeds and road salt, 45 cm spreading width, for approx. 400 m² lawn area, 12.5 l capacity, with locking slide (432-20)
39.99 EUR To the productWith a spreader, you can distribute granulated lawn activator evenly over the entire lawn and thus prevent more fertilizer from arriving in some places than others - or even forgetting certain corners. In addition to soil activators, the spreader can also be used for other granulated spreading material - such as seed, sand or lime.