Are Any Of The Lawn Fertilizers Costco Carries Worth Buying For Your Yard?

For more than 40 years, Costco has welcomed customers with an affection for bulk deals and free samples. The wholesale retailer continues to grow in popularity with 614 stores operating in the United States. There is a Costco warehouse in nearly every state in America, and its annual membership plans start at just $65, making it an accessible and affordable place to stock up on home essentials.

It's no secret there are household items that save you money at Costco, but the deals are not limited to inside the home. The brand offers a variety of lawn and garden care products that could be more bang for your buck. Reviews from satisfied shoppers indicate Costco-exclusive fertilizers, like Scotts MAX Southern Lawn Food, are both effective and inexpensive. If cost is a factor in deciding which fertilizer is best for your lawn, it's helpful to know your options. Here is how Costco's top-rated fertilizer prices compare to those of their competitors when shopping for a happy and healthy lawn.

Costco's most popular brand of fertilizer is the Scotts MAX series, which is sold exclusively in its stores. The Scotts MAX Southern Lawn Food has a near perfect 4.7-star rating and starts at $59.99 for a 39-pound bag. This works out to $1.52 per pound and covers 14,000 square feet of yard. One happy customer states, "Superb product, performs as stated, and at an unbeatable price at Costco." Another reviewer exclaims, "I have been ordering Scotts Max fertilizer from Costco for 2 years now. ... Costco's product costs less tha[n] buying from local sources and is delivered for free."

According to Scotts, its MAX line of fertilizers features more essential nutrients compared to the Scotts Turf Builder line, like kelp meal, worm castings, iron, and manganese. These ingredients come with great benefits such as improved soil structure, heartier root growth, and better resistance to harmful diseases. Available at other stores, Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food is priced similarly at $1.54 per pound at Walmart, but without the additional nutrients. 

Scotts MAX Weed & Feed ($1.64 per pound) is another popular staple at Costco. One reviewer shared, "I have used Scotts for years, but never as good as this fertilizer sold by Costco. Had some nice rain about 30 hours after spreading and 2 weeks later the grass is thick and beautiful. I noticed that this fertilizer had very small pellets that is different from other Scotts I have used. I hope Costco continues to sell it. Well worth the money."  A similar Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed fertilizer can be found at Target for $2.33 per pound.

In addition to lawn food, Costco sells products tailored to meet specific lawn care needs. Scotts MAX Crabgrass Preventer is rated higher at 4.5 stars compared to Preen Lawn Crabgrass Control, which is rated 3.5 stars on the Home Depot website. The Costco option is less expensive at $1.62 per pound compared to $1.98 per pound for Home Depot's lower-rated Preen fertilizer. Another competing brand, Pennington UltraGreen Crabgrass Preventer, is available on Amazon for $3.20 per pound. In comparison to other brands, one Costco reviewer expresses, "Always good results with [Scotts] products!! Please keep these products available on [Costco].com!"

When it comes to common household items you should be buying in bulk, it may be time to consider adding fertilizer to your Costco list. Glowing reviews and bargain prices suggest the most cost-effective route to a beautiful lawn begins in Costco's garden aisle. When shopping for your next bag of fertilizer at Costco, more could actually be less.