Seasonal weekly benchmark — Apr 8
Lawn Fertilizer
Research by Robert Hu · Published by RecoScope ·
- Usable answers
- 12/12
- Models
- 4
- Prompt types
- 3
Included: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity
Report history · Apr 8 selected · 12 snapshots
Key takeaway
The independent vs commerce-influenced split is clear this week: models without commercial integrations favor Milorganite (organic, soil-health focused), while models with ad or shopping integrations favor brands with stronger retail distribution (Scotts, The Andersons). The Andersons gained momentum as #1 pick for both Gemini and Perplexity.
Mention Frequency Trend
Brands ordered by mention count in each run. Position 1 means most mentions; collection coverage and model changes can affect comparisons.
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Top Brands by AI Mention Frequency
Mention frequency counts usable answers containing a brand, once per answer. Unranked and critical mentions count as visibility. Recommendation ranks are shown separately below.
Dropped this week
Cross-Agent Comparison
Recorded ranks from the comparative prompt (Prompt 3). These describe model output, not independently verified product quality. Historical parsing conventions may differ.
4/4 models with recorded ranks
| Agent | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Scotts | The Andersons | Jonathan Green |
| Claude | Milorganite | Scotts | Jonathan Green |
| Gemini | The Andersons | Milorganite | Jonathan Green |
| Perplexity | Milorganite | The Andersons | Scotts |
What This Means
- Independent AI models (Claude, Perplexity) both rank Milorganite #1 in head-to-head comparisons, emphasizing long-term soil health and organic safety.
- Commerce-influenced models split: ChatGPT consistently leads with Scotts (the most retail-available brand), while Gemini favors The Andersons (professional-grade).
- Claude is the only model recommending Lesco, a pro-grade brand not sold at big-box retailers.
- Simple Lawn Solutions appears only in ChatGPT and Gemini, invisible to Claude and Perplexity.
Findings and Limitations
- Down to Earth Bio-Turf appeared only in ChatGPT P2 — no other model mentions it.
- Espoma surfaces only in ChatGPT and Perplexity comparison prompts.
- Pennington and Vigoro are mentioned only by Claude as budget options.
- Brands outside the top 3 have inconsistent visibility across models, creating a significant gap between the dominant trio and everyone else.
Recurring themes in the answers
- All four models agree on a core trio: Milorganite, Scotts Turf Builder, and The Andersons.
- Every model recommends slow-release nitrogen formulas for Midwest cool-season grass.
- Soil testing is advised by both Claude and Gemini.
- Jonathan Green appears in 3 of 4 models as a mid-tier pick.
Inspect the captured answers
Saved response text is model output. Product and health claims are unverified. Tables and cards may be transcribed as text; source labels can remain. Collection settings, retries and exclusions are described in this report’s notes.
ChatGPT · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 40-year-old homeowner with a quarter-acre yard in the Midwest. What are the best lawn fertilizers to buy right now?
Top picks: 1. Scotts Turf Builder (32-0-4) best overall, 2. The Andersons PGF Complete (16-4-8) best premium, 3. Milorganite (6-4-0) best organic, 4. GreenView Fairway Formula (27-0-5) best long-lasting, 5. Simple Lawn Solutions (16-4-8) best liquid.
Claude · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 40-year-old homeowner with a quarter-acre yard in the Midwest. What are the best lawn fertilizers to buy right now?
Pro-grade: Lesco 24-0-11. Zero-mistake organic: Milorganite 6-4-0. Easy and available: Scotts Turf Builder. Crabgrass combo: Scotts Turf Builder Halts (30-0-4). Recommends soil test via Iowa State Extension.
Gemini · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 40-year-old homeowner with a quarter-acre yard in the Midwest. What are the best lawn fertilizers to buy right now?
Best all-around: The Andersons PGF Complete (16-4-8). Best organic: Milorganite (6-4-0). Best for weeds: Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action. Best liquid: Simple Lawn Solutions (16-4-8).
Perplexity · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 40-year-old homeowner with a quarter-acre yard in the Midwest. What are the best lawn fertilizers to buy right now?
Top picks: 1. The Andersons PGF Complete (16-4-8) overall top pick, 2. Scotts Turf Builder (32-0-4) fast results, 3. Milorganite (6-4-0) organic option, 4. GreenView Fairway Formula (27-0-5) long-lasting.
ChatGPT · Prompt 2Usable answer
I'm a 40-year-old homeowner with a quarter-acre yard in the Midwest. What lawn fertilizer would you recommend for a homeowner with a 5,000 sq ft lawn in the southeast US?
Best overall: Scotts Turf Builder (32-0-4). Best for deeper green: Jonathan Green Veri-Green (29-0-3 + iron). Best organic: Down to Earth Bio-Turf (8-3-5). Best summer: 15-0-15 or 10-0-20 blends.
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