For a suburban DIY homeowner, AI still routes to Scotts and Milorganite first - both at full twelve-response saturation this run - with The Andersons the premium step-up and Pennington the budget alternative. The trackable story is Lesco crossing from one engine to two: Perplexity now names it the top pick in both its discovery and ranking prompts, exactly the spread pattern the prior run's single-engine beachhead predicted. Sunday's arrival in three models gives the category its first cross-model DTC subscription entrant.
Brands ordered by mention count in each run. Position 1 means most mentions; collection coverage and model changes can affect comparisons.
Scroll sideways to see all dates and labels.
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.
Most Mentioned = most answers mentioning a brandTied #1 = tied for most mentionsTop 3 across models = a recorded top-three rank in multiple comparisonsRanked #1 in [Model] = first in that comparative answerUnranked mentions = visibility without an inferred rank
1Milorganite—12/12
1Scotts—12/12
3Pennington▲ 45/12
3The Andersons▼ 15/12
5Jonathan Green▼ 14/12
Dropped this week
Espomawas #5
GreenViewwas #10
Yard Masterywas #12
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
Pennington has a mention count of 5 but is outside the displayed comparison. Mention frequency and response rank measure different things.
Agent
#1
#2
#3
ChatGPT
Scotts
Milorganite
The Andersons
Claude
Scotts
Milorganite
Jonathan Green
Gemini
Lesco
Milorganite
Scotts
Perplexity
Lesco
Scotts
Milorganite
Pennington·5 mentions, outside the displayed comparison
What This Means
Scotts holds the aggregate #1 for three of four models (ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini), but Perplexity's aggregate top pick is Lesco - the first time in this category a challenger brand has taken an engine's overall #1 rather than a single prompt.
Gemini has Lesco at #2 on aggregate, so the pro-grade brand now holds top-two positions on half the engines without any big-box availability.
ChatGPT is commerce-formatted and Scotts-led across all three prompts, uniquely elevating Sunday as a subscription category.
Claude is the most process-oriented (grass-type identification first, soil-test emphasis) and uniquely surfaces Expert Gardener as the Walmart budget floor.
Gemini builds explicit pro/mass-market/organic tiers, crowns Lesco on its DIY leaderboard for the third straight comparison prompt, and is the only model to argue against Milorganite on quarter-acre cost math.
Perplexity has flipped hardest to the professional-grade narrative, naming Lesco its top pick in two of three prompts.
Pennington is the classic high-volume, never-top-picked profile this run: five mentions, outside every model's top 3.
Findings and Limitations
The challenger tier remains fragmented and this run it thinned: Yard Mastery, GreenView, and Espoma dropped out entirely (Espoma survives only as a tier name in Gemini prose, not a ranked pick), and the organic tier beyond Milorganite is effectively empty.
Expert Gardener is Claude-only; Simple Lawn Solutions holds Gemini and Perplexity liquid slots.
Major retail brands remain absent: BioAdvanced, Vigoro, Sta-Green, Ironite, Spectracide, LawnStar, Dr.
Earth, Sunniland.
No sub-15-dollar budget winner has cross-model agreement.
The two structural movers are Lesco (pro-grade, now two engines) and Sunday (DTC subscription, now three engines) - both entering from opposite ends of the market while the middle stays locked.
Recurring themes in the answers
The brands AI favors share nitrogen-forward slow-release formulations, added iron as the deep-green differentiator, big-box availability (the explicit reason Scotts wins convenience), and burn-safety framing (Milorganite universally wins the impossible-to-burn, kid-and-pet-safe slot).
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
Best lawn fertilizer, 42yo suburban homeowner, quarter-acre DIY weekend lawn
ChatGPT P1: Top pick Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food 32-0-4 (~25-35 dollars per 5000 sqft, everywhere, wont burn, 2-month feed). Also: Milorganite 6-4-0 (best organic, slow-release non-burning, r/lawncare favorite, ~15-18 per 2500 sqft bag), Jonathan Green Green-Up 29-0-3 (premium, quick+slow N, Northeast/Midwest favorite, 30-40), Sunday Lawn Care (best subscription, customized liquid pouches, 130-200/yr). Four feedings/yr schedule, soil test first (~10-20 county extension), fall feeding most important, broadcast spreader.
Claude · Prompt 1Usable answer
Best lawn fertilizer, 42yo suburban homeowner, quarter-acre DIY weekend lawn
Claude P1: Identify grass type first (cool vs warm season). Recs: Scotts Turf Builder 32-0-4 (most widely available and well-regarded, 12000 sqft bag ~25-35 covers quarter-acre, 2-month feed). Milorganite 6-4-0 (organic biosolids, wont burn even over-applied, ~12-16 per 2500 sqft, 4 bags per application, enthusiasts swear by it). Jonathan Green Green-Up 29-0-3 (premium, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, ~30-45 per 15000 sqft). Scotts Weed and Feed for broadleaf weeds. Fall feeding most important for cool-season. Soil test first (~10-20). Rec: Scotts main + Milorganite supplement, or fully organic Milorganite 4-5x/yr.
Gemini · Prompt 1Usable answer
Best lawn fertilizer, 42yo suburban homeowner, quarter-acre DIY weekend lawn
Gemini P1: NPK explainer first. 1 Best overall fast greening Scotts Green Max 27-0-2 (heavy N + 5 percent iron, dark color without mowing every 3 days). 2 Best long-term soil health Milorganite 0636 6-4-0 (slow-release organic, foolproof, safe kids/pets, 6-8 week feed, impossible to burn). 3 Best balanced premium The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8 (exact 4-1-2 gold-standard ratio, fine particles, humic acid). 4 Best liquid Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 (hose-end, absorbed through blades and roots, quick visual pop). Soil test kit ~15-20 pro-tip.
Perplexity · Prompt 1Usable answer
Frequently Asked Questions
Which lawn fertilizer brands appear most often?▾
Milorganite and Scotts appeared in 12 of 12 answers each. This snapshot includes 12 usable answers from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity. Mentions include comparisons and criticism.
Which brands rank first in the lawn fertilizer comparison answers?▾
Why do models give different lawn fertilizer answers?▾
Scotts holds the aggregate #1 for three of four models (ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini), but Perplexity's aggregate top pick is Lesco - the first time in this category a challenger brand has taken an engine's overall #1 rather than a single prompt. Gemini has Lesco at #2 on aggregate, so the pro-grade brand now holds top-two positions on half the engines without any big-box availability. ChatGPT is commerce-formatted and Scotts-led across all three prompts, uniquely elevating Sunday as a subscription category. Claude is the most process-oriented (grass-type identification first, soil-test emphasis) and uniquely surfaces Expert Gardener as the Walmart budget floor. Gemini builds explicit pro/mass-market/organic tiers, crowns Lesco on its DIY leaderboard for the third straight comparison prompt, and is the only model to argue against Milorganite on quarter-acre cost math. Perplexity has flipped hardest to the professional-grade narrative, naming Lesco its top pick in two of three prompts. Pennington is the classic high-volume, never-top-picked profile this run: five mentions, outside every model's top 3.
Every model recommends a soil test first (~10-20 dollars via county extension), a broadcast spreader, watering-in after application, and fall as the most important feeding window.
Coverage math for the quarter-acre (bags per application) is now a recurring decision factor in every model's budget reasoning, and it is the explicit argument Gemini uses against Milorganite on cost.
Best lawn fertilizer, 42yo suburban homeowner, quarter-acre DIY weekend lawn
Perplexity P1: Best overall Lesco 24-0-11 (professional-grade, ~50 percent slow-release, spring/fall maintenance, low burn risk, covers quarter-acre efficiently). Best easy-to-buy Scotts Turf Builder (widely available, quick+slow N, convenience pick). Best low-risk organic Milorganite 6-4-0 (slow-release, iron, essentially impossible to burn). Established-lawn guidance: higher N, low P, some K; fall is the most important window. Single answer: Lesco 24-0-11 spring and fall at label rate; Milorganite if you want no-burn caution; Scotts if big-box.
ChatGPT · Prompt 2Usable answer
Lawn fertilizer under 40 everyday use, same profile
ChatGPT P2: 1 Scotts Turf Builder 32-0-4 (~25-33, best all-around value, 5000 sqft, watch Home Depot sales for 20-22). 2 Milorganite Classic 6-4-0 (~15-18/bag, best budget organic, iron, safe kids/pets/waterways; 4 bags for full quarter-acre = 60-72). 3 Pennington UltraGreen 30-0-4 (~22-28, underrated, 5 percent iron, 3-month feed, Lowes). 4 The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8 (~35-40, best premium under 40, humic acid + iron, enthusiast favorite, Amazon/DoMyOwn). Rec: Scotts for spring/fall + Milorganite summer; strict under-40 pick Pennington UltraGreen.
Claude · Prompt 2Usable answer
Lawn fertilizer under 40 everyday use, same profile
Claude P2: Scotts Turf Builder (12000 sqft ~25-35, slow-release, one bag covers quarter-acre). Milorganite 0636 (~12-15 per 2500 sqft bag, 4 bags = 48-60 total, zone-split to stay under 40, gentle, soil health). Pennington UltraGreen 30-0-4 (~20-25 per 5000 sqft, two bags under 40, quick+slow N). Budget pick Expert Gardener Lawn Food (Walmart, ~12-15 per 5000 sqft, two bags well under budget). Broadcast spreader, fall+spring for cool-season, water in, follow bag rates, soil test (~free-20).
Gemini · Prompt 2Usable answer
Lawn fertilizer under 40 everyday use, same profile
Gemini P2: Coverage is the budget challenge (quarter-acre ~10890 sqft). 1 Value king Scotts Turf Builder large bag (~35-38, 12000-15000 sqft, one purchase covers yard, 2-month slow-release). 2 Micro-nutrient boost Scotts Green Max (~33-36, iron, deep blue-green in 3 days). 3 Quick liquid fix Sunday Green Machine / Lawn Kickstart (~18/bottle x2 = ~36, hose-end, seaweed + N). Explicit Milorganite warning: fantastic but 2500 sqft/bag means 4 bags = 80+, save it for a splurge. Know your real turf area (~8500-9500 after house/driveway), follow spreader settings, water in.
Perplexity · Prompt 2Usable answer
Lawn fertilizer under 40 everyday use, same profile
Perplexity P2: Best under-40 picks: Milorganite 6-4-0 (~25, slow-release, low burn, best overall value). Scotts Natural Lawn Food (easiest routine granular, under 40). Simple Lawn Solutions 16-4-8 (~24, liquid hose-end, quick green-up). Pennington Ultragreen 30-0-4 (~40, fast greening, heat/drought support, right at ceiling). Granular better for quarter-acre (even spread, longer lasting). One buy: Milorganite; mainstream alt Scotts Natural; liquid Simple Lawn Solutions.
ChatGPT · Prompt 3Usable answer
Compare top lawn fertilizer brands and rank them, same profile
ChatGPT P3 ranking: 1 Scotts Turf Builder (industry standard, benchmark, huge ecosystem, Halts/WinterGuard variants; synthetic, premium pricing). 2 Milorganite (organic king, cult following, feeds soil not just grass, iron, no burn; low NPK needs more product, supply shortages). 3 The Andersons PGF Complete/Innova (enthusiast choice, pro-grade, best balanced NPK, humic acid; online-only, pricier). 4 Jonathan Green (premium regional, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, quick+slow N). 5 Pennington UltraGreen (solid budget contender, 5 percent iron, 3-month feed, Lowes). Rec: Scotts + Milorganite combo; level up to Andersons PGF Complete.
Claude · Prompt 3Usable answer
Compare top lawn fertilizer brands and rank them, same profile
Claude P3 ranking: 1 Scotts Turf Builder (best overall, most available, WaterSmart, 4-step annual program; synthetic, can burn if over-applied). 2 Milorganite (best organic, 6-4-0, impossible to burn, feeds soil biology, safe kids/pets, iron; low concentration, no potassium, mild odor, stock shortages). 3 Jonathan Green (best premium, family-owned, MAG-I-CAL and Love Your Soil system, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic; pricier, garden centers). 4 Pennington UltraGreen (best value, ~18-28, iron, Lowes; less impressive than Scotts/JG). 5 Sunday Lawn Care (best subscription, ~130-200/yr quarter-acre, customized liquid, hose-end; most expensive yearly, newer company). Rec: Scotts for simplicity or Milorganite natural.
Gemini · Prompt 3Usable answer
Compare top lawn fertilizer brands and rank them, same profile
Gemini P3: Three tiers - Pro (Lesco, The Andersons: commercial-grade, poly-coated urea, 8-12 week feed, SiteOne availability), Mass-market (Scotts, Pennington: available everywhere, foolproof, higher salt index burn risk), Organic (Milorganite, Espoma, Jonathan Green Organic: zero burn, feeds microbes, slow, more bags). DIY leaderboard: 1 Lesco 24-0-11 (lawn nut standard, one 50lb bag covers quarter-acre, smooth 2-month feed). 2 Milorganite (foolproof choice, impossible to mess up; 4 bags needed). 3 Scotts Turf Builder/Green Max (instant gratification, color pop in days). 4 The Andersons PGF Complete (premium polish, elite tier, luxury price). Calculate real turf area before buying.
Perplexity · Prompt 3Usable answer
Compare top lawn fertilizer brands and rank them, same profile
Perplexity P3 ranking: 1 Lesco 24-0-11 (best overall, professional-grade, ~50 percent slow-release, summer-to-fall performance, stress tolerance). 2 Scotts Turf Builder / Green Max (best convenience, widely available, quick greening, Bob Vila top pick for Green Max). 3 Milorganite 6-4-0 (best organic/safest, very low burn, iron, set-and-forget). 4 The Andersons and similar pro-grade blends (best premium alternative if no Lesco locally). 5 Starter fertilizer 18-24-12 (only for new seed/sod). Lesco wins on slow-release strength; Scotts on availability; Milorganite on safety. Fall winterizer note: straight urea for cool-season.
Does no mention mean a brand is invisible to AI?▾
No. Absence means the brand was not recorded in this limited set of prompts and usable answers. It does not establish absence from other AI answers.
How often is Milorganite mentioned?▾
Milorganite appeared in 12 usable answers in this snapshot. A mention is not necessarily a recommendation.
Which brands appear most in the budget answers?▾
Milorganite, Scotts appeared in 4 of 4 usable budget answers each. This measures mentions, not verified price or budget compliance.
Does this benchmark prove AI recommendations are biased?▾
No. Differences in answers do not establish bias or prove that advertising or commercial integrations caused a recommendation. Model, tier and collection changes can also affect comparisons.
How was this lawn fertilizer snapshot collected?▾
3 prompt types were recorded across the participating services. 12 of 12 captured response records contain usable answers, from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity. Brand mentions and recorded ranks are measured separately. Unavailable and explicitly excluded answers do not contribute to brand analysis.
How we measure this
This snapshot uses 3 standardized prompt types. Usable answers were captured from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity. Collection failures are excluded; answers that name no brands remain in the usable-answer count.
Each brand is counted once per answer. Unranked, comparative and critical mentions contribute to visibility. Recorded response ranks are reported separately from mention frequency; they do not establish product quality.
Seasonal categories are benchmarked weekly during active periods. Results reflect the captured answers at the time of testing. Changes in coverage, model tiers and parsing can limit comparisons over time. Read the full methodology
How this report was produced
Evaluation period
Jul 7
Cadence
Weekly
Prompts evaluated
3
Review status
No human review recorded
Models with usable answers
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity
Full details of how prompts are run, parsed, normalized, and scored are in the methodology, and the platform page explains how the system is built and operated.