Comparing Organic Fertilizer vs Chemical Fertilizers

There is often confusion when it comes to differentiating organic and chemical fertilizer.

In this FAQ, Christina Burton, Maintenance Channel Manager for Horizon, explains the difference between organic, inorganic, synthetic, and chemical fertilizer, which can be critical when helping your customer identify what type of fertilizer program they want for their lawn.

Organic Versus Chemical Fertilizer - Video Transcript

When people ask about chemical fertilizer, there is a bit of confusion regarding the different terms and how we define what that means.

So in reality, chemical fertilizer is interchangeable with the terms “synthetic”, with “inorganic”. They include components such as urea, ammonium sulfate. Kind of your traditional fertilizers that you think of.

Versus, they might be looking for organic, or think they are. But in the true sense of the word, organic really just means that it contains Carbon.

So in reality, there are examples of inorganic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer that still contain Carbon. Methylene urea would be an example. So really, by definition, they are organic.

Most likely, when organic fertilizer is being sought out, what folks really mean is “natural”.