Dr Forest alternatives to popular fertilisers
Dr Forest alternatives to popular fertilisers
Find the feed you use now, see the Dr Forest swap, and see why it may suit your garden better. Each card links to a full side-by-side comparison of analysis, rates and cost.
Where ours costs less, we say by how much. Where it costs more, we say that too, and what you get for the difference.
★★★★★ 5-star across all platforms · 4,300+ reviews · Hand-blended in Stockport
All-purpose and stage feeds
Slow-release granules that feed the plant and the soil, in place of a fast general feed or a weekly liquid.
Instead of Gaia Green
Feed Pair: 4-4-4 and Bloom 2-8-4
Feed Pair · £21.50 for 1.5 kg of each
- The same 4-4-4 and 2-8-4 ratios
- Every ingredient listed with its percentage
- Made in Stockport and sold direct
£1.29 to £1.58 to feed a tomato plant for a season, against £3.82 to £4.55 from Gaia Green's 2 kg bags.
Full comparisonInstead of Dr Organics
Feed Pair: 4-4-4 and Bloom 2-8-4
Feed Pair · £21.50 for 1.5 kg of each
- A true 4-4-4 growth feed, then a 2-8-4 flowering feed
- Every ingredient listed with its percentage
- Sold by weight, from 1.5 kg to 60 kg
£1.29 to £1.58 per tomato plant for a season, against £4.75 to £8.88 from Dr Organics' 2-litre packs.
Full comparisonInstead of Ecothrive Soil Food
Feed Pair: 4-4-4 and Bloom 2-8-4
Feed Pair · £21.50 for 1.5 kg of each
- A growth feed then a flowering feed, used the same way as a top-dress
- Made for garden compost, pots and beds
- Bags from 1.5 kg to 60 kg
10p to 16p per 20 g top-dress, against 20p to 30p with Ecothrive. About half the cost.
Full comparisonInstead of BioBizz Bio·Grow and Bio·Bloom
Feed Pair, or a matching liquid
Feed Pair · £21.50, or Liquid 5-2-5 · £12.99 for 500 ml
- Feed every few weeks instead of three to five times a week
- Away for a week, plants keep feeding on plain water
- A missed feed or a heavy hand matters less
£1.29 to £1.58 per tomato plant for a season, against a typical £2.76 with Bio·Grow and Bio·Bloom.
Full comparisonHow we compare
Their figures from their labels. Analysis, rates and ingredients come from the manufacturer's pack or product page. Prices come from named UK retailers, with the date we checked.
Cost in use, not price per bag. Strengths and rates differ, so we compare the cost to feed a plant, a square metre or a litre of mix.
When to stay. Every comparison has a section on when the other brand is the better buy. Sometimes it is.
Questions
Are these fair comparisons?
We try to make them fair. Each page sets the other brand's analysis, rate and price next to ours, names the source and the date we checked it, and says when the other brand is the better buy.
Why do I use more by weight than with my old feed?
The analysis is different. A 4-4-4 is half the strength of a 7-7-7, so you use more of it. Use the rate on the Dr Forest product page rather than your old amounts.
Are Dr Forest feeds certified organic?
No. They are made with organic ingredients but are not certified. Some of the brands compared here are. If you grow to a certified standard, that may decide it for you.
Are Dr Forest feeds vegan?
Some are and some are not. All Purpose 4-4-4 and Bloom 2-8-4 contain bone meal, so the Feed Pair is not vegan. Lawn Fertiliser 10-3-3.5 is. Each comparison page says whether the feed it recommends is vegan.
Where are Dr Forest feeds made?
Blended by hand in small batches at our unit in Stockport and posted across the UK. Free UK delivery from £40.
Start with the all-rounder
All Purpose 4-4-4 covers most of the garden from one bag: veg, fruit, flowers, shrubs and pots. £12.00 for 1.5 kg.
Free UK delivery from £40 · Usually dispatched in 1 to 2 working days · 30-day returns on unused items
Written by Joe Barrington, Dr Forest, Stockport. Comparisons checked 14 to 18 Oct 2026; formulations and prices change, so check the pack in front of you. Brand names belong to their owners. Dr Forest is not affiliated with any of them.