Spring is here, and it’s time to start thinking about weed and feed.
A lush green, healthy lawn doesn’t happen magically, but one thing that’s absolutely necessary is fertilizer.
Weed & feed fertilizer, as it’s called, brings not only lawn fertilizer but weed killer as well, essentially knocking out two birds with one stone. Though there are lots of critics of weed and feed, even professionals like Trugreen use weed & feed products as part of a fert and weed control regimen. I use weed and feed on my lawn, and I have hands-down the greenest lawn on the block.
There’s a ton of information (and mis-information) out there as it pertains to fertilizer and weed control products, but no need to fret. I’ve spent the past several decades learning about lawn care, and here are my five recommendations for weed and feed to take care of your lawn weeds and give you the lush green lawn that makes your entire neighborhood jealous.
Quick Glance: Our Top Picks
The 5 Best Weed and Feed Fertilizers (reviews)
1) GreenView Fairway Formula Fertilizer Plus Crabgrass Preventer
The GreenView Fairway Formula Fertilizer Plus Crabgrass Preventer is a professional grade product. Once you apply it to your lawn, it works for about 12 weeks. It’s a slow-release formula, you do not have to apply it very often. In some climates, you may only need to apply it during the spring and early fall.
This product works for over 200 types of weeds, including seedling crabgrass, chickweed and dandelions. It is best for grass that already has strong roots, and not for a starter lawn due to its combination of nutrients.
You can choose between an 18 and a 30-pound bag. The 18-pound bag provides enough coverage for up to 5,000 square feet.
- Granules
- 65 percent slow-release nitrogen formula
Pros
- Your grass grass will be greener after four weeks
- You do not have to apply it often
- It eliminates dandelions successfully
Cons
- It can injure carpet grass, Saint Augustine grass, and dichondra
2) Preen One Lawncare Weed and Feed
Preen One Lawncare Weed and Feed is for lawns that have weeds that are already growing. It contains post-emergent, so you can apply it to your lawn up to 30 days after you notice the growth of crabgrass. This product also kills dandelions, white clover, and approximately 250 other types of broadleaf weeds. It kills the weeds to the root, leaving your entire lawn weed-free for quite some time.
Once you apply it, this weed and feed promotes grass growth for up to eight weeks. Do not use this for colonial bentgrass, carpet grass, Saint Augustine grass, or dichondra, or if you have recently planted grass seed. If you have Fescue, Zoysia, bluegrass or ryegrass, this is ideal.
The 36-pound bag covers up to 10,000 square feet of lawn. It also comes in nine and 18-pound bags.
- Granules
- No-phosphorus, slow-release formula
Pros
- The fertilizer makes the lawn greener
- It is effective for dandelions
- After a few weeks, there was a dramatic difference in how many weeds were present
- The grass appears thicker and healthier
Cons
- It may take several applications to get noticeable results
- It is not ideal for very high temperatures
3) GreenView Weed and Feed
GreenView Weed and Feed kills more than 250 different types of weeds. It’s a time-release fertilizer that provides your lawn with the right mixture of nutrients to promote growth while keeping weeds at bay. This product comes in different sizes to cover 5,000 to 15,000 square feet of lawn.
The formula will not burn the grass. It works for up to eight weeks before you need to reapply the product. This weed and feed helps the lawn retain water, and it restores important soil nutrients for protection against drought and heat. Apply right after mowing.
- Granules
- No phosphate, time-released formula
Pros
- This product kills dandelions quickly
- It gave the grass a deep green color
- The product helps to stop the spread of invasive weeds
- The grass is thicker and growing faster
Cons
- It may take time to kill the weeds
- Clovers may be resistant to this formula
4) Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food and Weed Preventer
Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food and Weed Preventer contains pre-emergent and lawn food, and it works for up to six weeks to prevent weeds and promote grass growth. It is effective for a variety of weeds, including dandelions and crabgrass. Scott’s turf builder prevents weeds, but as with most pre-emergent herbicides, you need to apply in early spring for it to be effective at preventing weeds from sprouting.
You can use this product on a variety of grass types. It is also ideal for grass plugs and sod. This weed and feed can really help grass seedlings thrive. One bag of this product can cover 5,000 square feet of lawn.
- Granules
- Quick-release formula
Pros
- You can use to start a new lawn or reseed a current one
- It starts to work fast
- The grass grows faster and thicker
Cons
- You cannot buy it in Florida
5) Bioadvanced 3-in-1 Lawn Fertilizer and Herbicide
BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Lawn Fertilizer and Herbicide is effective at controlling several weed types, including dandelions, dollar weeds, and clovers. For up to six months, it can prevent the growth of crabgrass and grassy weeds.
While preventing weed growth, this product also greens, strengthens, and feeds the grass on your lawn. It is ideal for a number of lawn types, especially southern turfs, such as Saint Augustine grass, zoysia grass, Bermuda grass, and centipede grass.
This formula is a 50 percent slow-release type. Due to the type, you do not have to apply it often to get results. It comes in the form of granules, so it is easy to load up into a broadcast spreader and put out in under an hour.
The bag is 12.5 pounds. One bag can take care of up to 5,000 square feet of lawn.
- Granules
- Slow-release formula
Pros
- There was a difference after one application
- It keeps the weeds away with regular use
- This product took care of weeds that other products could not kill
- It promotes healthier grass
Cons
- It may take time to dissolve
- This product may not be safe for zoysia grass
Weed N’ Feed Buying Guide: Which fertilizer is best for you?
Want to learn about the basics of fertilizer and weed and feed? It’s a pretty complex topic, which is why each state has a turfgrass extension that studies plant chemicals. That being said, here are some of the basic things you need to know when buying fertilizer.
Reading Fertilizer Numbers
When reading a fertilizer label, you’ll find numbers and nutrients. The nutrients will include nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P).
The numbers represent the percentage by weight of these nutrients in the fertilizer. For example, if the bag says “10-10-10” this means that the fertilizer contains 10 percent phosphorus, 10 percent nitrogen, and 10 percent potassium.
These nutrients have the following benefits:
- Phosphorus: This nutrient is responsible for helping the grass to develop a healthy root system.
- Nitrogen: This nutrient promotes the lush green color and rapid growth.
- Potassium: This nutrient improves overall grass health. It helps with drought protection, disease resistance, and cold tolerance.
Secondary Fertilizer Nutrients
In addition to the three primary nutrients, fertilizer also contains secondary nutrients, including carbon, calcium, sulfur, oxygen, hydrogen, and magnesium. These are all important for the growth and overall health of your grass. You can test your soil to determine which ones you need.
There are also some micronutrients that your grass relies on for health. You only need small amounts of these nutrients. These nutrients include:
- Boron
- Cobalt
- Iron
- Molybdenum
- Zinc
- Chlorine
- Copper
- Manganese
- Nickel
You can also test your soil for the micronutrient content. This ensures that the fertilizer that you choose has the best nutrient diversity for your lawn.
Fertilizer Types
There are different types of fertilizers to know about. Most lawn fertilizers are in a granular form. There are two granular fertilizer formulations:
- Water-insoluble nitrogen or slow-release: The sulfur-coated type provides fertilization for about eight weeks. The polymer-coated type provides fertilization for about 12 weeks.
- Water-soluble nitrogen or quick-release: This type gives your grass nitrogen immediately. Depending on rainfall and temperature, they provide fertilization for about three to four weeks.
Lawn Fertilizers
Your lawn has specific needs regarding the nutrients in the fertilizer. Some of these requirements depend on the type of turfgrass you have and the season. You should know the specifics of your lawn and then look at the fertilizer label to ensure that it is compatible.
The weed and feed type works to promote grass growth while killing certain types of weeds, such as crabgrass and dandelions. Make sure that you apply these at the right intervals to effectively promote grass growth while inhibiting weed growth. Weed and feeds that you buy at the store are all granular, so no need to buy a sprayer.
Best Weed and Feed for Southern Lawns
If you’re looking for a weed and feed for a Southern Lawn, it really depends on your grass type. Southern lawns tend to have warm-season grasses, which include Bermuda, Bahia, Centipede and St Augustine varieties. The safest option for Southern Lawns is Scotts Triple Action for Southern Lawns.
According to Scotts’ website, this 3-in-1 Turfbuilder is great for “Bermudagrass, Bahiagrass, Centipedegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue, and Zoyiagrass”, which covers nearly every time of common warm season grass. Buffalograss is the only exception, but is very rare.
Click here to get Scotts Triple Action for Southern Lawns on Amazon.
Best Weed and Feed for Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass is a common type of grass in the south and in Texas, and not all weed and feeds will work on it. To avoid damaging your lawn and for best health, we recommend BioAdvanced 3 in 1 Weed and Feed for Bermudagrass.
You can get BioAdvanced 3 in 1 Weed in Feed on Amazon here.
How to Apply Weed n Feed
Generally you’ll want to use a broadcast spreader of some sort to apply weed and feed. This has numerous advantages over applying by hand. For one, you avoid getting chemicals on your hand. Additionally, you ensure more even spreading and can get it done way faster.
Be sure to follow the instructions on whatever weed and feed you purchase, because applying too much can result in nitrogen burn (you know this has happened if parts of your grass turn orange.
Follow the instructions in the video below to apply weed and feed properly.
When to Fertilize Your Lawn
To get the most out of your fertilizing efforts, you must time it properly. The spring season is the best time to apply fertilizer. You should test the temperature of the soil to ensure that it is at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
For most of the United States, ideal fertilizing conditions begin in mid to late April. However, since the weather can fluctuate, it is important to keep an eye on the forecast and take the temperature of your soil to ensure the right timing. You can also get soil temperature readings from a local university extension office.
Fertilize your lawn again about mid-May. From here, you want to fertilize every six to eight weeks through October.
Conclusion
Now that you know everything there is to know about purchasing the best fertilizer and weed control product for your lawn, go ahead and purchase one of the above items, and get to spreading it on your lawn! You’re well on your way to having the nicest, most lush green lawn on the block.
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