When Should You Weed And Feed?

Weed & Feed products are lawn fertilizers that also include weed killers and/or weed preventatives. One treatment treats random weeds that have grown across an entire lawn and also feeds and greens the grass. Weed & Feeds are available in two fundamental forms, granules and liquids.

• However, before you apply, there are a few things you should know about weed & feed goods.
• Weeding and Feeding Begin with Weeding The “weed” portion of “weed & feed” contains pesticides to eliminate grass weeds.
• Almost every product contains a post-emergent herbicide, but some also include a pre-emergent herbicide meant to inhibit the germination of new weeds.

Post-emergence herbicides eliminate existing lawn weeds such as dandelions, clover, and many more. The whole list of weeds may be found on the label of your product. When used as prescribed, these post-emergence herbicides are always selective, so they will not harm existing grass.

New developments, such as BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed & Feed, eliminate the need for several treatments of additional herbicides to control grassy weeds like Crabgrass. Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to prevent the germination and growth of new weeds. Timing is crucial; if the herbicide is applied too early, it may become ineffective while the weeds are still latent.

If seeds are applied too late, they may have already germinated. You are most likely familiar with crabgrass preventatives used in early spring. And Terminates in Feeding The “feed” portion of “weed & feed” refers exclusively to fertilizer. Most fertilizers include various levels of nitrogen, other macronutrients, and occasionally micronutrients.

Nitrogen (N) is the most essential component of lawn fertilizers and is available in two main forms: fast-release and slow-release. The majority of lawn fertilizers contain a combination of fast-release and slow-release forms for rapid greening and maintained development. Fast-Release Nitrogen, such as urea and ammonium sulfate, is easily accessible and rapidly absorbed by grass, resulting in rapid greening.

Unfortunately, it may also burn your grass if poorly sprayed, and it can seep through the root zone or wash off the lawn after heavy rain, producing pollution. Slow-Release Nitrogen (also referred to as WIN or water-insoluble nitrogen), such as sulfur-coated urea, methylene urea, and animal manures, is released more slowly to the grass, resulting in more sustained, uniform growth – up to three months for methylene urea.

• Before Beginning, Determine Your Lawn Type Before applying any weed-and-feed or fertilizer product, you must determine your grass type.
• Some fertilizers may be used on all types of lawns, but the majority of weed & feed solutions are designated especially for different species of grasses.
• Applying the wrong product to the wrong type of grass might result in lawn damage.

Use cautious and carefully read the product’s label. If you are still unsure, contact the manufacturer at the toll-free number listed on the label. When To Apply Weed & Feed products are most effective in the spring and fall, when weeds are tiny and actively developing.

Wait until you’ve mowed your grass twice in the spring before applying to ensure that it has emerged from dormancy. Check with your local Cooperative Extension System office in the fall for historical frost dates in your region. Based on this date, many Weed & Feed labels will prescribe application time.

Also, the majority of weed and feed products have temperature limits; check the label. Do not apply to soils that are saturated with water, stressed by drought, disease, or injury susceptibility. Methods for Applying For liquid weed & feed products, be sure to use one of the sprayer types specified on the package and to follow the mixing and spraying directions on the label.

• Use a rotary or drop-type spreader for granular weed and feeding.
• Drop spreaders distribute fertilizer in a small band right below the spreader, whereas rotary spreaders cover a larger area.
• The application design pattern is crucial.
• Be sure to follow the directions on the label.
• The application parameters for both types of spreaders are customizable.

Depending on the spreader’s settings, the amount of fertilizer applied will vary. Before fertilizing, consult the spreader manufacturer’s instructions to calibrate your equipment and guarantee optimum application rates. On the fertilizer’s label, you will discover the correct settings for your type of spreader.

• If not, a toll-free phone number should be provided.
• Do not use the spreader until you are confident that it is correctly adjusted.
• You may learn more about spreader calibration and spreader settings.
• Always read labels and adhere to their recommendations.
• Other Important Information Mowing — For optimal effects, mow your grass one to two days before to application.

You should leave the clippings from your next three mowings on the grass. Avoid using these clippings as mulch or compost around decorative plants, trees, or vegetable gardens. Do Not Rake – Excessive raking will disrupt the weed-prevention barrier and impair the efficacy of this product.

• Many weed and feed solutions require that you wait 24 hours before watering in.
• Be sure to examine your unique label.
• Feeding New Lawns — Most new lawns do not require fertilization until six to eight weeks following planting.
• Nonetheless, this might vary based on how the soil was prepared before to planting and the type of fertilizer utilized.

Consult your local office of the Cooperative Extension System or nursery for advice on fertilizing new lawns.

When is the optimal time to use weed killer?

What is the optimal season for using weed killer? Spring is the greatest season to apply weed killer, followed by Fall. Spring is a good time for preventing weeds from growing by capturing them during their pre-growth period. Fall is equally beneficial since weeds are at their most susceptible just before winter.

Learn more about our research, testing, evaluation, and recommendation of the finest goods. If you make a purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Daniel Watson / Unsplash A solution that fertilizes and suppresses weeds in a single application saves you time and effort while establishing and maintaining a beautiful lawn.

1. We evaluated eight variants of these weed and feed products based on their use, spreadability, and overall value.
2. Our top option, Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed, distinguished out from the competition due to its ability to eradicate the most pervasive weeds, such as dandelions and clover, and its simplicity in fertilizing simultaneously.

Here are our top selections for the finest weed control and fertilizer solutions for a lush lawn. Amazon What We Like Eliminates invasive weeds such as dandelions and clover. Excellent nitrogen source containing little phosphorus Simple-to-read label The dimensions of a basketball court What We Don’t Like Best performance with Scotts brand spreaders Not applicable to warm-season grasses.

Scotts is one of the oldest brands in the green sector, and each year it develops hundreds of new products. The Turf Builder Plus is a fan favorite owing to its successful management of reseeding weeds including dandelions and clover. It has a good amount of nitrogen, as shown by its ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K ratio), allowing grass to remain green and thrive well into the fall.

As with other weed and feeds, Turf Builder Plus should be applied when rain is not in the forecast to prevent it from being washed away (but it is recommended to apply to a wet lawn). Application is effortless: Simply follow the clear, easy-to-read instructions on the package, put the fertilizer to your spreader, and get to work.

• While Turf Builder is effective on a wide variety of grasses, it is not advised for certain prominent warm-season southern grasses such as St.
• Augustine.
• The NPK Ratio is 28:0:3.
• Type: Slow Release — Usage: granular What is the NPK Ratio? To maintain grass weed-resistant, fertilizers rely on three primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (chemical symbol K).

Expressed as N-P-K values, they indicate the weight percentage of each nutrient. Thus, a product with an N-P-K ratio of 28-0-3 would have 28 percent nitrogen, no phosphorus, and 3 percent potassium. Understanding this ratio enables you to make the best option when buying a weed and feed product to maintain the beauty of your grass. Rapid green-up Zero phosphoric acid Comprehensive broadleaf weed control What We Don’t Like Not typically located at garden centers slower than others in action Greenleaf may be inexpensive, but it is really effective against weeds! A 13-pound bag should be sufficient to cover a basketball court-sized yard and control over 250 broadleaf plant species. Heavy nitrogen enables for rapid greening without the risk of lawn burning.

The zero-phosphate recipe prevents runoff into local waterways, ensuring that you do not contribute to algae blooms. The slow-release formulation nourishes the soil and assists in water retention to defend against summer heat and drought. This weed and feed is recommended for use on most varieties of grass, and only has to be used twice a year to assure results.

NPK : 27-0-4 — Category: Slow Release — Application: Particulate Amazon What We Like Extensive feeding duration Kills over 250 weed kinds 5% iron helps keep grass green What We Don’t Like Not for St. Augustine Grass Unreadable instructions Pennington produces high-quality goods and is a popular brand on golf courses and in sports arenas.

More than 250 broadleaf weeds, including dollar weed, clover, and henbit, are said to be eliminated by the UltraGreen weed and feed. It has both a quick-release and a slow-release composition, allowing the grass to green up rapidly while gradually releasing nutrients over three months. As with numerous other evaluated products, UltraGreen may be used on nearly all northern and southern grass types, with the exception of St.

Augustine. Unique to the formula, Pennington always includes a slug of iron, a fundamental component for growing green grass. The resealable bag makes it simple to store leftovers, and the 5,000-square-foot covering area (about the size of a basketball court) makes it suitable for virtually all lawn sizes. Abundant nitrogen for green-up Simple to use and with clear instructions Works on all types of grass What We Don’t Like Doesn’t destroy existing weeds Slow in operation The oldest organic firm in the green sector is Espoma. This product contains maize gluten meal, a natural source of nitrogen that promotes rapid green-up and has been determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be safe for humans and animals.

1. A 25-pound bag covers up to 1,250 square feet, or a quarter of the area of a basketball court, when applied using a spreader.
2. This weed and feed is used twice a year as a prophylactic to eliminate weeds before they emerge.
3. If you are attempting to eliminate weeds that are already existing, this product is not for you.) The maize gluten that prevents feeding also nourishes the grass, giving it a vibrant green hue and robust roots.

NPK Ratio: 9-0-0 Application: Slow Release Amazon What We Like Easy and enjoyable to use Rapidly initiates work Large area of coverage What We Don’t Like Not permitted on St. Augustine Grass. Uses a hose for application. Scotts Turf Builder is available in a convenient liquid version.

1. Beneficial for people with limited area, it is simple to fertilize and manage weeds with a single spray.
2. The bottle’s hose attachment allows you to treat an area the size of a basketball court ranging from 4,000 square feet (cool-season grasses) to 6,000 square feet (warm-season grasses) (warm-season lawns).

It’s also enjoyable! You may apply this product numerous times per year on virtually every grass variety to control post-emergent weeds, such as ivy, knotweed, clover, and dandelions. (Once more, St. Augustine Lawns owners are out of luck.) The spray facilitates the grass’s absorption of essential nutrients and provides a healthy vitamin boost. Compatible with Saint Augustine and other warm-season grasses Simple to use Provides both preventive and curative control What We Don’t Like Covers just 2,500 square feet Not useful on Bermuda grass Homeowners in the South adore St. Augustine grass for its resilience against harsh heat and heavy foot traffic. However, the majority of major weed and feed manufacturers expressly prohibit the use of their products on the Southern staple. Fertilome, a Florida-based company, produces a St.

Augustine-exclusive mixture that functions as both a preventive and post-emergence weed killer. In reality, the company advises that only St. Augustine, Zoysia, Centipede, and carpet grass lawns may use this product. You only need to apply this product once, in early spring, and the slow-release composition will continue to nourish your plants for the remainder of the season.

This product barely covers up to 2,500 square feet (half a basketball court), which is one-half the coverage supplied by competing products. The NPK ratio is 15-0-4. — Type: Slow Release — Usage: granular Amazon What We Like Simple to Use Works rapidly Eliminates up to 250 species of weeds Five thousand square feet What We Don’t Like Not applicable to St.

• Augustine grass Preen One is our best pick for eradicating weeds in a world where they have reemerged.
• It also functions as a pre-emergent, ensuring that developing seeds from current weeds do not reappear the following season.
• In addition to controlling over 250 weeds, including clover and dandelions, this product will nourish your grass for up to two months.

The maker also says that the solution eliminates other common lawn weeds, such as dandelions, chickweed, thistle, and clover, and inhibits the return of crabgrass and its relatives. As a feed, the product contains nitrogen with a gradual release for consistent nutrition.

Homeowners living near rivers may confidently use this phosphate-free mix without fear of runoff. This product should not be used on Southern grasses such as St. Augustine and colonial bentgrass, but it may be used on other typical warm-season grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysiagrass. Preen One is available in nine-, eighteen-, and thirty-six-pound bags, which can cover surfaces ranging from half a basketball court to just under an Olympic swimming pool.

NPK Ratio: 24-0-6 — Moderate Utilization: Particulate Amazon What We Like Prevents crabgrass Eliminates approximately 200 species of weeds Contains both rapid and gradual release nutrients It occupies 15,000 square feet. What We Don’t Like Should not be utilized on brand-new lawns Pricey Crabgrass is a nuisance to many homeowners because it breaks the uniform texture of a lawn.

1. Once established, it is quite tough to eradicate, as it is most prolific in grasses that grow during the colder months.
2. This product’s slow-and-quick-release technique eliminates crabgrass as well as 200 other weeds; the maker says its patented technology eliminates both dandelions and crabgrass seedlings simultaneously.

As a feeder, its nutrients steadily release over a three-month period, supplying established lawns with long-lasting nutrition. The spring lawn care product is a pre-emergent, which means it is meant to inhibit the growth of crabgrass and other weeds.

1. However, it is not intended for use on newly seeded lawns since it has the potential to burn young growth.
2. Additionally, this item is unavailable for purchase in Alaska, Hawaii, and California.
3. Also, it was difficult to locate owing to shipping challenges to particular locations, so keep this in mind as you plan your search.

Ratio of NPK: 24-0-6 — Type: Rapid and Gradual Release — Application: Granular Final Verdict Scotts Turf Builder is the Best Overall Weed and Feed in our opinion. Not only does it inhibit 250 species, but it is also user-friendly and effective on nearly every form of grass.

Should weeds be sprayed in the morning or evening?

The time of day you apply herbicides can make a difference. What if a cotton farmer had to spray in the early morning, late afternoon, or at night? Does the time of day when a herbicide is administered affect its effectiveness? A group of weed specialists investigated this and were astonished by their findings.

Scientists from the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Tennessee comprised the group. Stanley Culpepper, a weed scientist from the University of Georgia, presented the findings of the experiments at the Consultants Conference of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans.

Culpepper began his talk by discussing the timing of Liberty herbicide treatments. “Liberty has become quite significant in the field of cotton weed control, and we want to understand how application time of day affects Liberty,” he added. Researchers administered the herbicide one hour prior to dawn, a half-hour prior to sunrise, at sunrise, and so on until six hours following sunrise.

In contrast, applications were submitted one hour before sunset and up to six hours after sunset. “You can see from the data that the same thing occurred at Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, and Tennessee with Daniel Stephenson, Jason Bond, Alan York, and Larry Steckel,” said Culpepper.

“It was quite intriguing, and what we discovered was that Liberty petitions submitted early in the morning, when the winds are calm, give us far less influence than those submitted later in the day.” Culpepper described tests with Roundup, 2,4-D, and dicamba that generated comparable outcomes despite less extensive spraying regimens than the Liberty study.

• Culpepper stated that, scientifically speaking, this slide was the most intriguing of all the work performed by his team.
• You are staring at nothing but Roundup here. A 5 a.m.
• Application of Roundup WeatherMax provides 16 percent control, while an 11 a.m.
• Treatment provides 56 percent control.
• This is the most glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth colony I have in Georgia.

Again, this is not a cue to go home, and Roundup can create additional activity. But I find this incredibly intriguing from a scientific standpoint. Numerous farmers have told me this, but I’ve never given it much thought: “They observe disparities in their Palmer amaranth populations.” More information is available at or in the video: The time of day you apply herbicides can make a difference.

Temperature’s Impact on Herbicide Efficacy This year’s corn and soybean harvests were delayed owing to September and October rainfall, and autumn burndown applications were also delayed over the majority of the state. Due of the seasonally low air temperatures at this time, producers have inquired as to how temperature affects the efficiency of fall herbicide treatments used for burndown.

Depending on the target weed, herbicide, and rate of treatment, the possibility of diminished weed control owing to low temperatures will vary. Temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal for spraying the majority of post-emergence herbicides; however, this window is not always possible due to other autumn operations.

At temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, herbicides can be sprayed, however weeds may be destroyed slowly. When the temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the absorption of herbicides such as glyphosate and the translocation of herbicides such as 2,4-D are lower than when they are applied at warmer temperatures; hence, they work more slowly.

Since summer annual weeds such as common waterhemp and palmer amaranth do not emerge until May, herbicides administered in the autumn will NOT be effective against them. When temperatures remain below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for a lengthy period of time following the application of a burndown herbicide, weed control is likely to be diminished, particularly with systemic burndown herbicides such as glyphosate.

In addition, weed control may be diminished in gloomy conditions after an initial temperature drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to use labeled adjuvants when applying herbicides in the late fall to increase herbicide effectiveness. Add crop oil concentrates at 1% v/v (1 gallon per 100-gallon spray solution) or non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v if you want to use 2,4-D, for instance (1 quart per 100-gallon spray solution).