Our top pick, Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed, stood out from the rest for its ability to extinguish the most notorious weeds, such as dandelions and clover, and its ease in fertilizing at the same time. Here are our top picks for the best weed and feed products for a beautiful lawn. Like most weed and feeds, you apply Turf Builder Plus when rain is not in the forecast, to ensure it doesn’t wash away (but it is recommended to apply to a wet lawn). Application is a breeze: Simply follow the illustrated, easy-to-read directions on the bag, add to your spreader, and fertilize away. While Turf Builder works on an impressive number of grass types, it isn’t recommended for several warm-season southern grasses such as the ever-popular St. Augustine. The slow-release formula feeds the soil and aids in water retention to help protect from heat and drought during the summer months. Recommended for most grass types, this weed and feed only needs to be used twice a year to guarantee results. As with several other brands reviewed, you can use UltraGreen on just about any grass type, northern or southern, with the exception of St. Augustine. Distinctive to the formula, Pennington always offers of a shot of iron, a staple ingredient in constructing green grass. The resealable bag makes it easy to store leftovers, and the coverage size of 5,000 square feet (about the size of a basketball court) makes it useful for just about all lawn sizes. Controlling post-emergent weeds including ivy, knotweed, clover, and dandelions, you can use this multiple times a year with just about every grass type. (Once again, owners of St. Augustine Lawns are out of luck.) The spray allows for easy uptake of needed nutrition and serves as a healthy vitamin boost for your grass. You need to apply this product only once, in early spring, and the slow-release formula continues to feed the rest of the season. This product only covers up to 2,500 square feet (half a basketball court), half the coverage offered by the other brands tested. The spring lawn-care product is a pre-emergent, meaning it is designed to prevent crabgrass and other undesirables from growing. However, it is not meant for use on freshly planted lawns, as it is likely to burn new growth. Also, this product is not available for sale in Alaska, Hawaii, and California. And, it was hard to track down due to issues with shipping it to certain states, so bear that in mind as you plan your search.
N-P-K Ratio
All fertilizers, including those with added herbicide, rely on the three big nutrient needs to keep grass in weed fighting shape. Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium are generally listed front and center on any fertilizer bag you pick up, with the percentages of package weight listed clearly. Understanding what each one does helps you make the best choice when selecting a week and feed to help keep your plants healthy while enlisting a weed suppressant for assistance.
Nitrogen, listed first, is the most important for overall growth. It promotes healthy leaf development and is responsible for the bright green we love to see in lawns. A shot of nitrogen helps take away the stress endured from competing with weed species.Phosphorous, the second listed number, is responsible for developing healthy roots. Most lawns tend to be deficient in phosphorus, and grass is not a notorious heavy phosphorous feeder. Fertilizers containing phosphorus are not permitted for lawns near waterways or in a county with a fertilizer ban during the rainy season. Phosphorus deficiency shows up as reduced vigorous or slowed growth ; a quick soil test can let you know if your lawn is phosphorus deficient.Potassium, also known as potash, helps roots dive deeper into the soil, allowing grass to increasingly resist stressors such as heat, drought, and weeds. While nitrogen allows for quick growth, it is necessary to encourage those roots to stretch out and not become reliant on a quick fix from a heavy nitrogen source. It also gives weeds less space to take over.
Application Type
Fertilizers and weed and feeds are sold in slow-release and quick-release formats. Liquid weed and feeds are always quick-release, meaning they are water-soluble; plants can take them in a short time, generally within a month. Non-soluble slow-release weed and feeds are sold in a granular, polymer-coated format. As the product breaks down, it slowly releases nutrients, which the plant can take up as needed. This also allows for fewer applications, as slow-release products can take 3 months to fully break down. This also helps prevent the likelihood of burning plants through too much nitrogen fed too quickly. Many weed and feed products mix both slow and quick release, working quickly on weed suppression while slowly feeding the plant. This helps increase the overall rigor, which decreases the likelihood of opportunistic weeds from elbowing in.
Grass Type
The United States is divided into many gardening zones, based on climate. Grass suited to North Dakota likely cannot handle the intense heat of Florida summers. To keep it simple, grass is defined as cool-season Northern (like Kentucky bluegrass) or Southern (like St. Augustine). Identifying turf grass can be challenging but it is essential for making sure you select an. appropriate weed and feed. If not, the herbicide component may kill turf grass. Manufacturers must list the types of grass best suited to each product, so be sure to consult first before you use. If you believe your lawn comprises multiple types of turf grass, always err on the side of caution and select based on cool- or warm-season grasses.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer and Garden Reviewer for The Spruce. As an entomologist and certified horticulture professional, she delights in personally testing out the products (and manages to convince a few Northern friends to test a few, too). Pre-emergent weed and feeds concentrate on getting weeds before they appear. Most noxious weeds produce numerous seeds, which pre-emergents help make sure never make it to adulthood. Consider a post-emergent when weeds are already problematic. Be sure not to overwater! This can cause the herbicide to wash away along with all the nutrition you just added. To make this list, Amanda Rose used each product on equal-size swatches of lawn, following manufacturer instructions. At the end of a 3-week period, she noted grass color, weed presence, and vigor. She also factored additional measures, such as cost and ease of use, into her decisions.
