Best Weed and Feeds of 2024: Expert Picked | U.S. News - U.S. News & World Report

Things To Consider When Buying Weed and Feeds

Lawn Type and Coverage Area: It's essential to understand the type of grass growing in your lawn, as some weed and feed products can cause severe damage to certain types of grass. If you aren't sure, call your local extension agent (an agent employed by the county government) and ask them to come and take a look.

The size of your lawn also plays a significant role in determining what product to use, and different products require different volumes of spread. "Depending on the lawn size, a 50-pound bag will typically cover 10,000 to 12,000 square feet," explains Steve Peeler, internal agronomist of Simple Lawn Solutions. "Make sure to read the label to confirm the application rate and do not exceed product recommendations to avoid excessive herbicide chemical buildup in the soil."

"Weed and granular feed products typically require applying to wet grass such as morning dew so the chemical is absorbed into the leaf tissue of the weeds," he says. "It is essential to treat weeds in the beginning stages of growth while the weed is immature for increased weed control results in lawns."

Environmental and Lawn Safety: Consumers need to remember that unless using an organic product, weed and feeds can harm plant, animal, and aquatic life. Ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and don't use products if there's a chance they could run off into waterways. Also, avoid windy days, as products can drift onto ornamental and garden plants.

"Removing all pets from the treatment area is best until the product has been dissolved into the leaf tissue or soil. Granular weed and feed products should be absorbed into the leaf tissue before reentry," says Peeler. "Liquid weed and feed applications are readily absorbed into the leaf tissue. Once the chemical has dried, allow the recommended time of reentry stated on the product label (usually expressed as 24 hours)."

Active Ingredients and Nutrient Formulation: The ingredients in fertilizers are usually a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and the volume of each is displayed as the NPK ratio on the bag. Each chemical is responsible for different aspects of plant growth and maintenance. Generally, a nitrogen content in the 20s, a phosphorus content of zero, and a potassium content of less than 10 are standard in consumer-grade products.

As for the weed killer, "A combination of three weed killers – 2,4-D, Meco prop-p, and dicamba – is the most utilized active ingredient in a weed and feed product," explains Peeler. "However, it must be confirmed that these combinations of post-emergent herbicides are not damaging to the turf type. Some turf varieties are sensitive to certain herbicides. Read and follow the label recommendations and determine if the lawn turf type is sensitive to the herbicide selected."

Application Method: Weed and feed products generally come in liquid, granular, or pelleted formulations. Granular and pelleted types should be spread with a drop or broadcast spreader, whereas liquids can be sprayed with a garden hose. "Sometimes, localized spot treatment can be effective instead of a broadcast application," says Peeler. "Spot treatments must be performed with liquid applications while maintaining the manufacturer's label's recommended rate." He adds, "Accurate calibration of the spraying unit is required to protect against over-application or under-application."

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