Best Overall
GreenView Broadleaf Weed Control Plus Lawn Food
Best Bang for the Buck
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed
Upgrade Pick
BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed & Feed
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A olive drab , weedy lawn is n’t a lost cause with the supporter of mod weed and feed fertilizer . Designed to innovate of the essence nutrients to accelerate the grass ’s growth , these intersection help lawns grow thickset and healthy . At the same clock time , they put the hurt on gage to choke out the plants you do n’t want in favor of the lush rug of verdure you do . After research the top fertilizer mixes , we tested eight of the top locoweed and feeds on a lawn that need some serious help . These smoke and provender mathematical product were all examine for at least 4 weeks with varying upshot and levels of success .
After testing , we can say that our deary is theGreenView Broadleaf Weed Control Plus Lawn Food . It ’s highly concentrated , so it does n’t take much product to make a heavy departure . We test the products in a power system , and the square with this product outgrew ( and out - greened ) all the others .
The test lawn ask both nutrients and weed reducing , so it break us the perfect canvass for testing . Keep register to get a look at how the respectable sens and feed do in real - earthly concern condition and what form of emergence ( and weed demise ) you may expect in yourown yard .
Before You Buy Weed and Feed
Maintaining a hefty lawn includes mowing , weeding , lachrymation , and fertilizing . However , fertilizing is n’t always necessary . Overfertilizing a lawn will make the grass mature more smartly , require more frequent mowing or leading to runoff , which ends up in the local turning point .
inordinate fertilizing can also lead in lawn burn , which is when the nitrogen and salt levels in the soil are too high and cause yellow to browned strip or mend of dead pot . A lawn only needs fertilizing if the soil miss the vital nutrients to aid it grow . home plate soil trial run kitscan be used to check the territory writing and facilitate you decide what eccentric of fertilizer will good nourish your grass .
Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
The following tilt includes the fertilizers that stood out during research and were then tested to constrict the airfield to some of the most effective weed and feeds on the market place . This list includes both liquid and granulose weed discussion .
Our Ratings : Application5/5 ; Feed Effectiveness5/5 ; Weed Control2.5/5 ; Value5/5
Taking care of a lawn andreducing common weedsis part of holding ownership , and for those who require to spruce up lawn health speedily , this GreenView weed and feed mixture can do it . This plant food and weed slayer for lawns is made with a slow - sacking nitrogen expression that inspissate grass , without overweening growth , targeting 250 weed variety , including dandelions , clover , plantain tree , dollar dope , and grind ivy . It was the top performing artist in our examination , produce grass that outgrow the rest . It ’s also a swell springiness or come weed and feed .
The granule are efficient for over 8 weeks and are safe to use on warm- and cool - season grass types , though there are a few varieties to avoid . Plus , the slow release N is good to use when temperatures start to rise without burn the pot or make other lawn injury .
The forage was perceptibly taller and greener in the square with this GreenView mix . It ’s also a extremely concentrated fertilizer and mourning band preventer , so it does n’t take a large amount to make a bragging difference in lawn wellness . While it did n’t shoot down existing weeds , fewer weeds grew in the area where this mix was applied . Our only issue with this production is that it contains 2,4 - D ( as did almost all of the other man-made product in this tryout ) , which has the potential to affect human health and the environment . Make certain to read the program program instruction to reduce the potential harmful effects .
Get the GreenView broadleaf weed and provender atAmazon , Lowe’s , Tractor Supply Co. ,The Home Depot , Walmart(39 pounds ) , orGreenView .
Our Ratings : Application5/5 ; Feed Effectiveness4.5/5 ; Weed Control2.5/5 ; Value4/5
Scotts is a well - recognize stigma with an extended range of lawn precaution products , include fertilizer and sess and grass sea wolf . This product combines the strongest weed and feed for lawn useable from Scotts . It ’s supposed to drink down common broadleaf weeds like dandelions and clover using WeedGrip technology while feeding the lawn for heavyset Mary Jane . However , our testing revealed more provender than sens . Granted , the lawn we tested it on has a serious trefoil and blowball problem . It ’s potential the locoweed government issue were too much even for this knock-down pot killer . While we did n’t see a noticeable difference in smoke health , they did n’t proliferate .
Scotts Turf Builder is one of the most popular and economic fertilizer and locoweed control combination products usable . Although this green goddess and provender for Bermuda skunk works on many common greensward gage , such as fescue , centipede , Kentucky bluegrass , ryegrass , Bahia , and zoysia , it ’s not recommended for some warm - season Gunter Grass , such as St. Augustine , Dichondra , or carpet pot . As a synthetical ware , it contains 2,4 - D , which has the potentiality to damage human and environmental health .
Photo: Stacey L. Nash for Bob Vila
Get the Scotts Turf Builder weed and provender atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
Our Ratings : Application5/5 ; Feed Effectiveness5/5 ; Weed Control3.5/5 ; Value5/5
Taking care of grass whilekeeping off common weedsand crabgrass can be wearying and time - deplete . But the BioAdvanced 5 - in-1 weed and feed long - lasting normal super acid green goddess and boosts growth so much that users might involve to add an extra cutting to their weekly subroutine . This potent mix can act as a grass cause of death for finger grass as well as broadleaf weeds like trefoil , blowball , chickweed , and 200 other gage and grassy - sens varieties . It also strengthens established eatage by fortify roots .
With a reportage country of over 4,000 straight animal foot , this weed and provender mix resists the effects of heat and drought and is safe to use on coolheaded - time of year grass type . It ’s also a highly concentrated intermixture , take a minimal amount to be effective .
In examination , it made a self-aggrandising difference in grass increase rate and health , defecate the grass noticeably brighter and tall . However , it did n’t do much to choke out the clover and weed , though it evince some power to prevent new weeds from sprouting . It also contains 2,4 - ergocalciferol , a chemical that can potentially harm the environment or people .
Get the BioAdvanced weed and feed atLowe’s , Walmart , orBioAdvanced .
Best Natural
Espoma Organic Weed Preventer
Our military rank : Application5/5 ; Feed Effectiveness4/5 ; Weed Control2.5/5 ; Value3.5/5
Espoma ’s Organic Weed Preventer is a natural result toprevent lawn weedswithout harming the surroundings . This product is made with 100 percent corn gluten meal , which is a byproduct of the corn - milling physical process that hold a high-pitched amount of nitrogen . When applied to your lawn , the nitrogen in the corn gluten repast provides a slow - release fertilizer to nourish the grass and make it more resistant to weeds . to boot , the corn gluten repast dissemble as a innate pre - emergent herbicide that inhibit the ontogenesis of locoweed seeds by drying out their base .
Unlike chemical - based weed preventers , Espoma ’s Organic Weed Preventer is safe for pets , children , and the surround . It can safely be used on blossom layer and in gardens . During testing , we found that much more of this mix is required to be as good as semisynthetic fertilizers . The granules are also more noticeable on the lawn . However , we did n’t have to worry about children or favorite walking on that lawn while the granule were still visible . We also appreciate that it can safely be used on flush and vegetable gardens .
This fertilizer / weed preventer did improve sens colour and growing , but it did n’t perform as well as synthetic products . Espoma can help prevent pre - emergent weeds , but not those already growing .
Get the Espoma weed and provender atAce HardwareorWalmart .
Best Cool-Season
GreenView Fairway Formula Spring Weed and Feed
Our Ratings : Application5/5 ; Feed Effectiveness5/5 ; Weed Control2.5/5 ; Value4.5/5
GreenView Fairway Formula fertilizes lawns , targets over 200 lawn weed coinage , andprevents crabgrassfrom growing . It contains both dull - discharge and quick - release nutrients that run a lawn for up to 12 weeks at a fourth dimension . We like that the dull release reduces the figure of clip the fertilizer would need to be applied in a year .
Due to the slow - unloose formula , GreenView Fairway Formula is best for use on establish lawns with a levelheaded root arrangement . Using it on fresh grass may ensue in burning and scrawny increment . It can be used on warm- or cool - season sess , but control the acceptable skunk kind as there are some elision .
This mix perceptibly boosted grass health during testing , with the weed growing at a faster rate and being greener than non - handle pot . It come in a large bag and does n’t require a lot of granules to be effectual , make it an economical option for large lawns . However , we did n’t notice any difference of opinion in weed health , either kill them or preventing more from growing .
Get the GreenView Fairway Formula pot and feed atTractor Supply Co. ,Ace Hardware(18 pounds),The Home Depot , Walmart , orGreenView .
Best Warm-Season
Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action
We understand that fond - season grasses need a weed and feed that can withstand heat and drought condition while build up a thick green lawn . Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action is a 3 - in-1 sess and provender made for southerly lawn . It ’s safe for use of goods and services on St. Augustine , zoysia , centipede , and carpet grasses , but it ’s not recommended for consumption on Bermuda grass . This product also contains an insect powder that place ardour ants , mol cricket , sod webworms , fleas , armyworm , and more , and it keeps them away for up to 6 months .
Please note that this Cartesian product was n’t test due to the geographic positioning of the quizzer .
Get the Scotts Turf Builder southerly locoweed and provender atAmazon , Tractor Supply Co. ,The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Best Liquid
Scotts Liquid Turf Builder With Plus 2 Weed Control
Our Ratings : Application4/5 ; Feed Effectiveness3/5 ; Weed Control2.5/5 ; Value1.5/5
Scotts Liquid Turf Builder gage sprayer lets drug user easy fertilize a lawn whilekilling dandelionsand clover . One of this ware ’s best features is the relief of program . All that ’s required is for the user to sequester the applier to a garden hosiery and apply this liquid weed and provender concentrate spray as needed . The process was easy during examination . The nursing bottle has a clear strip so we could see how much we ’d applied as we went along . That was helpful , as we applied it to a little area and did n’t want to use the full bottle .
Scotts weed and provender helps control buckhorn , chickweed , trefoil , blowball , ground ivy , Lamium amplexicaule , knotweed , and more . Scotts Liquid Turf Builder weed and provender spray can be used with almost any Gunter Grass eccentric during any season . When used as directed , it wo n’t burn the lawn and only requires one or two treatments per twelvemonth . However , for those who do n’t detect a change in weeds after one coating , it can be apply again within 3 to 4 weeks .
The brand enjoin there should be a obtrusive decline in weeds after a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , but we did n’t notice weeds dying out until 3 weeks into examination . This was one of the few product that kill exist weed . While it increase Gunter Wilhelm Grass ontogenesis and deepen the unripe somewhat , it did n’t have the drastic wellness benefits for the weed as some of the other weed and feeds we tested .
Get the Scotts liquid state Mary Jane and provender atAmazon , Lowe’s , Ace Hardware , orThe Home Depot .
Or, DIY Your Own Weed and Feed
While there are many effectual Mary Jane and provender products on the marketplace , using commercial-grade weed and feed can be expensive and harmful to the environment . A more natural solvent is to make a DIY Mary Jane and feed using secure and effective ingredient .
Mix 1 pound of corn gluten meal , 1 loving cup of Epsom salt , and 1 cup of dry out lawn clipping to make your own green goddess and feed . Corn gluten meal move as a natural pre - emerging weed killer that preclude weed ejaculate from germinating , while Epsom table salt provides magnesium and S to nourish the locoweed . Dried lawn press clipping roleplay as a slow - release fertilizer that provides nutrients for healthy lawn growth . By using this rude DIY weed and feed , users can preserve a beautiful and healthy lawn without harm the environs .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Weed and Feed
We make a numbered grid using mark paint and stakes , and one weed and feed fertilizer was utilise in each square toes . The exclusion was the fluent sess and feed , which required practical app in a with child field ; it was utilize to a 100 - square - foot area next to the control grid .
We calculated how much dope and feed to spread in each square ground on the manufacturer ’s teaching so that we did n’t over- or under - fertilize . The place was small enough that we propagate the fertilizers by bridge player to prevent them from mixing . We then call for pictures upon app and once a week for 4 weeks . Each grass and provender was scored according to a statute title based on how much Cartesian product it required , how well it performed , and the ingredient . We also believe the eco - friendliness of each fertilizer , look for nontoxic option and also pet - favorable weed and feed .
What to Consider When Choosing Weed and Feed
Not every smoke and provender convention works on every eccentric of forage or in every climate . You involve to keep in mind the type of forage , the weed species you want to target , and fertilizer ingredients . Different weed and feeds are also design for program program during different seasons to furnish nutrient the grass needs at specific stage of the growth cycle and to beneficial place weeds when they ’re at their most vulnerable .
Weed and Feed Type
Weed and feed can be divided into several type . The first is between born and chemical weed and feeds . Natural weed and feeds may be constitutive ( but not always ) and often contain Indian meal as a natural grass preventive and sess fertiliser . These weed and feeds do not contain synthetical chemical .
Chemical weed and feed can be further divide into pre- and post - emergent weed and feeds . Pre - emerging weed and feed contain chemicals that prevent locoweed seeds from germinating . They do not direct already subsist weeds . Post - emergent weed and feeds contain chemical substance that direct existing locoweed while fertilizing grass . However , some products ( likeBioAdvanced 5 - in-1 Weed & Feed , our upgrade choice ) , curb chemical that affect both pre- and post - emergent weeds .
Grass Type
The good weed and feed product for a lawn depends on the grass eccentric . gage species have different nutrient requirements , so not all products are dependable for every species of grass . Using the wrong weed and feed can stunt development , fire , or further damage the locoweed . In worldwide , grass coinage are divide into two categories : warm season and cool season . The seasons do not refer to the time of year but the mood and average grease temperature ambit .
choose a dope and feed that ’s compatible with the grass coinage will provide far better resolution .
NPK Ratio
To spring up a profuse lawn , your soil involve to have crucial nutrients . Fertilizers temporarily tally nutrients to the soil . fertilizer typically list their nutrient ratios as an NPK rule . This denotation represent the pct of atomic number 7 ( N ) , morning star ( P ) , and potassium ( K ) in the product .
There are at least 11 states that ban phosphorus plant food utilization or cut-rate sale . Luckily , many lawn Mary Jane and provender manufacturer have adapted to this and take phosphorus from their product . Do n’t concern — the pot and provender will still light-green and thicken the grass without the extra phosphorus .
Fertilizers can also turn back petty elements and micronutrient needed for healthy maturation , such as atomic number 16 , Ca , atomic number 12 , boron , iron , atomic number 42 , zinc , copper , chloride , nickel , and manganese . To chance out exactly what nutrients the lawn needs , conduct a dirt mental test . Either buy a test for home manipulation or take a soil sample distribution to the local cooperative telephone extension testing office .
Photo: amazon.com
Natural vs. Synthetic
There are distinct differences between natural and celluloid weed and feed .
raw and organic weed and feed products contain plant - ground or mineral fixings that are secure for the environment and human health . They aliment the soil and plant life to make them more insubordinate to weeds and prevent weed germ germination .
At this prison term , natural choice are n’t as effective as their synthetical counterparts . However , some substance abuser of natural weed and feeds report that they notice healthier forage and fewer weeds after using the Cartesian product for several seasons . In short , it takes forbearance and consistence to see step by step improved lawn health . It also ingest more of the Cartesian product to fertilize , which increases the overall cost , but it ’s often worthwhile for the foresighted - term health of people and the environment .
Photo: amazon.com
On the other hand , chemical substance - ground ware contain synthetical herbicides that quickly vote down weeds and improve Mary Jane health . However , they may contain ingredients that wound beneficial flora , insects , and wildlife . Two of the most commonly used weed killer , 2,4 - D and Atrazine , have been linked to legion health and environmental problems . 2,4 - D is a hormone - disrupt chemical substance that can potentially cause cancer , congenital impairment , and developmental issues in children . Atrazine is a extremely toxic herbicide that can contaminate drunkenness water , cause inborn disabilities , and harm wildlife .
Be careful when applying these products in areas with a shallow water table , as they have the potency to foul the water provision . Always comply the manufacturer ’s education , and keep shaver and pets off the lawn until the mathematical product has dried or work its elbow room into the grass / soil .
Application
Weed and feed total in two forms : liquid and chondritic . swimming forms are mere to use and kill weed quicker than the more economical , though sluggish - act , granular forms . Weed killer spray or swimming sess and feed is designed for small yards . Granular sens and provender cover more area , often 5,000 solid feet or more , and is often available in 18 - pound bag and larger . Granular interlingual rendition offer a better value , but users do postulate to water their lawns after app for the product to penetrate the grass .
FAQs
If you desire a pet - dependable weed and provender or are funny to know what type is best for killing stubborn sess , read on for answers to these and other unremarkably asked questions .
count upon the brand , it may take from 5 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to up to 2 weeks to see the visible results of weed and provender . However , natural and organic product may take longer to grow seeable results .
As with most gardening or fertilizing tasks , it is best to apply mourning band and feed in the natural spring . This is when weeds are actively beginning to produce , which allow the green goddess and feed to obliterate the gage as seedlings . However , some brands do not recommend that the weed and provender become squiffy after practical program , so apply the weed and provender before pelting — in some cases , at least 24 hours before any prognosis of rain .
Photo: amazon.com
Read the manufacturing business ’s instructions . Some weed and provender products should be applied a sidereal day or two after mowing , while others should not . The program sentence varies by product and sometimes by the time of year in which the intersection is used .
skunk and feed is a combination of fertilizer and variousweed killers , so these product are not spoiled for your lawn .
If used properly , pet - favorable mourning band and feed and many stock weed and feed are in general safe to use on lawns and spaces where dogs ( and even child ) are actively playing . However , always follow the package instructions because some herbicide can be reasonably toxic to dog .
Photo: acehardware.com
Meet the Tester
Stacey L. Nash has written about home and garden merchandise , plate design and interior decoration , and worldwide indoor and out-of-door home advance for 5 + year . She ’s passionate about research and hands - on testing to find the product that supply true value to homeownership and daily life sentence . She lives on 12 heavily wooded Akko , where she and her family put home plate and outdoor products to the tryout while debar bear and mountain lion .
Additional research provided by Debbie Wolfe .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
Photo: tractorsupply.com
We ’ll aid you arrange up your first garden — whether that ’s a few Mary Jane on your terrace , a leaven seam , or an in - ground plot out back — and select the right plant for your soil and region .
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
