Updated Mar 10, 2023
Updated Mar 10, 2023
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Weed and feed is the lawn care equivalent of the shampoo-and-conditioner-in-one products in the hair care aisle. They promise to save you time while giving you the same results by applying two different products. However, you’ve probably noticed that two-in-one hair care products haven’t led to the extinction of individual shampoos and conditioners. Many people believe it’s better to weed and feed your lawn as a two-step process for much the same reason.
If you’d like a healthy green lawn but don’t like the idea of applying fertilizers and weed killers yourself, House Method’s recommended lawn care service provider is TruGreen. TruGreen has offices throughout the US and Canada, so there’s likely a TruGreen branch near you.
Weed and feed is the term used for lawn care products that contain both herbicides (weed killers, the “weed” part of the name) and fertilizer (the “feed” part). Weed and feed is designed to fertilize your lawn while also killing weeds in your grass, like dandelions and clovers.
Many people like the idea of using weed and feed because it means they only need to do a single application of product rather than separately applying herbicide and fertilizer. They see it as a way to do twice the work in half the time.
The weed killer in weed and feed is either pre-emergent or post-emergent.
See our pick for DIY weed and feed available from Amazon.
Suppose you still think the benefits of a two-for-one application outweigh the negative aspects of weed and feed. In that case, the Weed Science Society of America offers some tips to follow so you get the best results with minor environmental damage:
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The easiest alternative to applying weed and feed is to treat feeding and weed killing as two separate processes. Apply fertilizer at the time dictated by the kind of grass growing in your yard —fall for cool-season grasses, late spring or early summer for warm-season grasses.
Treat for weeds at an appropriate time. If you genuinely think you have weed seeds all over your yard waiting to sprout, apply a pre-emergent over the entire yard in late winter before the seeds germinate. If you’ve applied pre-emergent in previous years and have your weeds under control, putting pre-emergent over the whole yard may be overkill. In that case, it makes more sense to see if any weeds do come up and spot-treat them with an appropriate herbicide based on what’s growing in your yard.
A natural product called corn gluten meal, sometimes referred to by its initials, CGM, may offer some hope for an organic alternative to weed and feed. CGM is a byproduct that results from wet milling corn. An Iowa State University professor found that it reduces seed germination, and it has been patented for use as a natural pre-emergent agent. CGM is about 10% nitrogen, the main ingredient in most fertilizers, so it’s also a natural fertilizer.
But if a natural, organic weed and feed sounds too good to be true, it might be. There are several reasons why CGM hasn’t become the go-to weed and feed product:
The most environmentally friendly way to avoid weed killer is to pull the weeds out of your yard by hand. Weeding is never a fun task, but you don’t have to worry about chemicals being tracked into your home or being washed off and polluting local waterways if you hand-weed.
Various weeding tools are available to make the chore a little easier. These include long-handled, foot-operated tools that grip the weeds and allow you to dig up the roots without having to bend down.
The best defense against weeds is a thick, healthy lawn. Keep your property adequately watered, apply fertilizer when necessary, and take steps such as aerating when necessary may be all your lawn needs to stand tall against a weed invasion.
House Method recommends TruGreen as a lawn care provider. TruGreen sends professionally trained service technicians to care for your lawn, starting with a Healthy Lawn Analysis® that will determine the health of your lawn. TruGreen will tailor a treatment plan that meets the needs of your lawn.
With over four decades of experience, TruGreen services more homes in America than any other lawn service provider.* The company also guarantees you a healthy lawn, and technicians will come back between scheduled visits as needed to ensure you’re satisfied.
TruGreen offers three levels of service.
Not only does TruGreen tailor applications to the exact needs of your yard, but they are known for exceptional customer service. The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2012.
Read more: Our reviews for TruGreen’s lawn care and pest control services
To receive a free price quote from TruGreen, call 1-866-817-2172 or provide your zip code online.
Scotts® Turf Builder® Weed & Feed 3 advertises Weedgrip Technology as a more powerful formulation to combat dandelions and clover. The company says the formula is two-times more powerful than its previous formula.
Granular weed and feed products should be spread on a wet lawn to help the granules stick to the weeds. Don’t water your lawn for at least 24 hours after applying the product.
Scotts, which makes a variety of lawn care products like Turf Builder and weed and feed, recommends waiting until your new lawn has been mowed at least four times before you put any kind of weed control or crabgrass preventer down. The company recommends using Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass Plus Weed Preventer to prevent crabgrass when you’re growing a new lawn, but it can only be used on some cool-season grasses and not on any warm-season grasses.
Ortho and other manufacturers do make liquid weed and feed formulations that you spray on your lawn.
The weed control products in weed and feed are sensitive to temperatures. Scotts advises against using weed and feed products when the outside temperature is 85°F or higher.
From our top recommended lawn care service, TruGreen
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