Fall 2020 Promo: GET YOUR SMART LAWN PLAN
QUESTION:
Click here to read or post comments
by Jason
(Sheffield, UK)
QUESTION:
I've just laid a new lawn 4 weeks ago and I was wondering if it is OK to put a weed and feed fertilizer on it before winter?
ANSWER:
Fall is the best time to fertilize cool season grasses - especially a new lawn.
Did you sod or seed?
If you laid sod you can skip the herbicide (weed killer) because you shouldn't need it.
If you started your new lawn from seed there is a good chance you will have some weeds, it will then be OK to use a weed and feed.
Check the label of the product you plan to use - for new lawns, most recommend waiting 6 to 8 weeks or until it has been mowed at least 3 times before applying weed and feed.
by Chrysta
YOUR QUESTION:
Why would I put a shower of soapy dish washing soap on my lawn and then follow that with an application of a weed killer? Would a dry weed and feed accomplish the same thing?
ANSWER:
Weed and feed products don't work very well unless the product can stick to the leaves. Soapy water is a creative attempt at making granular weed and feed work better...and it probably helps.
Dish soap is a surfactant - many liquid herbicides are more effective when a "sufactant" is added. Surfactants - also called spreader/stickers or wetting agents - help the chemical stick to and penetrate a weed's waxy leaf layer.
According to most weed and feed product labels, they need to be applied when the grass/weeds are wet...so that the granular herbicide sticks to the weed's leaves and is then absorbed into the plant. If you use a dry weed and feed, my best advice is to spread it early in the morning on a "dewy" lawn.
I'm not a fan of weed and feed products. They generally don't work very well and encourage over-application of herbicides. Why spread chemical weed killer over your entire lawn when you may only need it in a few spots?
You will get better results using a liquid herbicide to kill weeds and then fertilize with a straight fertilizer at the proper time. If you have a few patches of weeds just spot spray.
Got a lawn full of weeds? Consider hiring a lawn service to do a blanket application.