The Best Weed and Feeds for a Healthy, Happy Lawn

Looking for the best weed and feed to make your lawn look it’s best? We’ve got you covered with our top picks to get rid of the weeds and green up your lawn fast.

The best weed and feed for your lawn

If you’ve noticed your lawn isn’t looking so a great, a weed and feed could be the double threat you need.

The products below are intended to give your lawn a surge of green while targeting broad-leaf weeds that distract from your lawn’s overall appearance.

For more lawn care tips and information on weed and feed products, including how to apply, please refer to the information below our selections.

Our Top Weed and Feed Choices

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Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed

Sale
Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed3, Weed Killer Plus Lawn Fertilizer, Controls Dandelion and Clover, 5,000 sq. ft., 14.29 lbs.
  • Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed3 weed killer plus fertilizer kills existing listed weeds and feeds to thicken your lawn and crowd out future weeds

Scotts is a brad that most homeowners are familiar with.  Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed is a good all around product that will feed your lawn and control many common weeds including dandelions and clover.  This product also contains 28% nitrogen to give your lawn the boot of color and growth it needs.

Pros

  • Great for clearing your lawn of dandelions, clover and broad-leaf weeds
  • Apply during any season
  • Product works in conjunction with Scotts season long lawn care program
  • Works with all cool season and warm season grass types excluding St. Augustine
  • 28% nitrogen to feed and green your lawn

Cons

  • Not for use on St. Augustine
  • Does not control crabgrass

Preen 2164179 One Lawncare Weed & Feed

Preen, 21-64190, One Lawncare Weed & Feed - 9 lb bag covers 2500 sq ft
  • Stops crabgrass all season and can be applied up to 4 weeks after crabgrass emerges

Preen’s weed and feed product is great for smaller lawns up to 2,500 Sq ft.  This product is labeled to control over 250 common weeds and also provided control and prevention of early season crabgrass.  With 24% of this product being nitrogen it will also feed your lawn and give it a nice boost of color.

Pros

  • Labeled to contorl over 250 common lawn weeds 
  • Helps prevent and kill newly established crabgrass
  • Apply during any season
  • Works with all cool season and warm season grass types excluding St. Augustine
  • 24% nitrogen to feed and green your lawn

Cons

  • Not for use on St. Augustine

BioAdvanced All-in-One Weed & Feed with Microfeed Action

BioAdvanced Triple Action Lawn Fertilizer Plus, Granules, 24 lb
  • TRIPLE ACTION FORMULA: Feed your lawn on all 3 levels- grass, roots, and soil

BioAdvanced All-in-One weed and feed product combines early season crabgrass control and prevention while being able to control over 200 different lawn weeds. This product also has 22% nitrogen which is controlled release for extended lawn feeding and prolonged green.  BioAdvanced Microfeed technology is also noted to improve root health and decrease plant stress during drought.

Pros

  • Labeled to control over 200 weeds including crabgrass
  • Apply during any season
  • 22% nitrogen to green and feed your lawn

Cons

  • Not for use on St. Augustine

The Andersons Pro Turf Weed & Feed with Surge

The Andersons Professional Surge Weed and Feed 16-0-9 Post-Emergent Weed Control and Fertilizer - Covers up to 16,000 sq ft (40 lb)
  • Professional-grade, four-way herbicide designed to provide quicker control over a broader list of weeds

The Andersons Pro Turf Weed and Feed is a professional grade product that uses a 4-way herbicide to control the most stubborn lawn weeds.  This product also has a mix of fast and slow release nitrogen to give your lawn prolonged nutrients and feeding. 

Pros

  • Labeled to control over 250 common lawn weeds
  • Professional grade product
  • Better control for stubborn lawn weeds
  • Apply during any season
  • 16% nitrogen to green and feed your lawn

Cons

  • Not for use on St. Augustine

Lesco Professional Weed & Feed Turf Fertilizer

This is a professional grade product offered by Lesco.  This product has a little lower in nitrogen if you are not in need of a high nitrogen weed and feed.  It also offers good control of over 100 common lawn weeds.  Lesco’s weed and feed only comes in a 50 pound bag which is great for bigger lawns up to 13,000 sq ft.

Pros

  • Labeled to control over 100 common lawn weeds
  • Professional grade product
  • High potassium to improve plant health and reduce summer stress
  • 18% nitrogen to green and feed your lawn

Cons

  • Not for use on St. Augustine
  • Lower nitrogen compared to other products

Scotts Bonus S Southern Weed & Feed

Sale
Scotts Turf Builder Bonus S Southern Weed & Feed2, Weed Killer and Lawn Fertilizer, 5,000 sq. ft., 17.24 lbs.
  • Scotts Turf Builder Bonus S Southern Weed & Feed2 weed killer plus fertilizer kills existing weeds as listed, and feeds grass to crowd out future weeds and build strong, deep roots to withstand Southern stressors

This weed and feed product from Scotts is formulated to be used on southern lawns, specifically St. Augustine and Zoysia.  Application of this weed and feed is going to target broadleaf weeds including dollar weed and clover.  With 29% of this product being nitrogen it will help with rapid green-up as your lawn comes out of dormancy in the spring.

Pros

  • For use on St. Augustine and Zoysia
  • Kills dollar weed and clover
  • 29% nitrogen to green and feed your lawn

Cons

  • Not for use on cool season grasses or Bermuda

How to apply weed and feed to your lawn

All weed and feed products will have a spreader setting listed on the bag.  Locate your specific spreader and set it to the recommended setting.  If you can not locate your spreader, dial your spreader to a low setting and make multiple perpendicular passes until the desired amount is applied.

How much product should I apply?

To understand how much of any given weed and feed product you need to apply it is always best to follow the label rate provided on the products bag.

It is important to have a good idea of how big your lawn is in square feet.  You can measure or pace off the length and width of your lawn and multiply those numbers together to give you an estimate of the total square feet.

For example if your lawn was 50ft long by 50ft wide your total square footage woud be 2,500sq ft. 

If you were using Preen 2164179 One Lawncare Weed & Feed (covers 2,500 sq. ft) you would need to use one full bag.  On the other hand, if you were to use the BioAdvanced All-in-One Weed & Feed (covers 5000 sq. ft.) product you would only apply half of the bag.

Over applying weed and feed products will not enhance the effectiveness of the product and you risk over fertilizing your lawn leaving it stressed and brown.

When is the best time to apply weed and feed?

Weed and feed products are most effective when the weeds are actively growing.  This means spring, early summer, and fall applications will be most effective.

It is best to apply a day or two after mowing and regular irrigation can resume after 24hrs.

If you recently planted new seed on your lawn it is best to wait about 60 days as new turf grass may be sensitive to chemical applications.

Bonus Weed and Feed Tips

Although weed and feed products have their place and work well for weed control they are not a substitute for poor lawn care practices.  The best defence for unwanted weeds in your lawn is a healthy and full lawn.  A dense lawn makes it hard for weeds to compete with and spread.  Here are a few tips to improve your lawn’s health.

  • Mow more more often. Mowing one additional day a week can dramatically improve the quality of your lawn.  An actively growing lawn cut more often will try to grow horizontally and increases density.
  • Don’t cut the grass too short. Remove no more than ⅓ of the grass blade during a single mow.  This will decrease stress on the grass and keep it healthy.
  • Make sure your mower blades are sharp.  A dull blade will tear the grass and increase stress and make the blade more prone to disease.  A sharp blade will ensure minimal stress to the plant and give you a clean cut.
  • Make sure you watering practices are dialed in.  Long infrequent watering will help train the grass roots to search for water deeper compared to frequent short duration waterings which lead to a shallow and weak root system.  Most types of lawn require 1-1 ½ inces of water a week wether through rain or irrigation.  If irrigation is needed it is best practiced through 1-3 waterings

What kind of results can I expect from using weed and feed?

You can expect decent, but typically not 100% perfect results with weed and feed products. 

It is important to determine the type of weed you are trying to kill and then determine if they are listed in the “weeds controlled” section on the product’s label.  If it is not listed then odds are the product is not going to be effective. 

Weed killers generally work best when the weed is actively growing and before they get established and mature.  If you apply a weed and feed no newly sprouted weed the level of control will increase compared to more mature weed which may need a follow-up application per the instructions on the label.

Can I use weed and feed on trees and shrubs?

It is not recommended to use weed and feed on trees or shrubs as the herbicides used in these products may kill or injure these plants. They are specially formulated to be used on lawns.

What is the best weed and feed for summer?

If you are planning on using a weed and feed in the summer it is best to apply a product with a little lower nitrogen content (the first number on the analysis).  Giving your lawn a smaller dose of nitrogen will decrease the possibility of fertilizer burn, which may occur during summer months.  It will also put less stress on the lawn as it is dealing with hotter temperatures. 

Our recommended product would be Lesco’s or the Anderson’s as they both have a lower nitrogen content but will still attack you weeds.

Which weed-n-feed should I use in the fall?

If you have a cool season lawn you can apply any weed and feed product in the fall.  Traditionally cool season lawns grow the best in the fall and store nutrients going into winter.  With that said, you would want to apply a product with a higher nitrogen content to promote grow and root strength.  For this application we would recommend Scotts Weed and Feed as it has a higher nitrogen content

What is the best weed and feed for St. Augustine?

Scotts Southern Lawn Weed and Feed is specifically labeled for St. Augustine and is a quality weed and feed product to use.  A good rule to follow with anything you are adding to your lawn is to double check that your turf type is listed as acceptable for that specific product.

The Best Weed and Feed Products