Last Updated on December 29, 2021 by
What is the best weed and feed for spring? We get this question a lot from our readers who are eager to know the best seasonal fertilizers to apply to their plants. In this article, we will be talking about the best feed and weed products you can use in your garden as soon as spring sets in. We will also be discussing the best time to apply your lawn fertilizers.
Best Time to Apply Fertilizers in Spring
As a gardener, you need to know that the standard practice of fertilizer application in spring is a single dose. You can then follow up by applying two or more doses of your fertilizer as soon as the growing season sets in. You want to avoid applying the fertilizers too early. This is as soon as spring sets in. The problem with applying fertilizers too early is that your plant roots are only developing at this stage, and fertilizer application will only encourage the development of leaves.
The best time to apply your fertilizers is in late spring when your plant roots are fully developed and requires additional nutrients to support leaf growth and flowering. The sign to look out for is green grasses already developing on the plant. This is usually between late May and early June before the summer heat sets in.
How to Feed Your Lawn in Spring
It is normal as a gardener to be eager about the development of your plants. The need to see your plants grow quickly can make you take the wrong approach in applying weeds and feeds to your lawn. Ideally, you want to be careful about how you apply your fertilizers to your garden to prevent contamination of water supplies. This you can easily do by applying your fertilizers sparingly.
You can choose to apply an organic fertilizer to your lawn safely by using a mulching mower. This process helps to chop up your grass into fine pieces that are easily broken down on the lawn. Experts believe that this process of organic fertilizer application helps to provide your lawn with the nitrogen nutrient it requires.
You can choose between an organic and chemical fertilizer to use in your garden. But at Gardening Dream, we encourage gardeners to make use of organic fertilizers that are completely safe for plants, humans, pets, and the ecosystem.
How to Choose the Best Feed and Weed for Spring
When looking to buy a fertilizer to use on your lawn during spring season, it is important you take into consideration some factors that will greatly influence the effect of the fertilizer on your plant. Some of the important factors you need to consider include:
Buy the Right Fertilizer for Your Plant or Grass
You want to ensure that you buy a fertilizer that is suitable for use in your yard. You want to make use of a lawn feed and weed on a lawn and use a fertilizer designed for use on plants. If possible, buy feeds and weeds that are tailored specifically for your plant. This means that if you have tomatoes on your garden, it is only right that you search for a fertilizer that was formulated for tomatoes. Or at least will have some effect on the plant when applied to it.
Turf or lawn feed and weed are formulated specifically for use on your lawn and will have little or no effect when applied on your orchids. You can ask other gardeners who grow the same plants as you do for the kind of fertilizers they use on their plants.
Check the Nutrient Content
You want to also be certain that the fertilizer you choose will have an effect on your plant by checking the nutrient content on the package. You can easily find this information on the product labels or on the manufacturers’ website. Before using any fertilizer on your plant, it is recommended that you carry out a soil test to determine the nutrients that your soil requires. This makes it possible for you to feed it the right nutrient and in the required ratio.
You can also easily determine the soil pH and identify the level of acidity or alkalinity of the soil bed. This can help you in selecting the right feed to balance things out.
Determine How Much Feed and Weed You Need
Before you go shopping for a fertilizer for your plant, you want to know how much you will need to use on your plant. For a small area, you wouldn’t need to buy much and in most cases, a single product will be okay to use. But for large area fertilizer application, chances are that you will need to purchase a few bottles of the products for your garden.
There are weed control products that come in ready to use containers and don’t need dilution. These types of products can be used in a small area while fertilizers that can be diluted in water are a more economical option for large-area treatment.
The Best Feed and Weed for Spring
The Scotts turf builder lawn food is a quality product that you can apply on your lawn in spring. It is packed with a lot of nutrients that help to support healthy growth and development of plant roots. With stronger plant roots, your lawn can very much handle the stresses caused by weather and other activities.
Feeding your lawn also helps improve the water absorption which helps to transport nutrients to all parts of the plant. The Scotts lawn fertilizer is also safe to use on any grass type and environment. The product is formulated with nutrients that help to encourage even greening and feeding of your lawn without much stress.
Pros
- Formulated with nutrients that help to feed and strengthen your lawn
- Helps to develop strong and deep plant roots
- Improves lawn ability to absorb nutrient and water
- Suitable for use on all grass type
- Super easy to apply
Cons
- It may not show much difference when applied to St. Augustine and Bermuda grass.
This organic fertilizer from Safer Brand Ringer is a safe product you can use on your lawn in spring. It is packed with nutrients that help your lawn to grow green grasses in no time.
It is suitable for use on warm and cool-season grasses and does not give off any odor compared to some other products. With proper application, you can begin to notice results in 3 to 5 days. It comes in a 25lb bag that can cover up to 5,000 square feet of land which is a whole lot for the price.
Pros
- The bag can cover up to 5000 square feet of land
- Packed with an N-P-K ratio of 10-0-6
- Packed with no added manure
- The product doesn’t give off a foul smell
- Does not contain bio-solids or poultry litter
- Packed with nutrients that support lawn growth
- Suitable for use on cool and warm-season grasses
Cons
- May not be an effective product to control weeds
This water-soluble lawn feed and weed nutrient from Miracle-GRO is undoubtedly a quality product. We have tried this product on our lawn before and was really amazed at how much the grasses improved. It is suitable for use on all grass types and doesn’t require much stress to apply.
Pros
- Suitable for use in feeding all grass types
- Packed with nutrients that support the growth of green grasses
- The package can cover up to 4,000 square feet of land
- Shows positive result in a short time when applied properly
Cons
- You will need to use the spreader for quick results
This is one fertilizer that helps to reduce the amount of water your plant needs. This makes it suitable for use on soils with poor water absorption. It is also packed with a slow-release formula that helps to reduce the time spent on lawn mowing.
Pros
- Reduces the need for watering
- Promotes healthy growth of lawn grass
- Reduces lawn mowing time
- Composed of only organic materials
Cons
- Product gives off a foul smell during the first few days of application
A natural liquid lawn food for a healthy green lawn, this product is packed with bioactive nutrients for your yard. It is a good product to treat nutrient deficiency and maintain lawn health. It is formulated with a ratio of 15-0-15 for easy absorption by plant roots.
Pros
- Improves lawn resistance to heat and cold
- Suitable for use on sandy soils
- Encourages the strength of lawn grass
- Free from harmful chemicals
- Packed with natural and organic ingredients
- Suitable for use on all grass type
Cons
- You may encounter some difficulty trying to get the product out of the bottle
Finding the right fertilizer to use on your lawn can be a problem due to the numerous products available to choose from. This is why we have reviewed some of the best weed and feed for spring lawn applications. We encourage you to choose a fertilizer following the short guide we provided at the beginning of this article.
Which brand of fertilizer do you use on your lawn? we will like to hear from you in the comment section.
FAQs
Can you use Scotts weed and Feed in the spring?
Many people mistakenly believe that you can use Scotts weed and Feed in the spring. However, this is not true: You have to wait until fall to use these products because that’s when they are best for gardening.
Should you mow before weed and feed?
Mowing and fertilizing before weeds and feed is a common practice followed by professional lawn care service providers. However, some landscapers have started to question the validity of this practice.
At its core, this practice was developed as a way to provide reduced-maintenance lawns. Mowing is done before weed and feed so that the lawn does not grow long enough to grab at the fertilizer put down by the mower.
The argument for not mowing before weed and feed is that it leaves an exposed patch of soil which allows weeds to flourish without being killed off by mowing or fertilization.
How long till I see results from Scotts weed and Feed?
Scotts has been using its natural nutrient feed supplement for almost 40 years. There are a lot of people who are still skeptical about the benefits of this product. To help clear up any confusion, here is an overview of how long it takes to see results from Scotts and Feed.
It takes 2-3 weeks before you can see any changes in your lawn and 10 days before you can see the changes in your garden.
When should you use feed and weed on your lawn?
When the grass is sparse or has issues with weeds, however, it may be necessary to feed and weed more regularly to promote better growth
Feed: If your goal is to encourage growth while reducing weeds in your yard, then you should use a slow release fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate. These fertilizers release nutrients over time to help promote root development for strong stems.
Feed is most often used in late fall and early spring. Weed is most often used when rain is forecasted after an extended period of time without rainfall.
If you are looking for thick, lush green lawns that make your garden look like a lush green forest, then feed your lawn when the weather is warm and weed your lawn when it's cool outside. If you are looking for thin, stringy lawns that don't get much sunlight but still look healthy, then feed and weed your lawn every other week.
What should I put on my lawn in early spring?
In early spring, it's best to put down a layer of leaf mould or compost to prevent the grass from dying. If you want to plant something in your garden, now is the time for that too.
It's important to plant flowers that are going to flower quickly. That way you don't have to worry about dead plants later on. Some good flower choices include tulips and daffodils.
One thing you might want to consider putting on your lawn is a tree so that the yard has some shade during the day time while still getting the benefits of having a tree in front of your house like beautiful flowers and fruits.
Tony Manhart is a passionate gardener who has been tending to gardens for over 20 years. He takes pride in creating beautiful outdoor spaces with plants, trees, and shrubs that can thrive in any environment. He loves to share his knowledge with others and has taught classes on gardening basics and advanced techniques. He is committed to sustainability, using natural and organic methods to create and maintain gardens. He also works with local organizations to create green spaces for communities. When he’s not gardening, Tony enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.
