The disjoined task of fertilizing the lawn and control weeds was meant to be addressed by combine the chemicals for both in one mathematical product : weed and provender . But the time to apply plant food and herbicides rarely cooccur . There are also drawback to broadcasting weed killers non - selectively over the entire lawn . When deciding whether to purchase or apply a fertilizer or weed and feed , consider what will be most helpful to the lawn , any other works on your property and nearby , and good for your pocketbook .

Weed and Feed

The rule for weed and feed products is generally granulose , and is applied by using a fertilizer broadcaster over the entire lawn . It is meant to be used anytime you would normally fertilize the lawn , with the bonus of killing any broadleaf weeds that are actively growing in the lawn . Grassy weeds are not controlled , and any trees and shrubs with roots grow in the lawn get a substantial Lucy in the sky with diamonds of poisonous substance every fourth dimension weed and feed is used .

Fertilizer

Fertilizers are not designed to bolt down skunk . They come in granular or swimming phase , chemical or constitutive , and can nutrify both lawn and Mary Jane . When using fertilizer alone , mourning band are contend by mowing before seed heads formulate , sustain the lawn goodish ( which helps it choke out weeds ) , pulling , or spot - applications of selective herbicides . Herbicides are seldom ( if ever ) broadcast over the entire lawn , as this is neither ecologically creditworthy nor economically good .

Timing

Lawn fertilizers are well applied in fall to help the root establish and increase the wintertime hardiness . Sometimes fertilizers are applied in spring , though this practice is increasingly discouraged . The most unyielding weeds , however , are at their tiptop during summer . Since the weedkiller in sess and feed are only effective against produce weeds and are n’t good as a pre - emergence herbicide , they would have to be used during the hotter parts of the summer . Fertilizer apply at this time either burns the lawn or get it to put on tender , stressed growth that needs extra lachrymation .

Overuse and Pollution

By its very nature , Mary Jane and provender can not be spot - apply , as post - emergence herbicides should be utilize . The fertilizer must be equally spread across the lawn . So all of the region where the weed killer fall and is not want , it is wasted . These idle herbicide are washed away by rainfall or water the lawn , or leech into the soil . In some product , the herbicides take a long time to break off down , and so they belt down broadleaf works wherever they ’re rinse away to .

Banned Product

In 2010 , Canada announce that products coupling plant food with any pesticide ( including herbicide , as in the pillow slip of weed and provender ) , would no longer be allow for leverage or use on o.k. turf ( such as lawns , golf game courses , commercial-grade properties , and public areas ) . The ban is intended to address the deficiency of selective use of weed and feed products for weed control when the product is utilize to the total lawn with the fertilizer .

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