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The 8 Best Weed and Feeds of 2024

Encourage green, lush growth while wiping out unsightly weeds in your lawn

Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed on a yellow background

The Spruce / Amelia Manley

A good weed-and-feed lets you fertilize your lawn and kill weeds in one step, thus saving a lot of potentially tedious lawn maintenance hours. However, because these products are often formulated for specific types of turf grass, it's important to know what kind of lawn you have before choosing one.

“Always consider the specific requirements of your lawn, the type of grass you have, and any soil test results to tailor the fertilizer application to the unique needs of your lawn," says Noah James, professional landscaper and owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance. "Factors such as soil type, climate, and existing vegetation all contribute to the compatibility of a weed-and-feed product.”

You should also consider the type of weed that plagues your lawn. While most weed-and-feeds target the common lawn weeds, if you have a particular type of weed that’s a problem, you’ll want to read the product label carefully to be sure it will kill that specific variety of weeds.

A majority of weed-and-feeds are post-emergent, meaning they kill weeds after they have sprouted and appeared on your lawn. A few, however, are pre-emergent, meaning that they prevent the weed seeds from sprouting. Generally, a pre-emergent is best applied in the spring, while post-emergent products can be applied in the spring or fall.

We considered numerous weed-and-feeds, evaluating them all for effectiveness both at killing weeds and feeding the lawn, range of suitable grass types, coverage, and overall value.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed

Amazon Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed

Amazon

What We Like
  • Gets rid of hard-to-kill weeds such as dandelions and clover

  • Effective NPK ratio

  • Easy to use

  • Effective for up to 8 weeks

What We Don't Like
  • Works best with Scotts brand spreaders

  • Not for use on St. Augustine, bentgrass, or dichondra

We love this weed-and-feed from Scott's thanks to its highly effective ability to kill weeds while greening up your lawn and promoting healthy root and blade growth. This is a granular product that should be used with a spreader following the package directions for the right spreader setting. Ideally, you should use this weed and feed in the spring when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees, but it can also be used as a fall fertilizer.

Go ahead and spread this weed-and-feed across most popular types of grass, including bluegrass, fescue, zoysia, Bermuda, ryegrass, and centipede. You do not want to use it on St. Augustine, however, or bentgrass lawns. The NPK ratio of 28-0-3, which means 28% nitrogen, no phosphorus, and 3% potassium, goes right to work nourishing your turf, helping to grow strong roots and healthy green grass blades.

The included chemical herbicide has Scott's patented WeedGrip technology, which allows the product to adhere better to lawn weeds for fast and effective results. It wipes out more than 50 common weeds, including dandelions, clover, plaintain, and purslane.

Apply it to dew-damp grass, but once spread evenly across the turf, do not water for at least 24 hours. Once the time is up, water it in thoroughly, and then wait at least another 24 hours, or until the grass is completely dry, before mowing your lawn or allowing kids or pets to play on it. Keep in mind you do not want to apply it more than two times per year.

NPK Ratio: 28-0-3︱Formula Type: Slow release︱Application: Granular︱Grass Type: Most common grasses︱Coverage: 5,000 square feet

What's an NPK Ratio?

Lawn fertilizers rely on three major nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (chemical symbol K)—to keep grass in weed-fighting shape. Expressed as a product's NPK ratio, the numbers reflect each nutrient's percentage by weight. For example, product with an NPK ratio of 28-0-3 has 28 percent nitrogen, zero percent phosphorus, and 3 percent potassium.

When it comes to choosing the right product, Noah James says, “The ideal NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ratio for weed and feed fertilizer products can vary depending on the specific needs of your lawn. A common recommendation for a weed and feed fertilizer for lawns is a balanced or slightly higher nitrogen content."

Best Spray

Spectracide Weed-and-Feed Spray

Amzon Spectracide Weed-and-Feed Spray

Amazon

What We Like
  • Can be used on non-Floratam St. Augustine grass

  • No mixing required

  • Can be used as a spot treatment

What We Don't Like
  • Best as a supplement, not full fertilizer

We love how simple it is to apply this weed-and-feed; simply attach the container to your garden hose, turn it on, move the nozzle to the open position, then carefully walk back and forth across your lawn, evenly spraying the product until it is entirely covered. 

This weed-and-feed spray quickly kills numerous weeds, including dandelion, chicory, burdock, thistle, ragweed, and yarrow. You can also use it to spot-treat weeds if desired. However, take care not to let the spray touch any of your desirable garden plants, as it will burn or kill whatever foliage it contacts.

For best results, it should be used on a lawn that has been thoroughly watered the day before, but once applied, do not water again for at least 24 hours, and spray on a day with temperatures below 85 degrees. You can use this on most common lawn grasses, even St. Augustine, with the exception of the Floratam variety of St. Augustine that's commonly used in Florida.

As a fertilizer, it has an NPK ratio of 20-0-0, so it will help green up your grass in the spring, but is best used as a springtime supplement, not your only fertilizer. You can apply it two times per growing season, with at least 30 days in between applications.

NPK Ratio: 20-0-0︱Type: Slow release︱Application: Spray︱Grass Type: Most common grasses︱Coverage: 7,500 square feet

Best Organic

Purely Organic Weed & Feed Lawn Food

Home Depot Purely Organic Weed & Feed Lawn Food

Home Depot

What We Like
  • Kid-and-pet safe

  • Can be used on all types of grass

  • No chemical herbicides

What We Don't Like
  • Can take up to a month for results

If you don't want to use powerful synthetic herbicides on your lawn, or you are concerned about the safety of your pets and kids, then we recommend this weed-and-feed from Purely Organics. It uses clove oil and corn gluten meal to eradicate numerous common weeds, including dandelions, thistle, purslane, spurge, nettle, and many more.

Even better, it is safe for use on any type of grass, even St. Augustine. Apply it with a spreader on a calm day with temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees. The grass should be damp, but not soaked. After application, water your grass lightly, and keep it damp for the next 3 to 4 days. No need to worry about your children or pets; they can safely play or walk on the grass right after application.

You will need to wait a little longer to see the weeds die off with this product than you would with a more potent chemical herbicide, but for many homeowners, that's a small price to pay. Generally, you'll see results within a month or so, but if not, you can reapply the weed-and-feed again 5 weeks after the first application. It can be used any time during the growing season. With an NPK ratio of 10-0-2, it nourishes grass without causing a big burst of growth, which helps reduce your need to mow.

NPK Ratio: 10-0-2︱Type: Slow release︱Application: Granules︱Grass Type: All types of grass︱Coverage: 3,000 square feet

Best Preventative

BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed and Feed

BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed and Feed

Amazon

What We Like
  • Both a pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide

  • Kills crabgrass

  • High in nitrogen for green, lush grass growth

  • Only needs twice-yearly applications

What We Don't Like
  • Not safe for several common types of grass

We love this 5-in-1 weed-and-feed, which for up to 6 full months effectively prevents more than 200 kinds of weed seeds—even crabgrass—from sprouting, and kills already-sprouted weeds and crabgrass. Plus, it nourishes your lawn with an NPK ratio of 22-0-4 which encourages green, lush growth and strong roots for up to 3 months.

You can apply it in the spring, summer, or fall. However, it is only for use on lawns that are all or mostly fescue, Bermuda grass, buffalograss, Kentucky bluegrass, rye grass, seashore paspalum or zoysia. It is not safe for St. Augustine, bentgrass, centipedegrass, or bahia lawns.

Apply this granular weed-and-feed to your damp lawn on a day when temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees, following the package instructions for the lawn spreader settings. Water it in after application, and let it dry completely before mowing, watering again, or allowing your children or pets onto the lawn. It's best to use this twice per year: once in the spring when your lawn starts actively growing, and once in the early fall.

NPK Ratio: 22-0-4︱Type: Slow release︱Application: Granules︱Grass Type: Fescue, Bermuda grass, buffalograss, Kentucky bluegrass, rye grass, seashore paspalum, zoysia︱Coverage: 4,000 square feet

Best for Spring

GreenView Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer

Amazon GreenView Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer

Amazon

What We Like
  • Prevents crabgrass from sprouting

  • Kills over 200 types of weeds

  • Has both quick and slow release nitrogen

What We Don't Like
  • Not for St. Augustine lawns

  • Takes a lot of product for adequate coverage

Unlike many other weed-and-feed products, this one contains both pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. That means your spring application will not only kill over 200 different lawn weeds, including dandelions, thistle, poison ivy, burdock, pokeweed, and ground ivy, but will also prevent crabgrass seeds from sprouting.

As crabgrass can be very difficult to eradicate once it sprouts, we appreciate this effective formula from Greenview's ability to cut down on tedious lawn maintenance. It's intended for use on most popular lawn grasses, including bluegrass, ryegrass, zoysia, Bermuda, bahia, centipede, and fescue, but is not safe for St. Augustine lawns.

Apply this product in spring as soon as you see the first dandelion blooms. Using a spreader, you want to apply it on a day when the grass is damp with dew, but no rain is in the forecast for at least 48 hours. After the two days have passed, go ahead and water thoroughly, then wait at least one more day before mowing the lawn or allowing your children or pets to play on it. The NPK ratio is 24-0-6, and thanks to the combination of quick-release and slow-acting nitrogen, it starts to green your lawn up quickly, and then keeps on nourishing the grass for up to 12 weeks.

NPK Ratio: 24-0-6︱Type: Slow and quick release︱Application: Granular︱Grass Type: Most common grasses︱Coverage: 5,000 square feet

Best for Fall

Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed

Lowe's Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed

Lowe's

What We Like
  • High level of nitrogen

  • Prepares lawns for winter weather

  • WeedGrip technology

What We Don't Like
  • Only for use on a somewhat limited range of grass types

The heat of summer can take a toll on your lawn's health, so it's a good idea to give it a fall feeding with a product designed not only to restore nutrients lost to the summer's high temperatures, but also to provide plenty of nutrients to get your turf through the winter and ready to face spring with a surge of new growth. And we recommend this weed-and-feed from Scotts for the purpose.

It tackles more than 50 common lawn weeds—while some similar products kill more types of weeds than that, this will handle those you are likeliest to face—and contains Scotts WeedGrip technology, which helps the grains cling more tightly to the weeds for faster results. It has a high level of nitrogen, at 28%, as well as 6% potassium.

Apply this mid-September through November as long as daytime temperatures are still over 60 degrees. Spread it across a damp lawn, and then let it sit for 24 hours before watering it in well. You should then wait until the grass is completely dry before letting pets or kids play or walk on the grass.

Note that this is not suited to all types of lawn grass, but is only for bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, bluegrass, centipedegrass, fescue, perennial ryegrass, and zoysia.

NPK Ratio: 28-0-6︱Type: Slow release︱Application: Granules︱Grass Type: Bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, bluegrass, centipedegrass, fescue, ryegrass, zoysia ︱Coverage: 4,000 square feet

Best for Northern Lawns

Sta-Green Weed & Feed Lawn Food

Lowe's Sta-Green Weed & Feed Lawn Food

Lowe's

What We Like
  • High nitrogen content for lush, green growth

  • Kills many types of weeds

What We Don't Like
  • Limited range of suitable grass types

While you can use this weed-and-feed on Bermudagrass, which is a warm-season grass, it's mostly formulated for use on the cool-season grasses found in northern lawns, including fescues, bluegrass. and perennial ryegrass. Apply it once in the spring and again early in the fall, and it will keep your lawn green and healthy with its NPK ratio of 22-0-4, which provides lots of nitrogen for the lushest lawn.

Of course, it will also kill over 250 types of weeds, including dandelion, hard-to-remove clover, spurge, thistle, nettle, and many other unsightly weeds. Like other granular lawn fertilizers, this one is best applied with a spreader, using the appropriate setting for your model of spreader that's indicated on the packaging. It should be spread across a lawn that's damp, but not soaked.

Once applied, wait for 24 hours before watering it in thoroughly, and then wait another 24 hours or until the grass is completely dry before allowing your kids or pets onto the lawn, or mowing the grass.

NPK Ratio: 22-0-4︱Type: Slow release︱Application: Granules︱Grass Type: Cool-season grasses︱Coverage: 4,000 square feet

Best for Southern Lawns

Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action

Amazon Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action

Amazon

What We Like
  • Kills fire ants and prevents other pests

  • High nitrogen content

  • Safe for St. Augustine

What We Don't Like
  • Only safe for a limited range of grass types

If you garden in the south, then you'll love this weed-and-feed from Scotts that kills not only weeds but also that scourge of the south: fire ants. It contains an insecticide that prevents and kills these hard-stinging ants for up to 6 months while also preventing other pests from invading your lawn, including ticks, armyworms, fleas, mole crickets, chinch bugs, and sod webworms.

Plus, it effectively controls dollarweed, dandelion, clover, oxalis, plantain, chickweed, and henbit weeds. On the downside, this is only for use on a limited range of grass types: St. Augustine (including Floratam), centipedegrass, zoysia, and carpetgrass. Using it on other turf types could lead to burned grass or even kill off patches of your lawn.

At 29-0-10, this has the highest level of nitrogen of all the products on our list. That gives your grass enough nourishment to thrive in the punishing heat that is common during Southern summers. Apply this with a spreader in the spring when weeds and fire ants are active.

It can be applied again 8 weeks later if necessary, but do not use it more than twice per year. Unlike most weed-and-feeds, this should be applied to a dry lawn and then immediately watered in well. Allow it to dry completely before walking on the lawn or letting your children or pets into the area.

NPK Ratio: 29-0-10︱Type: Slow release︱Application: Granules︱Grass Type: St. Augustine (including Floratam), centipedegrass, zoysia, carpetgrass ︱Coverage: 8,000 square feet

Final Verdict

Our top choice, Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed, is a great choice for almost any type of lawn grass other than St. Augustine. We love how effectively it kills even tough weeds, thanks to its WeedGrip technology that helps the product adhere better to the weed’s leaves and stems. It also has a high level of nitrogen for healthy green growth and sufficient potassium for strong roots. But if you do have a St. Augustine lawn, then Purely Organic Weed & Feed Lawn Food, which is an organic product that is safe for any type of grass, is a better option.

What to Look for in a Weed and Feed

Grass Type

One of the most important considerations when choosing a weed-and-feed or any other product designed to increase grass health is the type of grass making up your lawn. Most lawns have more than one type of grass, but as a rough guideline, grass varieties are divided into two main groups: cool-season grasses that do best in the northern part of the US and warm-season grasses that thrive in the more temperate south. 

  • Common cool-season grasses include bluegrass, tall and fine fescue, bentgrass, and ryegrass.
  • Common warm-season grasses include Bermudagrass, zoysia, centipedegrass, and St. Augustine. 

Most lawn fertilizers and weed-and-feeds are well-suited to most of those common turfgrasses, but some are formulated for specific varieties or groups of grasses, so it pays to always read the description and instructions carefully to ensure that your lawn can safely be treated with the product. This is especially important if your lawn is primarily St. Augustine, which tends to be more sensitive to many herbicides than other common grasses. For this type of lawn, we recommend the Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action (our best for southern lawns).

Formula Type

There are two basic formulas for weed-and-feed products: Those that use various chemicals to kill weeds and those that use less toxic organic ingredients to get the job done. Either way, all of these are selective herbicides, meaning that they only target certain types of plants, but not most grass varieties; otherwise, they would kill your lawn along with the weeds. By contrast, non-selective weed killers dispatch just about any greenery they touch, including lawn.

Cornmeal is a common ingredient in organic products; it’s especially effective against dandelions and crabgrass. Various plant oils, particularly clove, are also often used in organic weed-and-feeds, including Purely Organic Weed & Feed Lawn Food

Chemical herbicides in weeds-and-feeds can be post- or pre-emergent. BioAdvanced 5-in–1 Weed and Feed (our best preventative pick) has both types. Some common post-emergent chemical herbicides that kill weeds that are already sprouted include 2,4-D amine salts, Triclopyr, and Dicamba. Some of the commonly used pre-emergent chemical herbicides, which prevent weed seeds from germinating, include Prodiamine, Isoxaben, and Dithiopyr.

Whatever type of weed-and-feed you choose, read the directions carefully before applying it to your grass, and keep your pets and children away from the area until the product is completely dry. Generally, it’s best to stay off the lawn for at least 24 hours after applying a weed-and-feed or weed killer to the grass.

Application

Most weed-and-feeds are granular, and are best applied with a spreader. You’ll find the recommended spreader setting listed on the product packaging. Following those guidelines will give you the best results, as you’ll achieve the optimal coverage. 

There are also liquid weed-and-feeds, such as our best spray pick, the Spectracide Weed and Feed. Typically, these come in a bottle with an adapter that fits right onto your garden hose. Once you turn on the hose, you can begin spraying the weed-and-feed evenly across your lawn. You’ll need to take care to spray the product evenly across the grass for the best results. Walk slowly back and forth across the full length of the lawn, moving your hand slowly and steadily from side to side. 

When it comes to the best time of year to apply a weed-and-feed, Noah James, professional landscaper and owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance, says, “For optimal results, apply weed and feed fertilizers when your lawn is actively growing, typically in the spring or early fall. This ensures that your grass receives the maximum benefits, nourishing it from root to tip and promoting healthy growth.”

We especially like Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed for fall use, as it helps not only restore your lawn’s health after the heat of summer, but also prepares it for the winter weather ahead. If you are looking for a spring weed-and-feed to get your lawn off to a good start for the growing season, then we recommend our best for spring option, the Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed and Feed.

NPK Ratio

We’ve covered the “weed,” but of course, these products also “feed” your grass with a combination of three important nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These percentages of these nutrients found in the fertilizer are always indicated on the product package in the form of an NPK ratio, where N is nitrogen, P is phosphorus, and K is potassium. Many lawn fertilizers and weed-and-feeds contain small amounts of other nutrients as well, such as iron and calcium, but the “big three” are most important for your lawn’s health.

The most crucial nutrient for your grass is nitrogen, which promotes green, lush blades and strong, healthy roots. Potassium further encourages healthy root growth and helps turfgrasses survive periods of drought or rough weather. It’s important to note, however, that many areas tightly regulate or even ban the use of phosphorus on residential lawns due to this mineral’s potentially harmful effects on bodies of water. Runoff from lawns treated with phosphorus can cause an increase of algae growth and a decrease of oxygen in nearby bodies of water, including ponds, streams, and lakes.

Understanding Garden Fertilizer Labels

The Spruce / Ellen Lindner

While phosphorus is required for healthy grass growth, most established lawns can get enough of it from the soil to thrive. Our top pick, Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed has an NPK ratio of 28-0-3, making it well-suited to boosting the health of established lawns. 

Typically, weed-and-feed products have NPK ratios formulated to nourish the most common varieties of lawn grass, but some are more specialized to effectively feed different types of grasses, such as cool-season or warm-season lawns. For example, Sta-Green Weed and Feed Lawn Food (our best for northern lawns, which is formulated mostly for northern lawns, has an NPK ratio of 22-0-4, while Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action has an NPK ratio of 29-0-10 (our best for southern lawns).

Why Trust the Spruce?

Michelle Ullman is a commerce writer for The Spruce who specializes in home improvement products, including tools and landscaping supplies. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard. She’s also an avid gardener, and loves to spend time caring for her garden and many potted plants, both indoors and outside.

For this roundup, she considered dozens of weed-and-feeds, evaluating each for effectiveness of weed control, level of nitrogen and other nutrients, range of grasses it can safely be applied to, and overall value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative, as well as reviews and information on various gardening and lawn maintenance websites. 

Our experts:

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Indicators: Phosphorus: United States Environmental Protection Agency.