Should I Fertilize or Kill Weeds First? - Charlestown Landscaping, LLC (2024)

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• (610) 608-3965

• July 10, 2020
• Commercial Landscape, Lawn Maintenance

Many people want to have that professionally manicured look for their yards. All those lush and green lawns do need a little help with the use of lawn fertilizer & weed control products. An essential part of the process is the exact time you choose to apply these products, along with selecting the right formula for your grass. If you are still confused about using these products, please take a few minutes to read up on lawn fertilizer & weed control.

Treat Those Weeds First

If you want to improve your lawn’s appearance, then you will need a weed control product and fertilizer. However, you need to apply these products in a specific order. The first course of action should be to use a safe herbicide to get rid of those weeds. Not only are weeds unsightly, but they can steal nutrients and water from your grass. The roots of the weeds will also compete for space in the first few inches of your soil, and they can effectively “choke” the grass and plant roots. As you can tell, it is vital to get rid of those weeds in your first step.

For those bare spots in your yard, you will want to till those spaces to help bring any weed seeds to the surface. A preemergent herbicide can be applied to the soil. Before you start adding fertilizer to your grass, you should wait at least a week. This period will give your grass a chance to absorb the weed control product. After a week, you canreseed your lawnwith the appropriate grass species. In many cases, those palm-sized bare spots will fill in naturally. If there are still weeds poking through after a herbicide application, you might want to choose a glyphosate product to prevent further weeds in your yard.

When to Apply Grass Fertilization

Once you have sprayed the weeds with a herbicide, it is time to add fertilizer to your yard. In most cases, you need to apply lawn fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. Many people choose May or June to implement their first application of the fertilizer. You should think about adding another application of fertilizer in the early fall. When you are ready to apply fertilizer, your lawn should not be under any stress, such as scorching heat or heavy frosts. However, there are some exceptions to the rule with different grass species and climates.

Fertilizers are essential to your yard’s health, and it needs to be fed even in the fall and winter seasons. Many professionals suggest that you fertilize at least four times a year with two-month intervals. In some cases, fertilization can be skipped in the summer if your area experiences a substantial rain. That extra water can wash away the fertilizer, and those chemicals can end up in your drinking supply.

Weeds can affect the health of your grass and plants. You will want to get rid of them before adding fertilizers to your yard. While lawn fertilizers are created to boost the nutrients of your grass, these products can be harsh. When weeds are already stressing out the lawn, you don’t want to add a product that can cause additional problems for the health of your grass.

Check Your Soil Health

If you are having a constant problem with weeds, you might want to look at its source. Weed control products are great for occasional use, but you should not rely on them to maintain your lawn. You want to have a thick and healthy lawn to create a barrier to stop weed seeds from germination. The grass blades should be at least two inches tall to help reduce the amount of sunlight that can accelerate weed growth. Soil pH is another essential factor for a healthy yard. You should think about keeping a pH meter to test your soil. For thebest growing environment, you want the soil to stay at a pH level of 7.0.

Weed Control and Feed

In any garden center, you will find a wide variety of “weed and feed” products. However, many of these products are not designed to kill those established weeds. These products use a preemergent herbicide formula to stop weed germination. If you have an established weed problem in your yard, you will want to avoid these weed control and feed formulas. You should focus on the spot control strategy to target those weeds. When you use herbicides and fertilizers separately, you can apply them in a specific manner for better control of your lawn care.

For your specific product, you will want to follow the instructions of the weed killer and fertilizers. When applying the weed killer, you should lightly water the lawn for a better application. Fertilizers required you to apply them on sunny days with no chance of rain. You want the chemicals to soak into the ground and not wash away.

Natural Weed Control Killers and Lawn Fertilizers

If you want to reduce your impact on the environment, you might want to use an organic product to protect pets, children, and local wildlife. Many people choose to use a spray instead of pellets to reduce the chance that a person or animal picks up the herbicide or fertilizer and ingests it. In many garden centers, you can find environmentally-friendly products that will treat your lawn and keep your family safe.

Treat Your Outdoor Space with Lawn Fertilizer & Weed Control

Lawn fertilizer & weed control products are useful tools to keep your grass looking thick and green. However, you need to treat those weeds before moving on to the fertilization stage. With this combination, you can keep your outdoor spaces looking well-maintained throughout the year.

If you don’t want to deal with the hassles of weed control and fertilization, you should hire a professional crew. At Charlestown Landscaping, we have the experience to handle all your lawn care needs, including weed control and fertilization. We can find the right solutions to give you a beautiful lawn without any of the hard work. Make sure tofill out the contact formto schedule a consultation with us.