As a homeowner or professional, we take pride in our lawn appearance.
Unfortunately, weeds tend to sprout and take over the green lawn.
Using Scotts Weed and Feed will help us get to the root of the issue while promoting grass growth.
Scotts Weed and Feed may take up to 4 weeks to start showing results. You will notice weeds begin to curl within a few days after application. Weed grip technology is used to target broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions and clovers and kill them at the root.
There are certain processes to follow for Scotts Weed and Feed to work properly and yield the desired results, which we’ll talk about now!
Table of Contents
Scotts Weed And Feed Timeline And Results
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed feed your yard while also killing weeds.
You will be able to see greener grass in 1–5 days, but full results won’t arise until 4-6 weeks later.
In addition, the weed control feature will start eliminating pesky plants within 7 days.
Complete weed elimination may take up to 14 days.
Scotts Weed and Feed consist of post-emergent herbicides, and these attack established weeds in your lawn without harming the grass.
The active ingredients are dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid (mecoprop).
Do not water the lawn for at least a day after application, so the chemicals have a chance to reach the weed roots and avoid surface runoff.
Different Forms Of Scotts Weed And Feed
Determining which form of Scotts Weed and Feed to use depends on the size of your lawn and the tools of application you are comfortable with.
Both granular and liquid forms are available.
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed are better for covering larger areas, whereas Scotts Liquid Turf Builder is mainly used for small yards.
After application, both the granular and liquid types kill weeds within a month.
Nitrogen-rich fertilizer is present in both products and starts showing results within a few days of application.
Make Sure You Have the Correct Product
There are a few products with similar characteristics like weed and feed, but they may only contain one component.
Weed and Feed contain both herbicide and fertilizer.
Check the front of the bag or bottle for analysis.
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed show the N-P-K ratio of 28-0-3.
This means 28% Nitrogen, 0% phosphorous, and 3% Potassium.
Nitrogen is what makes your grass green and thicken.
Phosphorus is used to strengthen plant roots but is illegal to use in 11 states.
Potassium helps prevent disease and fight drought.
If you recently applied a different fertilizer, wait 30 days before applying Scotts Weed and Feed.
This prevents over-fertilizing, which can actually damage the grass.
How to Apply Both Product Types
When using the Scotts granular type, you need a spreader.
Use either a drop spreader at the 5 settings or a broadcast spreader with an edge guard at the 3.5 settings.
We recommend Scotts Turf Builder Edgeguard Broadcast Spreader.
For smaller areas, a handheld spreader will do fine.
The granules are thin and will spread fast.
Start at the perimeter of the lawn and move toward the middle while walking in rows.
Make sure to cover the lawn in even sweeps by walking at a slow pace and slightly overlapping with each pass.
Drop spreaders will align with the previous wheel track with each pass.
Broadcast spreaders must be 5′ ft from the previous wheel track.
Scotts Liquid Turf Builder is known for its easy application.
You just connect the bottle to your water hose and spray.
Follow the perimeter of the lawn and spray in a sweeping motion as you cover the entire lawn.
When To Use Scotts Weed And Feed
The best time to apply Scotts Weed and Feed is with the morning dew or after watering the lawn.
You want the lawn to be moist so the granules will stick to the weeds and soak into the roots.
Do not apply if it is windy or the forecast shows rain in the next 24 hours.
Wait 24-48 hours after application to water your lawn next.
Put equal amounts of water throughout the yard.
Make adjustments to nozzles on your full or part circle irrigation sprinklers.
Improper watering can lead to a burned lawn.
Scotts Weed and Feed contain a mixture of quick-release and slow-release fertilizer, which needs heavy irrigation to dissolve.
For the best application using Scotts Liquid Turf Builder, make sure your garden hose is spraying above 40 psi.
Correct water pressure allows for the proper dilution and spread of the product.
Picking The Right Amount For Scotts Weed And Feed
Knowing your lawn size will help determine how much weed and feed you need.
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed come in two available sizes.
The 14.29 lb bag covers 5,000′ sq ft, and the 42.87lb bag covers 15000′ sq ft.
Scotts Liquid Turf Builder comes in a 32 fl oz bottle and covers up to 6,000′ sq ft.
Measuring the length and width of your yard will provide the square footage.
Depending on the size of your lawn, you may need to use multiple bags or bottles for full coverage.
Use this chart to help determine how much you need.
| Yard Size (Sq Ft) | Turf Builder 14 lb Bag | Turf Builder 42 lb Bag | Liquid Builder 32 fl. oz. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000’ sq ft | 1 bag | 0.33 bags | 0.83 bottles |
| 7,500’ sq ft | 1.5 bags | 0.5 bags | 1.25 bottles |
| 10,000’ sq ft* | 2 bags | 0.67 bags | 1.67 bottles |
| 20,000’ sq ft | 4 bags | 1.33 bags | 3.33 bottles |
| 40,000’ sq ft** | 8 bags | 2.67 bags | 6.67 bottles |
| 80,000’ sq ft | 16 bags | 5.33 bags | 13.33 bottles |
*This is around the average size of an American yard (roughly ¼ of an acre).
**This is roughly equal to one acre of yard.
Types of Turf Grass
Scotts weed and feed kill 57 types of weeds with a focus on dandelion and clovers.
It works to fertilize the following types of grass.
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Fescue
- Ryegrass
- Centipede
- Bahiagrass
- Bermuda
- Zoysia
Do not use this product on the following types of grass
- St Augustinegrass
- Floratom
- Dichondra
- Lippia
- Carpetgrass
- Bentgrass
Make sure you are only applying Scotts Weed and Feed to turf areas and not flowerbeds or gardens.
Best Time of Year to Apply
Depending on where you live in the U.S. will determine when you will apply Scotts Weed and Feed.
Certain regions contain warm-season grass, such as Bermuda, Buffalo, and Zoysia.
When colder weather approaches, these types of grass will be dormant.
Other regions have cool-season grass, such as Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, and Kentucky Bluegrass.
These grass types need frequent watering or shade and do not handle the heat well.
The best time to apply Scotts Weed and Feed is when the temperature ranges between 65-85° degrees Fahrenheit (29° C).
Northern states should utilize April through September, while southern states should apply from March through September.
Apply once in the spring and the fall if possible
The Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed contains post-emergent herbicide for broadleaf weeds plus a 28-0-3 fertilizer.
The high nitrogen content makes it great in the spring when your lawn needs both nutrients to help establish new grass after dormancy.
Be careful about using too much nitrogen with cool-season grass types because not as much is needed as warm-season grass types.
Do not apply more than twice a year.
Using weed and feed during the winter doesn’t work very well because fertilizer could leech through the soil, and there would be no benefit at all.
When To Mow And Reseed After Scotts Weed And Feed
Tall grass should be mowed down a couple of days before applying Scotts Weed and Feed.
Refrain from mowing for 48 hours after application.
Wait a month after applying to reseed.
The best time to reseed is once a year and in the early part of spring.
You want to mow every 5 days for a month to spread the new seeds and kill any existing weeds.
When you mow, do so on high and leave the grass clippings on the lawn.
Doing this will recycle the nutrients from the fertilizer back into the soil, known as grasscycling.
Check out our guide on how often to mow your lawn to make sure you’re keeping your grass as healthy as possible.
How Long to Stay Off the Lawn
After applying Scotts Weed and Feed, wait a minimum of 24 hours for the product to soak into the soil.
Let the treated area dry before walking on the grass.
You do not want to track chemicals in your house!
Do not expose children or pets to the area for 24-48 hours after application.
Allowing optimal time for the product to work will show the best results.
Learn how long to wait after fertilizing to water your lawn too by heading over to our guide.