Prevent vs Weed & Feed
(How they work differently and why you need both)
It’s a common misconception that lawn care is either stopping weeds from popping up or killing them once they’ve emerged. Uncle knows the best lawn care is not one or the other. It’s doing both.
Why Do Both Matter and What’s the Difference Anyway?
Prevent is designed to stop grassy weeds like crabgrass before they ever grow. Weed and Feed is designed to control broadleaf weeds that grow differently and cannot be prevented in the same way with a pre-emergent. This does not mean Prevent is missing weeds. It means each product is targeting a different type of weed at a different stage.
Step 1 & 3 – PREVENT!
Prevent is a pre-emergent, meaning it stops weeds before they ever grow. It works by creating a barrier in the soil that prevents grassy weed seeds from sprouting. This makes it your best defense against annual grassy weeds like crabgrass.
Grassy weeds like crabgrass are called “annual” weeds because they come back from seed every year. Every late summer, the crabgrass plant puts on seedheads that then drop into the soil, ready to sprout the next spring. And that’s where Prevent comes in! Put Prevent down right before it’s warm enough for the crabgrass seeds to sprout (usually around mid-March) and the vapor barrier prevents (get it?) the crabgrass seeds from sprouting.
Step 2 – Weed & Feed
Weed and Feed is a post-emergent, meaning it targets weeds after they’re up and growing. It is designed to control broadleaf weeds like dandelions and henbit.It is important to understand that these two products are not doing the same job.
Dandelions are a perennial weed, meaning that they come back from a root system, and not from a seed (although their seedheads will also help spread the plant, especially where grass is thin). On the other hand, weeds like Chickweed and Henbit sprout in the late fall or early winter, stay small until spring, and then seemingly jump out of the ground when temps warm up. The best way to control these weeds is to attack them with Weed & Feed after they’re up and growing.
When you use both Prevent and Weed and Feed you are covering all your bases. Prevent stops grassy weeds before they appear. Weed and Feed targets broadleaf weeds as they break through the surface. Both applications also contain slow release fertilizer that helps feed your lawn and promote healthy growth. Thicker grass equals fewer weeds.
When to Apply Prevent
Prevent has a recommended application window from March through late May. In the Midwest, a good rule of thumb is to begin applications when soil temperatures are consistently nearing 50 degrees. This typically lines up with mid-March through mid-April for the first application, followed by a second application in late May. The second application should be applied about 8 to 10 weeks after the first to extend season long control. Crabgrass can sprout all summer, so you don’t want to miss Step 3 Prevent in May.
When to Apply Weed & Feed
Weed and Feed should be applied when weeds are visible and actively growing. For best results, temperatures should be consistently 65 degrees or warmer. This typically lines up with April through May and into early June. If you are seeing dandelions or henbit in your lawn, it is the right time to apply.
How to Apply: THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Prevent should be applied to a dry lawn and watered in within 48 hours of applying. Watering activates the barrier in the soil that prevents weeds from sprouting.
Weed and Feed should be applied to a wet lawn so the product can stick to the leaves of the weeds. Try to apply when dry weather is expected for the next 24 to 48 hours. This allows the product time to be absorbed and work effectively.
Can I Throw Down Prevent and Weed and Feed at the Same Time?
There is no necessary wait time between Step 2 Weed and Feed and either application of Prevent. However, you need to pay attention to how each product is applied. For example, Prevent needs to be applied and then watered within 48 hours, whereas Weed and Feed goes over a wet lawn and needs to stay dry for about 48 hours. As long as both conditions are met, you can apply Prevent and Weed and Feed on the same day. The practical way to apply both products on the same day is to put down the Prevent, water it in with at least 1/2″ of water, and apply the Weed and Feed while the lawn is wet.
It’s all About the Weed Cycle
To have the best lawn, you need to stop the weed cycle. By using Prevent to stop the crabgrass before it sprouts, and Weed & Feed to catch the broadleaf weeds after they’re up, you’re giving your good grass the best chance to fill in and take over. And the absolute best way to have fewer weeds is to have more grass. And the best way to do that is to Follow the Idiot Proof Lawn Program and do a fall overseeding every year.
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