We all know the saying – with great power comes great responsibility, but don’t you think it’s equally applicable to lawn care too?
Having a lawn, regardless of the size, means maintaining it throughout the year. This is probably why there is a lot of emphasis on buying good quality products for the lawn. That’s not all; you should be aware of and consciously practice good lawn care techniques for better and healthier growth.
However, after treating the lawn with fertilizers, the appropriate watering time is a massive confusion for some. People find themselves questioning their fellow gardeners and re-reading bottle labels to make sure that they are doing it right, but that confusion ends now!
After doing a ton of research (so that you don’t have to), we are here with a guide on when to water after applying weed and feed. Hopefully, this will make the whole process easier and will assist you in ensuring better lawn health.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into it!
When Can I Water After Weed And Feed?
To start with, let’s talk about what exactly a “weed and feed” is. It is a universal term given to any chemical-based product that can improve a lawn’s health while killing weeds. The term itself is self-explanatory – it removes the “weed” and helps “feed” the lawn with necessary nutrients.
One of the most common questions people ask after applying any fertilizer is – when is the ideal time to water the lawn? While it is essential to read the label for appropriate instructions, different fertilizers require different practices. It is also vital to remember that while watering is essential, so is the amount of water and time frame.
Liquid-Based Fertilizers
A liquid-based weed and feed is made for people looking for full coverage. It spreads evenly in the soil and provides it with the required nutrients. It is also much easier to apply than its granular counterpart and offers a quicker release of nutrients.
When it comes to liquid weed and feed, watering is not necessary since it doesn’t need to be broken down to work, but it is a widely popular belief that it is safe to water the lawn after the drying time, which is 2 hours. However, we advise waiting for at least 24 hours before turning those sprinklers on.
A word of caution – over-irrigation can decrease the efficiency of the fertilizer. So, it is vital to ensure that the lawn is exposed to the right amount of water. This is to prevent the weed and feed from breaking down and increasing the chances of unwanted weeds. In a situation like this, the fertilizers help keep the lawn green but do not stop the weeds.
Granular Fertilizers
While liquid fertilizers are the preferred choice, they can be expensive to buy in bulk. This is when granular fertilizers come in handy. They are easier to store as well since they don’t lose their efficiency quickly. Moreover, since they offer a slow-release, they will provide nutrients for many months.
Unlike liquid fertilizers, these need water to activate and break down the nutrients. After application, it is advised to water the soil within 10-14 days. This can be done by an irrigation system, or you could depend on rainfall. Just be wary that it will be dormant and will not work until it is watered in.
What If It Rains?
When it comes to granular fertilizers, as we mentioned, watering them in is a necessity for activation. So, rainfall usually does not have any downside in this situation. However, when it comes to liquid weed and feed, unexpected rainfall can lead to over-irrigation, which is detrimental to its efficiency.
We would advise keeping a close eye on the weather before deciding to apply liquid weed and feed. This way, there won’t be any rainy surprises, or you can plan the application so the probability of rain is only after 2 hours of application. It is crucial to be wary of the weather since even light rain will damage the weed and feed.
The ideal scenario would be to apply it when the weather is clear and cool, with no rain prediction. If it is not possible to judge the weather, then hiring a professional would also be beneficial in situations like this. Not only do they carry out such checks before application, but they will also carry out the whole process more efficiently.
Tips
It is advisable not to mow the lawn before application. Now, we know it is a common practice for people to mow the lawn, thinking there will be fewer weeds to get rid of. However, this does not help as it lowers the chemical’s efficiency because it does not have much to work with.
Keep an eye on the contents of the weed and feed before buying it. The ideal one needs to not only have high nitrogen but equally high potassium and phosphorus levels. Since nitrogen keeps the lawn green, too much of it can cause burning. So, the other two allow the weed and feed to strike a good balance.
For the weed and feed to work best, timing is equally important. The best time to apply is during spring (including late spring) and before winter properly sets in.
Final Words
With that, we come to the end of this guide on when to water after applying weed and feed. We hope this has been informative for you and will help you plan to treat the lawn.
To sum it all up, one thing to remember is that leaving the weed and feed for 24 hours is recommended. However, be sure to read the label behind the product container to get accurate time frames based on the company. In case of any doubts, speaking to a professional will always prove to be advantageous.
Need professional help when it comes to lawn care services in Flower Mound TX? Contact us and get a quote now.