Should I Mow Before Weed and Feed?

Yes, you should mow your lawn a few days before you weed and feed to improve the effectiveness of your weed killer and fertilizer. While it may be tempting to weed and feed immediately after you mow your lawn, it can stress your turfgrass and reduce the nutrients it receives. Studies by the University of Kentucky show that delaying your mowing by 48 hours increases the potency of weed controls by 30–40%.

If you ever wanted to know, “Should I mow before weed and feed?” you've come to the right place. Our team of writers and researchers at Mowrator have outlined whether you should mow before or after weed and feed, what weed and feed is, and much more.

Key Takeaways

• Mow your lawn 2 to 3 days before applying weed and feed to improve herbicide absorption and fertilizer distribution, and to reduce the risk of fertilizer burn.
• Avoid mowing immediately after weed and feed application to ensure herbicide and fertilizer absorption, prevent soil disruption, and maximize effectiveness.
• Select the appropriate type of weed and feed (granular or liquid, pre-emergent or post-emergent, etc.) based on your lawn's specific needs and timing.

Should You Mow Before Applying Weed and Feed?

You should mow both before and after applying weed and feed, although the timing of how soon to mow before and after you use your weed control is the most important factor. We've included a few dos and don'ts to keep an eye out for if you're planning to mow after weed and feed.

Why is Mowing Before Weed and Feed Recommended?

It's recommended to mow 2 to 3 days before you apply weed and feed because it improves how much herbicide absorbs into weeds, spreads fertilizer better, and reduces herbicide waste. We've expanded on some benefits of mowing your lawn a few days before weeding and feeding a lawn for you to take a look at:

Improved Herbicide Absorption

Mowing a few days before applying weed repellant helps the herbicide absorb into weeds. This is because mowing your lawn will also mow the weeds in your garden — as the weeds recover, they have more leaves for the herbicide to stick to and penetrate the pest. A higher herbicide absorption rate is essential for effective post-emergent herbicide, which means less lawn weed, less money spent on herbicide, and that healthy lawn look you love.

Better Fertilizer Distribution

Your fertilizer (the “Feed” in Weed and Feed) will spread better and fertilize more effectively if you've mowed your lawn a few days before applying weed control. Shorter grass also makes it easier for the fertilizer to reach your lawn's soil, and mowing can remove any debris in the way. Leaving obstacles on your lawn when you apply your Weed and Feed leads to uneven exposure to the fertilizer that limits its effectiveness.

Prevents Risk of Fertilizer Burn

Mowing your lawn before Weed and Feed also reduces the risk of fertilizer burn. Fertilizer burn happens when you use too much fertilizer, increasing the amount of salt and nutrients in the soil to the point where the grass becomes stressed and dehydrated. When you cut the grass before fertilizing, you reduce the likelihood of the lawn fertilizer concentrating and causing fertilizer burn.

Why Should You Avoid Mowing Directly After Applying Weed and Feed?

You should avoid mowing your lawn directly after applying weed controls because it disrupts the soil, stresses your turfgrass, and reduces the effectiveness of your weed killer and fertilizer. When you add Weed and Feed to your lawn, it takes time to spread, absorb, and translocate throughout the plant.

If you mow your lawn immediately, there's a high chance that the fertilizer and herbicide haven't fully absorbed into the soil before the process is disrupted. This can reduce fertilization uptake, stressing your foliage and wasting your purchase.

What does “Weed and Feed” mean?

Weed and feed is a term for a lawn care product that has both herbicides and fertilizer. This type of weed control kills weeds while providing nutrients to your garden, offering a single solution to two problems. While the type of herbicide may differ between products (pre-emergent vs. post-emergent), the concept is the same.

What are Different Types of Weed and Feed?

The different types of weed and feed options include granular for long-term care, liquid for quick fixes, pre-emergent to prevent weeds, post-emergent to remove them, and organic or synthetic formulas tailored to your grass type. There are several weed and feed products, each targeting a specific type of grass, weed lifecycle, or way to release nutrients into your soil. Take a look at this overview table for deciding on the correct type of weed killer after mowing your lawn.

Knowing how long to wait to mow after Weed and Feed is half the battle. The other half is finding the right lawn mower to match your desired precision and power. If you want a lawn care companion that can mow and mulch better, look no further than the S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD and 2WD.

FAQs on Should I Mow Before Weed and Feed?

What is the best time of day to spray weeds?

The best time of day to spray weeds is midday. Studies by the University of Tennessee show applying herbicide at noon is 15–20% more effective than early morning and 10% more effective than evening applications. Higher temperatures and sunlight at noon enhance herbicide absorption and activation, especially for products like PPO herbicides and glyphosate. Avoid spraying early morning or late evening due to temperature inversions, which reduce spray coverage and lead to drift.

What are the different types of weeds that grow in lawns?

There are three different types of lawn weeds: broadleaf weeds, grass weeds, and sedges. Each type of weed competes for your turfgrass' nutrients differently. Broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, have wide leaves with net-like veins and often produce flowers, while grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, have narrow, blade-like leaves resembling turfgrass. Sedges, like nutsedge, stand out with their triangular stems and leaves in sets of three. You should choose the type of weed control and how to apply it based on the type of weeds in your lawn.

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