As lawns across Northern California begin to wake up from winter dormancy, spring presents a critical window for homeowners to get ahead of weeds before they take over.
With rising soil temperatures, increased moisture, and the season’s first growth surge, this is when both weeds and grass are actively absorbing nutrients—making it the most effective time to apply weed-and-feed fertilizers.
When timed correctly, a spring application not only targets fast-growing broadleaf weeds like dandelions and clover, but also strengthens turf as it greens up and thickens, helping lawns naturally crowd out future weed growth.
1. Weeds Are Actively Growing — and Easier to Kill
- Broadleaf weeds like dandelions, clover, and crabgrass begin to grow aggressively in spring.
- Weed-and-feed products work when weeds are actively taking in nutrients, which helps the herbicide move through the plant and kill it effectively.
2. Spring Moisture Helps the Product Stick
- Most weed-and-feed formulas work best on slightly wet grass, so the granules stick to weed leaves.
- Spring typically provides the right moisture conditions, especially after early-season rains or morning dew.
3. Your Grass Is Coming Out of Dormancy
- After winter, your lawn begins its first major growth surge.
- The fertilizer portion of weed-and-feed gives your grass the nutrients it needs to green up, thicken, and outcompete weeds naturally.
4. Timing Aligns With First Mowing
- Experts recommend applying weed and feed after your first or second spring mow, when the lawn is actively growing, but weeds haven’t fully taken over yet
Controlling spring weed growth in early spring should be a priority. It is best to seed in the fall; however, you can spot seed smaller areas in the spring, once the temperatures are at least 50 degrees, which is usually in April and May.
About Lawn Doctor Walnut Creek:
Lawn Doctor is a small-business franchise founded in New Jersey in 1967, with over 300 franchises nationwide. Lawn Doctor Walnut Creek started in the Bay Area in 2020, and we have over 800 customers in the East Bay. We service most of Contra Costa County, from San Ramon to Brentwood.
Lawn Doctor offers aeration and full-lawn seeding, as well as specializing in fertilization, weed, and grub control. We work with homeowners and their gardeners, offering proper watering and mowing recommendations.