Pre-Emergent vs Fertilizer: What Should You Apply First in Spring?
Pre-emergent should go down first in early spring to prevent crabgrass and weeds before they germinate. Fertilizer can wait a few weeks until the grass is actively growing. Many combination products apply both simultaneously, but timing the pre-emergent correctly is the priority.
How Do Pre-Emergent Herbicide and Spring Fertilizer Compare?
Pre-Emergent Herbicide and Spring Fertilizer split 5 categories evenly. The breakdown below covers timing priority, weed prevention, lawn greening, combination products, new seeding compatibility.
| Factor | Pre-Emergent Herbicide | Spring Fertilizer |
|---|---|---|
Timing Priority Pre-emergent has a narrow window (soil temp 55 F). Missing it means a summer of weeds. Fertilizer timing is more flexible | ||
Weed Prevention Pre-emergent creates a chemical barrier that stops weed seeds from germinating. Fertilizer does not prevent weeds | ||
Lawn Greening Fertilizer provides nutrients for green growth and recovery from winter. Pre-emergent has no nutritional value | ||
Combination Products Products like Scotts Step 1 combine pre-emergent and fertilizer, solving the timing dilemma | ||
New Seeding Compatibility Pre-emergent prevents grass seed from germinating too. Never use it when overseeding. Fertilizer helps new seed establish |
When Should You Choose Pre-Emergent Herbicide?
Choose Pre-Emergent Herbicide when you prioritize timing priority, weed prevention. Pre-emergent has a narrow window (soil temp 55 F). Missing it means a summer of weeds. Fertilizer timing is more flexible
- Timing Priority: Pre-emergent has a narrow window (soil temp 55 F). Missing it means a summer of weeds. Fertilizer timing is more flexible
- Weed Prevention: Pre-emergent creates a chemical barrier that stops weed seeds from germinating. Fertilizer does not prevent weeds
When Should You Choose Spring Fertilizer?
Choose Spring Fertilizer when you prioritize lawn greening, new seeding compatibility. Fertilizer provides nutrients for green growth and recovery from winter. Pre-emergent has no nutritional value
- Lawn Greening: Fertilizer provides nutrients for green growth and recovery from winter. Pre-emergent has no nutritional value
- New Seeding Compatibility: Pre-emergent prevents grass seed from germinating too. Never use it when overseeding. Fertilizer helps new seed establish
Where Are They Equal?
These 1 factors showed no meaningful difference between Pre-Emergent Herbicide and Spring Fertilizer.
- Combination Products: Products like Scotts Step 1 combine pre-emergent and fertilizer, solving the timing dilemma
Sources
Source:Scotts: Turf Builder Weed and FeedSource:Michigan State University Extension: Lawn CareLast updated: