42 AMATEUR GARDENING 29 JUNE 2019
L
AWN weed, feed and moss killer
treatments rank alongside the
self-winding hose reel and the
electric rotary lawn mower as
one of the best-ever labour-saving
gardening inventions. For around a
tenner, and the expenditure of a little
gentle exercise, you can turn an
average-sized patch of weedy, stunted
and moss-riddled grass into a lawn to
be proud of within a few weeks.
Combined weed and feed treatments
contain chemicals that kill broadleaved
weeds like clover, dandelions and
daisies without harming the grass.
They also contain a chemical to kill
moss, and a fertiliser to boost grass
growth. All three components work at
the same time, and you’ll often see
results within a week.
For gardeners
who don’t like using
chemicals there are
organic combined
treatments such as
Westlands SafeLawn, but
they won’t kill weeds.
The easiest way to
apply a combined lawn
treatment on small to
medium-sized lawns is to
buy it in a plastic spreader
pack that has a flip-out
spreader. Before starting,
you may need to remove
a foil or plastic seal
beneath the spreader.
Apply between May and August
when weeds and grass are growing, and
it’s not frosty. For best results choose a
dry day when the soil is still moist but
Lawn weed and feed products
Best techniques to get the job right with Tim Rumball
How to use tools
there’s no rain forecast imminently. Give
the lawn a light mow on a high to middle
cut to pick up debris.Keep away from ponds
Starting at one edge of the lawn, flip
open the spreader, tilt the pack forward
to release the granules and at the same
time walk slowly forward. Note where
the granules are falling. Keep them off
flowerbeds and paths, and away from
ponds. Walk slowly up and down the
lawn in parallel lines keeping a steady,
even, light flow from the spreader. You
don’t need to shake the pack. Avoid
overlapping, and keep going until you’ve
covered the whole area. To finish, brush
any stray granules off hard surfaces such
as paths, as they can stain if left.
For bigger lawns use a calibrated
wheeled ‘drop’ lawn
spreader (not one that
flings the product out) to
distribute the granules at
the rate recommended
on the pack. Most
brands of weed, feed
and moss killer are
available in bigger packs.Water the granules in
If it doesn’t rain after two
days, water the granules
into the lawn thoroughly.
Until they are watered in
you should keep children
and pets off the lawn.
Don’t throw the plastic
spreader pack away – you can buy refills
(usually cheaper) in cardboard packs
and reuse the spreader.Tim Rumball explains how to get the best results from weed and feed treatments
If you don’t own a calibrated wheeled
spreader or a plastic flip-top spreader,
buying the cardboard packs to save
a couple of pounds may be false
economy. Without a spreader it is very
difficult to judge accurate distribution
of weed feed and moss killer granules.
You’re only option is to measure out
the recommended amount for each
square yard, make a square yard
template, place it on the lawn and
sprinkle the granules as evenly as
you can. You have to do this for every
square yard individually.
The grass should start to look greener
after a week and you can mow from four
days after treatment, if necessary. Bin
lawn clippings from the first cut after
treatment, and compost the next two –
don’t use as a mulch. After two weeks
any moss among the grass will turn black
and weeds will start to shrivel. At this
point rake the lawn thoroughly with a
metal fine-tined lawn rake or use an
electric scarifier to remove the dead
moss and debris, and then bin it.
A week or two later you should
see a significant overall improvement
in the quality of your lawn. For a really
sparkling finish, lightly overseed the
whole lawn with fresh grass seed after
raking out dead moss, and water it in.
You should use weed, feed and moss
treatments no more than twice in a
season, leaving at least six weeks
between treatments.Walk slowly up and
down the lawn,
making sure there’s
a steady, even fl ow
from the spreaderIf the weather is dry, water the treatment
in thoroughly two days after spreading itFor bigger lawns use a calibrated
wheeled ‘drop’ lawn
spreader (not one that
flings the product out) to
distribute the granules at
the rate recommended
on the pack. Most
brands of weed, feed
and moss killer are
available in bigger packs.Water the granules in
If it doesn’t rain after two
days, water the granules
into the lawn thoroughly.Apply between May and AugustUntil they are watered in
you should keep children
and pets off the lawn.
Don’t throw the plasticFor bigger lawns use a calibratedFor bigger lawns use a calibrated
wheeled ‘drop’ lawnWater the granules in
If it doesn’t rain after two
days, water the granules
into the lawn thoroughly.
Until they are watered in
you should keep children
and pets off the lawn.Child and pet-friendly organic
combined lawn treatments
won’t kill weedsCommon broadleaved weeds in lawns
include clover (pictured) and daisies