Zoysia is a tolerant lawn grass, but it takes some care if you want to maximize its potential. Here are our top eight weed and feed options for Zoysia in 2019.
Zoysia Overview
Zoysia is an Asian grass that’s been in America for over 100 years. It’s a warm-season grass with impressive cold tolerance, which makes it a particularly popular choice in America’s grass transition zone between the Atlantic and the midwest.
On top of its temperature tolerances, Zoysia also weathers both heat and drought well, and it doesn’t take much water or maintenance. It’s unusually dense for grass, too, often preventing weeds and other seeds from penetrating it once it’s established.
Aeration and dethatching are a little more critical for Zoysia than most other grass varieties because of its dense nature. When done in early Spring, the grass has time to recover and reach its full potential during peak growing seasons. Try to avoid watering it more than an inch of rainfall per week when you can; this encourages Zoysia to develop deeper, more drought-resistant roots.
At a Glance – Our Top Picks.
GreenView Fairway Formula
GreenView’s Fairway Formula is an outstanding product for helping to create smooth, even lawns – the kind golfers love most. In addition to attacking more than 200 different types of weeds, this product also limits crabgrass encroachment and has a 65% nitrogen formula that supports long-term weed removal.
Like all the best weed and feed products for Zoysia, GreenView’s formula is a Spring fertilizer that helps support optimum growth and hardiness for the rest of the year. You should still apply a fall formula, but if you can only use one, the Spring option is the best choice.
Why We Like It
- Extremely high nitrogen content
- Performs well against many types of weeds
- Lasts throughout all of Spring
Our Verdict
This is an excellent, professional-grade product that’s worth serious consideration for any Zoysia lawn. It’s particularly useful against dandelions, which are a serious problem in some areas.
The major drawback of this product is the high price. GreenView’s Fairway Formula comes in a large bag, but it’s still more expensive per square foot than most other weed and feed products. That puts it solidly in the premium range. Its effects are generally worth the price, but don’t be afraid to consider the alternatives if you’re on a budget.
Editor’s Rating: 5/5
BioAdvanced 3 in 1 Weed and Feed for Southern Lawns
This product is technically meant for southern lawns, which includes warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Centipede, but it works just as well on Zoysia when applied correctly. The feed duration lasts up to two months, which is ideal for supporting established grass during its prime growing season. Its weed prevention lasts six months, which usually means straight through Fall if you apply it at the start of summer.
Overall, this is an outstanding product available in reasonable 5000 sq. ft. bags, which is the smallest most people want to buy.
Why We Like It
- Highly effective formula
- Only needs one application
- Extended weed protection
Our Verdict
BioAdvanced’s mix is easily one of the best weed and feed options on the market, and it’s not hard to see why when your lawn is dark and dense. It also includes iron, which is helpful if you need to support Zoysia planted in poor or drained soil.
The major drawback of this product is how long you have to wait before seeding. The manufacturer recommends 12 weeks, which is significantly longer than many competitors.
Editor’s Rating: 5/5
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed Lawn Fertilizer
Scotts is easily the most famous name in lawn care, so we weren’t surprised when we found their products edging towards our final list. Notably, they’ve improved their formula in recent years to have extra power against dandelions and clover, which are two of the most common weeds that lawns face.
This is more of a weeding-focused product than a feeding-focused one, but it still helps support healthy root systems that can crowd out weeds and stop them from growing at all.
Why We Like It
- Trusted brand with lots of support
- Most potent weed and feed Scotts offers
- Spring formula is ideal for Zoysia
Our Verdict
It’s hard to go wrong when you apply Scotts correctly, and that holds true with this weed and feed mix. The Turf Builder products are available in many sizes to help support different lawn needs, and we always like seeing companies support buyers who have smaller yards and don’t need to buy 15,000+ square feet of coverage. All-in-all, an excellent choice.
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
Sta-Green Weed and Feed
Sta-Green has one of the best formulas on the market. It’s highly effective on many types of grass, it’s unusually affordable for the area it covers, and it’s one of the few Fall products that work anywhere near as well. Most weed and feed products focus on Spring applications, so this functions as a powerful supplementary product.
This product helps kill more than 250 types of weeds, but its real weed-fighting comes from supporting early-Spring lawn growth that can crowd out weeds and other noxious invaders.
Why We Like It
- Helps protect against harsher Winter weather
- Supports deeper, stronger root systems
- No phosphorus
Our Verdict
This is one of our top choices for a Fall weed and feed product. Spring fertilizing is the most important for Zoysia, which is why this product is so far down our list, but you may want to grab a bag or two of this even if you buy another one of our recommendations.
Unlike some other weed and feed products, this blend is widely accepted throughout the country and easy to buy almost anywhere. Overall, it’s a great product, and we highly recommend buying it at least once.
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
Preen One LawnCare Weed & Feed
Preen’s LawnCare mix is a little different from most of the weed and feed products we see. Many products aim to stop weeds before they start growing, but this is a post-growth formula you can apply after weeds start growing. It’s particularly effective against crabgrass, so consider this product above the competition if that’s your big lawn problem.
However, it may take a few weeks to see proper results, so this isn’t the best weed and feed if you need to clear your lawn as soon as possible. As always, remember to follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying a weed and feed product.
Why We Like It
- Post-emergent weed control is rare
- Only requires one application per year
- Reasonably affordable for the bag size
Our Verdict
This isn’t the best overall weed and feed product, but its focus on post-emergent weed and crabgrass control earns it a solid niche in the lawn care market. The reason it’s not higher on this list is that it’s harder to use than most other products. The manufacturer recommends applying it after the 2nd or 3rd mowing of the year, and any other time may not be as effective.
Editor’s Rating: 4/5
Sta-Green Ready-to-Spray Weed and Feed
Most weed and feed products are granules that you need a spreader for, but Sta-Green’s liquid formula only requires a hose and the ability to walk at a steady pace while applying it. Its 20% nitrogen formula is impressive for liquid fertilizer, and its low price makes it particularly attractive to budget-minded homeowners.
Each bottle sprays about 5000 square feet of Zoysia grass when applied as directed by the manufacturer, which is a little on the low side. However, it’s so affordable that you could plausibly buy several bottles and still spend less than you would on a premium granule mix.
Why We Like It
- Easy to apply
- A good alternative if you don’t have a spreader
- Extremely affordable
Our Verdict
Liquid weed and feed isn’t quite as effective as solid granules, mainly because the granules can stay in the soil and continue providing nutrients for months at a time. Sta-Green’s formula is more of a direct-application product that you can finish in about twenty minutes per bottle. We view it as a good supplement for lawns that are already in good shape and need maintenance more than a full-on weed and feed program.
Editor’s Rating: 4/5
Scotts Snap Pac Weed and Feed
It’s probably inevitable that Scotts would be on this list at least twice, given the sheer size of their lineup. The Snap Pac is part of a newer product line that includes the Snap spreader for easier application. Notably, this product helps avoid fertilizer dust or the need to refill your spreader as often. Each Snap Pac automatically sets the Snap spreader to the correct application rate, which we love.
Why We Like It
- Easy for beginners to use
- Always has the right rate of application
- Can use an entire bag at once
Our Verdict
The Snap Pac formula is an excellent Spring and Fall combination that kills most common weeds while promoting healthy root growth. Scotts usually has excellent formulas, so if you’re looking for something you can buy and apply with minimal hassle, this is the product to look at.
However, there are two drawbacks that stop it from being higher on this list. First, this product requires a proprietary spreader. Second, it only covers 4,000 square feet per bag, which is among the smallest coverage ranges of any lawn weed and feed products.
Editor’s Rating: 3.5/5
GreenView Broadleaf Weed Control Plus Lawn Food
This is a weeding-focused product, not to be confused with their more-balanced Fairway Formula earlier on this list. Ideal for casual gardeners who have decent soil and need to trim weeds back before focusing on grass growth, this product treats over 250 types of weeds and comes with a money-back guarantee. That’s always great to see on lawn care products.
Aside from its general effectiveness, this formula has no phosphates, which makes it better for local waterways than some competing products.
Why We Like It
- Low price point
- Available in small bags for small lawns
- Kills most weeds within two weeks
Our Verdict
While we like balanced products the most, there’s something to be said for specialty products that focus on weed control while providing just a bit of support to grass. This product is a bit harder to use than some other weed and feed products because the grass needs to be wet for it to function correctly, but as long as the ground is moist enough first, you can expect to see good results from this product.
The unusually small bag option – covering just 2,500 square feet – is also a point in its favor for some buyers. Larger bags are also available.
Editor’s Rating: 3.5/5
Buyer’s Guide Questions
Should I Use Solid Or Liquid Weed And Feed?
We recommend solid weed and feed (in the form of granules) for most homeowners, particularly those who are still establishing a lawn or working with difficult soil. Liquid weed and feed is more affordable, but those products are better for maintaining lawns that are in good condition than actively improving them.
How Often Should I Use Weed And Feed?
You should use weed and feed up to once each season. Established lawns do not need as much care, though you should fertilize them at least once a year to provide additional nutrients and stop weeds from sneaking in.
Top Pick
The GreenView Fairway Formula is our top choice as an overall weed and feed product. With a professional-level focus – that name isn’t just for advertising – this product is an outstanding option for creating smooth, even lawns.
Premium Choice
The Scotts Snap Pac Weed and Feed blend is extremely expensive for the amount of area it covers, but features like automatically setting spreaders to the correct level make using the Snap system easy for anyone.
Great Value
The Sta-Green Ready-to-Spray Weed and Feed bottles are easily among the most affordable choices on any gardening budget. It’s not quite as effective as a solid fertilizer, but for maintaining a lawn, this is both a fantastic product and a great value.
Table of Contents
