Preen One Lawncare Weed & Feed is the best weed and feed for Wisconsin. In this article, we’ll review the five best weed and feed products to help you control weeds and fertilize your lawn in the Badger State.
To create this list, we reviewed products that work on Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season grasses, comparing factors such as cost, coverage area, and whether they contain a pre-emergent herbicide.
We’ve also included a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best fertilizer for your Wisconsin lawn.
Note: All the products on our list are phosphorus-free. Why? Wisconsin law prohibits applying phosphorus to established lawns unless a soil test says it’s needed.
| Price range | Includes pre-emergent herbicides | NPK Ratio | |
| Preen One Lawncare | $ | ✓ | 24-0-6 |
| BioAdvanced 5-in-1 | $ | ✓ | 22-0-4 |
| Pennington Ultragreen | $ | ✗ | 30-0-4 |
| Greenview Fairway Formula | $$$ | ✓ | 24-0-6 |
| Scotts Turf Builder | $$ | ✗ | 26-0-2 |
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for more information on which weeds might be invading your lawn, visit our guide to the most common weeds in Wisconsin.
1. Best Overall: Preen One Lawncare Weed & Feed
Our top pick is Preen One Lawncare Weed & Feed. This product offers a triple treatment with just one application: It blocks crabgrass, kills dandelions and 250 other lawn weeds, and nourishes your lawn for eight weeks.
Preen One Weed & Feed also combines an attractive price with several coverage options, giving you good value (and results) for your investment.
Specifications
Price range: $25.33 to $29.62 for the 9-pound bag.
Herbicides: 2,4-D, 2-ethylhexyl ester, Mecoprop-p, Dicamba, Dithiopyr
NPK: 24-0-6
Available sizes:
- 9 pounds (covers 2,500 square feet)
- 18 pounds (covers 5,000 square feet)
- 36 pounds (covers 10,000 square feet)
Type: Granular
Recommended grass types
- Fine fescues
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Perennial ryegrass
- Tall fescues
Note: This product can also be applied to some warm-season grasses. Check the label for more information.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ Blocks crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds with a pre-emergent | ✗ It can’t be used on St. Augustinegrass, colonial bentgrass, dichondra, or carpetgrass |
| ✓ Treats 250 lawn weeds | |
| ✓ Feeds your lawn for eight weeks | |
| ✓ One of the most budget-friendly options on our list |
Where to buy:
18 pounds
2. Best Weed Coverage: BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed & Feed
Our second recommendation is BioAdvanced 5-in-1 Weed & Feed. Formulated for northern lawns, this product combines post-emergent and pre-emergent herbicides, offering a five-in-one action: It kills and prevents tough broadleaf weeds, kills and prevents crabgrass, and feeds your lawn with slow-release nitrogen for up to three months.
Specifications
Price range: $24.51 to $27.99 for the 9.6-pound bag.
Herbicides: 2,4-D, quinclorac, dicamba, dithiopyr
NPK: 22-0-4
Available sizes:
- 9.6 pounds (covers 4,000 square feet)
- 24 pounds (covers 10,000 square feet)
Type: Granular
Recommended grass types
- Fescue
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Ryegrass
Note: This product can also be applied to some warm-season grasses. Check the label for more information.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ Kills crabgrass in three days | ✗ It can’t be used on bahiagrass, carpetgrass, annual bluegrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, bentgrass, dichondra, or carpetgrass |
| ✓ Treats over 200 lawn weeds | ✗ Application on Bermudagrass may cause temporary yellowing (full recovery can be expected) |
| ✓ Feeds your lawn for three months | |
| ✓ Prevents new weeds (including crabgrass) for six months |
Where to buy:
9.6 pounds
3. Best for Broadleaf Weeds: Pennington UltraGreen Weed & Feed
Killing over 250 broadleaf weeds, Pennington UltraGreen Weed & Feed combines fast-release and slow-release nitrogen in its formula, promoting a quick green-up while feeding the lawn for up to three months. Its resealable packaging makes storage practical and easy.
Specifications
Price range: $24.74 to $24.99 for the 12.5-pound bag.
Herbicides: 2,4-D, 2-ethylhexyl ester, Mecoprop-p, Dicamba
NPK: 30-0-4
Available sizes: 12.5 pounds (covers 5,000 square feet)
Type: Granular
Recommended grass types
- Can be applied to any turfgrass except for Floratam St. Augustinegrass.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ The manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee | ✗ Can’t be applied to Floratam St. Augustinegrass |
| ✓ Kills over 250 lawn weeds | ✗ Has no pre-emergent action |
| ✓ Promotes quick green-up | ✗ Doesn’t treat grassy weeds |
| ✓ Feeds your lawn for up to three months |
Where to buy:
4. Best Spring Fertilizer: Greenview Fairway Formula Weed & Feed
The Greenview Fairway Formula is a spring fertilizer that offers a professional result for Wisconsin homeowners. A single application of Greenview Weed & Feed provides season-long protection against crabgrass while nourishing your lawn. This product also kills over 200 broadleaf weeds and 10 annual grassy weeds.
Specifications
Price range: $39.32 to $41.28 for an 18-pound bag.
Herbicides: 2,4-D, Mecoprop-p, Dicamba, Dithiopyr
NPK: 24-0-6
Available sizes:
- 18 pounds (covers 5,000 square feet)
- 36 pounds (covers 10,000 square feet)
Type: Granular
Recommended grass types
- Fescue
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Ryegrass
Note: This product can also be applied to some warm-season grasses. Check the label for more information.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ Kills existing crabgrass and nine other annual grassy weeds | ✗ Can’t be used on colonial bentgrass, Floratam St. Augustinegrass, carpetgrass, dichondra |
| ✓ Kills over 200 broadleaf weeds | ✗ The most expensive item on our list |
| ✓ Slow-release nitrogen that feeds your lawn for up to 12 weeks | |
| ✓ Its pre-emergent action prevents crabgrass for the entire spring |
Where to buy:
18 pounds
5. Best for Large Yards: Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed5
Covering 12,000 square feet, Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed5 is the best option for homeowners with larger yards. Besides killing over 50 common lawn weeds, Scotts Weed & Feed5 combines fast- and slow-release nitrogen, promoting thick green turf that will outcompete annoying weeds.
Specifications
Price range: $29.97 to $34.49 for the 11.32-pound bag.
Herbicides: 2,4-D and dicamba
NPK: 26-0-2
Available sizes:
- 11.32 pounds (covers 4,000 square feet)
- 33.95 pounds (covers 12,000 square feet)
Type: Granular
Recommended grass types
- Fescue
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Ryegrass
Note: This product can also be applied to some warm-season grasses. Check the label for more information.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ Covers up to 12,000 square feet | ✗ Can’t be applied to creeping bentgrass, St. Augustinegrass (including the Floratam variety), dichondra, carpetgrass, or lippia. |
| ✓ Controls over 50 lawn weeds | ✗ Has post-emergent herbicides only |
| ✓ Combines fast- and slow-release nitrogen that feeds your lawn for up to eight weeks |
Where to buy:
33.95 pounds
Buyer’s guide
What is your grass type?
When choosing your weed and feed, make sure it is appropriate to use on your grass type. Using it on prohibited turfgrasses can cause severe lawn injury. Since the most common grass for Wisconsin is Kentucky bluegrass, we made sure to select products suitable to apply on this grass and the other best grasses for Wisconsin lawns.
Pro Tip: Weed and feed products should be applied only on established lawns. Learn the best time of the year to apply weed and feed in our article: “When to Apply Weed and Feed in Wisconsin.”
Know your NPK
The three numbers on the front of your package are the NPK ratio, which indicates the percentages of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) your fertilizer contains. The best NPK ratio for Wisconsin is one that has a greater amount of nitrogen, no phosphorus, and a smaller amount of potassium.
If you’re unsure how much of each nutrient your lawn needs, it is best to perform a soil test first. (See our guide on how to soil test your lawn to learn how.)
The test report will show you the nutrient levels in your soil so you can choose the right fertilizer for your lawn. Check out our article on how to read a soil test report to learn how to interpret your results.
Types of weed and feed
Some key factors to look for when choosing your weed and feed include the form (liquid or granular), the type of nitrogen (slow-release or fast-release), and the herbicides used (post-emergent or pre-emergent):
- Liquid vs. granular: Some homeowners consider liquid formulas easier to apply, while others prefer granular products, which require a spreader to distribute. If you don’t own a spreader or aren’t willing to get one, a liquid product may be the best choice for you.
- Slow-release vs. fast-release fertilizers: As the name suggests, fast-release nitrogen is readily released into the soil, promoting a quick green-up, while slow-release nitrogen continuously feeds your soil over weeks or months. The best fertilizers for Wisconsin are products that contain both.
- Post-emergent vs. pre-emergent herbicides: Most weed and feed fertilizers contain post-emergent herbicides that kill existing weeds, but some also include pre-emergent herbicides that prevent weed seedlings from sprouting.
Depending on your lawn needs, a post-emergent herbicide will work just fine. However, if you’ve dealt with crabgrass before or have a history of weed infestations, the best option for you is to pick a weed and feed that has a pre-emergent herbicide as well.
Learn more about Wisconsin lawn care
If you would like to learn more lawn care tips for Wisconsin, check out our other articles:
Basic lawn care for Wisconsin:
- Month-to-Month Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar
- The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Wisconsin
- When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin
Other landscaping and gardening tips for Wisconsin:
- Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?
- When to Plant Clover in Wisconsin
- The Best Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin
- The Best Ground Cover Plants for Wisconsin
Call a pro
Have the weeds taken over your lawn? Don’t worry, you don’t have to fight this battle alone: We have experts throughout Wisconsin ready to help. Contact a professional weed control service and destroy your lawn’s pesky invaders.
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