This weed and feed product for warm season grasses contains atrazine which will kill fescue. It clearly states on the front " Use only on St. Augustine, Centipede, Zoysia and Carpetgrass lawns."
Costly Mistake
The weed and feed product in the image above is labelled for specific warm season grasses. It clearly states on the front "Use only on St. Augustine, Centipede, Zoysia and Carpetgrass lawns." We primarily use cool season grasses such as fescue in western North Carolina. This productcontains atrazine which will kill fescue. If you use this on your fescue lawn it will kill it.
Shopping for lawn care products online can be convenient. However, it is easy to accidentally buy a product that is meant for use in Florida rather than western North Carolina. Do not take for granted the products available in local stores is safe for fescue. In one case a local retailer accidentally brought in a weed and feed for warm season grasses. So, READ THE LABEL thoroughly before buying any lawn care product!!!
The weed and feed product killed the clients lawn. All that can be done is replant the lawn. The good news is that if you plant from seed, it is not too difficult or expensive. If you aerate, add lime and fertilize and plant seed in late August then you will have green grass before the winter sets in.
Replanting
If you mistakenly use a weed and feed product and it kills your lawn it is not the end of the world. All that can be done is replant the lawn. The good news is that if you plant from seed, it is not too difficult or expensive. If you aerate, add lime and fertilize and plant seed in late August then you will have green grass before the winter sets in.
READ THE LABEL
The old saying ‘READ THE LABEL” when it comes to responsible use is as true today as it was when I first learned it in ag school back in the 90’s. The EPA requires any pesticide label to tell you everything you need to know about the product including the name of the active ingredient, what proper protective equipment a user must wear, where and how to apply and how to mix.
The EPA also requires the end user of the pesticide read the label. The EPA pushes responsibility for proper use to the end user of the pesticide. This means if you use it incorrectly it is your fault. Pesticide misuse can cause plant damage and other issues.
This is another atrazine damaged fescue lawn from a couple of years ago.
