Best Lawn Fertilizer With Crabgrass Preventer of 2024: Top 6 Picks

By Harry RamosLast update: 2024-03-29

Can you provide your lawn with nutrients and prevent the growth of crabgrass at the same time? It's okay with the best lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer because it is a 2-in-1 product.

Here are the best lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer you can buy in 2024:

  • Best For Strong, Deep Root: Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer
  • Best For Kentucky Bluegrass: Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action-Weed Killer & Preventer
  • Easy To Spread: GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer
  • Slow Release: Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer
  • Best For Zoysia Grass: Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer
  • Best For Established Bermudagrass: GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control
6 Best Lawn Fertilizer With Crabgrass Preventer
Best For Strong, Deep Root
Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer
    Best For Kentucky Bluegrass
    Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action-Weed Killer & Preventer
      Easy To Spread
      GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer
        Slow Release
        Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer
          Best For Zoysia Grass
          Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer
            Best For Established Bermudagrass
            GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control
              See also:

              Prevent other weeds with Best Granular Pre-Emergent

              Best For Strong, Deep Root: Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer

              Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer
              Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer
              Pros
              • Effortless to use
              • Effective
              Cons
              • Overprice

              If the root system of your lawn is weak, it’s very important to improve it as much as possible. Without a strong and deep root, your grass will struggle with most everything such as the attack of pests, moss, disease, weeds, bald patches, footfall, heavy rain, doughnuts, and heatwaves.

              In this case, buy the Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer that is formulated for building a strong and deep root system. Customers also said that although this product takes time to work, it can build deep roots for their lawn.

              Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer Specifications

              Size

              13.35 lbs.

              Coverage

              5,000 sq. ft.

              Highlight Features

              Stops crabgrass before it invades

              Not good for dichondra and bentgrass lawns

              Verdict

              The formulation of the Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer is good for building a strong, deep root and preventing the growth of crabgrass.

              Best For Kentucky Bluegrass: Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action-Weed Killer & Preventer

              Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action-Weed Killer & Preventer
              Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action-Weed Killer & Preventer
              Pros
              • Easy to apply and use
              • Helps the grass grow quickly
              Cons
              • Expensive

              Like other products, the Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action - Weed Killer & Preventer is formulated for people who are looking for a suitable solution to kill weeds, prevent crabgrass and provide your lawn with nutrients.

              However, do you wonder about the safety of this fertilizer on what you are growing?

              According to the manufacturer, it’s safe to use on Zoysia Grass, Fine Fescue, Tall Fescue, Bermudagrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Centipedegrass, and Bahiagrass, especially Kentucky Bluegrass. The safety of this product on Kentucky Bluegrass is proven by customers.

              Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action-Weed Killer & Preventer Specifications

              Size

              20 lb.

              Fertilizer Analysis

              16-0-1

              Coverage

              4,000 sq. ft.

              Highlight Features

              Kills weeds

              Prevents crabgrass for 4 months

              Feeds grass to build a thick and green lawn


              Verdict

              The Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action - Weed Killer & Preventer is effective enough to control many weeds and be safe on different grass.

              Easy To Spread: GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer

              GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer
              GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer
              Pros
              • Simple-to-understand directions
              • Worth the price
              Cons
              • Can't remove dandelions

              Forget products with a complicated application that requires you to dissolve and mix with water before spraying. You can apply the GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer immediately after opening the package. Simply spread the tiny particles on the lawn.

              GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Specifications

              Size

              36 lb

              Fertilizer Analysis

              24-0-6

              Coverage

              15000 square feet

              Highlight Features

              1 Application = 3 lawn treatments

              Kills more than 200 tough lawn weeds

              65% slow-release nitrogen

              Feed up to 12 weeks

              Verdict

              The GreenView 2129193 Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer can help you save a lot of time and effort on your part for spreading.

              Slow Release: Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer

              Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer
              Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer
              Pros
              • Improves the color of your grass
              • Affordable
              • Easy to spread
              Cons
              • Can't control dandelion

              You don't want to use a liquid fertilizer that doesn't last long, right?

              If so, choose a slow-release fertilizer like the Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer. It can feed your lawn for up to 90 days. Of course, this solution will also prevent the growth of crabgrass during this time.

              Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer Specifications

              Size

              48 lbs

              Fertilizer Analysis

              20-0-3

              Coverage

              15,000 Sq. Ft.

              Highlight Features

              Feed up to 3 months

              Pre and post emergent crabgrass control

              Verdict

              If you have little time on caring for your lawn, the Jonathan Green (10457) Green-Up Lawn Food with Crabgrass Preventer helps you to feed it for up to 3 months.

              Best For Zoysia Grass: Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer

              Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer
              Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer
              Pros
              • Makes your lawn dark greener
              • Effective to control crabgrass
              Cons
              • Can't save bare spots on the lawn

              If your lawn is Zoysia grass that is usually attacked by crabgrass, you had better invest in the Jonathan Green Turf 10458. It is specially formulated for this type of grass, so this product can control crabgrass while keeping your Zoysia grass safely. At the same time, it also feeds your lawn with essential nutrients.

              Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer Specifications

              Size

              15 lbs

              Fertilizer Analysis

              22-0-3

              Coverage

              5000 sq. ft.

              Highlight Features

              Crabgrass preventer

              Green up 5M

              Verdict

              The Jonathan Green Turf 10458 Crabgrass Preventer is good for feeding Zoysia grass and controlling crabgrass on this ki d of grass.

              Best For Established Bermudagrass: GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control

              GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control
              GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control
              Pros
              • Helps your lawn greener and thicker
              • Low price
              Cons
              • Slow to control crabgrass

              If you plan to grow Bermudagrass and wonder about the safety of the GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control on this type of grass, learn the information below before making the last decision.

              Although it will harm Bermudagrass seed, this is a wonderful choice for established Bermudagrass. This is proven by customers.

              GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control Specifications

              Size

              13.5 lb.

              Fertilizer Analysis

              26-0-4

              Coverage

              5,000 sq. ft

              Highlight Features

              Prevents crabgrass all season

              Provide nutrients to the soil

              Feed for up to 8 weeks

              Verdict

              Remember that the GreenView 2131251 Lawn Food Crabgrass Control is great for established Bermudagrass, not its seeds.

              How To Choose The Best Lawn Fertilizer With Crabgrass Preventer?

              Do You Need To Control Crabgrass?

              If you want to prevent the growth of crabgrass in the future while providing your lawn with nutrients, choose fertilizers with pre-emergent herbicides that can control weeds. Remember to apply it in early spring to control the attack of crabgrass and other common weeds in summer.

              What Do The Numbers On The Lawn Fertilizer Label Mean?

              Any fertilizer has a combination of 3 numbers on the label, for example, 16-4-8, 32-0-10, and 10-10-10. This is the NPK ratio, standing for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). In sum, they are the percentage of each vital nutrient for your lawn. For instance, 10-10-10 is 10% of nitrogen, 10% of phosphorus, and 10% of potassium.

              Depending on the condition of your lawn, choose a fertilizer with a high percentage of what it is lacking (nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium). Each of them is formulated to serve different purposes:

              • Nitrogen can boost the growth of leaves and help their color become dark greener.
              • Phosphorus improves the growth of flowers.
              • Potassium promotes the healthy growth of the root system.

              If you want to make your healthy lawn grow faster and darker, invest in a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

              Should You Use Granular Or Liquid Lawn Fertilizer?

              To answer the question, let’s learn about their advantages and disadvantages:

              The form of granular fertilizer is tiny particles. If your lawn is too big, you can use a fertilizer spreader to apply it.

              This type doesn’t require you to dilute or mix it with water, but most granular fertilizers are slow-release products. Although this form adds nutrients to the soil gradually, its effect is longer-lasting.

              Liquid fertilizers come in different forms. If you choose a ready-to-spray bottle, simply hook up to the garden hose, then use. Meanwhile, a concentrated liquid requires you to dilute with water before spraying. With water-soluble particles, you need to mix them with water to turn it into liquid before using. This form contains immediate-release fertilizer that works faster, but its result can’t last long.

              Do You Prefer Organic Lawn Fertilizer To Synthetic Products?

              If you care about an environmentally friendly lawn or your family has pets, consider an organic lawn fertilizer that is safer.

              Although synthetic lawn fertilizers are cheaper and work faster than organic types, they contain chemicals. This type of fertilizer can pollute water sources and harm beneficial organisms in soil such as plant-friendly bacteria and earthworms.

              Meanwhile, organic lawn fertilizers are formulated from natural materials such as seaweed, bone meal, cottonseed meal, compost, and manure.

              Unlike the synthetic fertilizers, this type is safe without polluting the environment, especially it can improve soil structure and boost the number of beneficial microorganisms: earthworms and plant-friendly bacteria in the soil. Of course, it is more expensive than another and may require you to apply a few times to see an excellent result in your lawn.

              Do You Need To Add Nutrients To Grow A New Lawn?

              If yes, you need a lawn starter fertilizer that is rich in potassium and phosphorus and low in nitrogen for new grass. In case you are taking care of a stressed lawn, provide it with a fertilizer containing a high potassium level that can keep your grass from stress and strengthen it.

              Which Brands Make The Best Lawn Fertilizer With Crabgrass Preventer?

              Scotts

              This is the most popular fertilizer brand in the United States. One reason for this popularity is the company’s guarantee. Customers can request a refund for any reason. This large brand provides their customers with a variety of different types of fertilizers.

              Nature’s Touch & Dr. Earth

              The Nature’s Touch fertilizers are formulated from organic materials. Although these have both chemical components and organic ingredients, they are safer than commercial fertilizers that are completely formulated from chemical ingredients. Dr. Earth is a smaller brand with fewer fertilizer lines, but it provides organic-based and blended fertilizers.

              Andersons

              The highlight of this brand is that their fertilizers are free of phosphorus. The latter is desirable in the United States because soil in this region is high in phosphorus, for example, most plants are grown near streams and lakes.

              LESCO

              LESCO brand specializes in professional fertilizers that are endorsed by John Deere. Thus, their products are usually used for many golf courses to maintain the turf. However, it’s hard for you to find LESCO fertilizers at local garden centers.

              FAQs

              What is the best time to apply lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer?

              The best times to apply lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer are very early spring and 90 days later in early summer. Specifically, it's 2 weeks before the average last freeze date in your area.

              What happens if you apply too much lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer?

              Applying too much fertilizer to your lawn can increase the nitrogen and salt levels in the soil quickly, causing fertilizer burn. It will damage or kill your grass with the signs of yellow and brown stripes or patches of dead grass.

              How long does lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer last?

              The lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer can keep its effect within 2-6 months, but excessive rain will decrease its working time. The result isn't affected too much because most products are formulated to put up with regular rain and water.

              Will rain wash away lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer?

              Though rain will wash away lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer, there is not much. Why? Any product is formulated to withstand more or less rain and water.

              Is lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer the same as pre-emergent?

              Yes.

              Conclusion

              Is the best lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer a worthy investment? Yes, it can not only prevent crabgrass but also control other common weeds, especially this solution is safe on many kinds of grass. Although the product has pre-emergent herbicides, it even feeds your lawn with essential nutrients without badly affecting its growth. Thus, this 2-in1 fertilizer and preventer product is worth it for you and safe for your grass to make a purchase now.

              I’m Harry Ramos, who's crazy about all things green. I’m here to share some experience in my gardening adventure and how to choose the best products for your garden. Let's dig in, get our hands dirty, and celebrate the simple, earthy pleasures of the garden together!


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