Will Weed and Feed Kill My Flowers? What You Need to Know

If you have both a lawn and flower beds in your yard, you may be wondering if you can use a weed and feed product safely around your flowers. This common lawn care product promises to fertilize grass while killing weeds, making it very appealing. But with the herbicide mixed in, will weed and feed damage or kill your colorful blooms?

It’s a key question for any gardener looking for an easy way to care for mixed planting areas. The potential risks depend on the specific active ingredients in the weed and feed you choose. But with care and caution these combination fertilizer-herbicide products can often be used selectively.

How Do Weed and Feed Products Work?

Weed and feed contains two main components:

• Fertilizer to nourish the lawn grass and promote thick, green growth

• Herbicide to target and eliminate broadleaf weeds like dandelions, plantain and clover.

The products come in granular form. The fertilizer feeds the grass roots when it’s watered in after being applied, and the herbicide is taken up by the weed leaves. The chemical that does the killing kills the weeds without hurting most lawn grasses.

What Are the Risks to Flowers?

While great for grass, most standard weed and feed products are not recommended for use around ornamental plantings. Here are some of the potential risks to flowers:

• Foliar damage – Granules landing directly on leaves and flowers can injure them when watered in.

• Root uptake – Chemicals that leach into the surrounding soil can be absorbed by plant roots, damaging or killing them.

• Residual activity – Some herbicides like 2,4-D remain active in soil for weeks, posing ongoing risk.

• Delayed impacts – Damage may take days or weeks after exposure to become visible.

• Increased vulnerability – Even if they survive, herbicide exposure can weaken plants and make them more prone to stress, pests and diseases.

For these reasons, it’s best to keep traditional weed and feed well away from flower beds, gardens, shrubs and other desirable plantings you don’t want to risk injuring.

Are There Any Weed and Feed Products Safe for Flowers?

While most standard weed and feeds are too hazardous for ornamentals, there are some products specially formulated to be low risk when used carefully around established plants. Examples include:

• Preen Flower and Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer – Contains trifluralin herbicide and fertilizer. Trifluralin prevents new weeds but will not harm mature plants.

• The main ingredients in Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3 are 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone. Labeled as safe for many flowers on the list when used as directed

Even these products should be kept off flower foliage. Also, you should never use them near flowers or vegetables that have just been planted. First, test them on small areas of established plants, and always do exactly what the label says.

How to Use Weed and Feed Safely Around Flowers

It’s less likely that damage will happen if you only pull weeds and feed plants that have flowers:

• Carefully read the product label for flower safety information. Avoid products that don’t specify ornamental use.

• Prevent granules from contacting flower foliage by using a shield or washing off immediately if any does land on plants.

• Apply weed and feed at least several years after planting new ornamentals to allow them to mature.

• Water in thoroughly after application to avoid herbicide dust contacting flowers.

• Consider spot spraying weeds rather than broadcasting weed and feed in mixed planting areas.

• Test new products each year on small sections of flowers and beds first before widescale use.

• Rotate between different active ingredients each season to avoid overexposing soil and plants repeatedly to the same chemicals.

With smart practices, many weed and feed products can be safely used near established flowers. But it’s always wise to exercise caution and prevent direct contact with ornamental plantings.

What Are Some Alternatives for Weed Control in Gardens?

If you decide even the safer weed and feed options are too risky for your flowers and vegetables, there are other effective options for keeping beds and borders weed-free:

• Mulching areas heavily with bark, leaves or other organic materials smothers emerging weeds.

• Manual weeding by hand pulling or hoeing avoids herbicide use entirely.

• Targeted spot sprays of general weed killers directly onto unwanted plants.

• Landscape fabric barriers block light to prevent weeds without chemicals.

• Corn gluten meal is an organic pre-emergent weed preventer safe for flowers.

• Vinegar can be used as a mild natural herbicide on young weeds.

• Maintaining turf density with proper mowing, watering, fertilizing and overseeding allows grass to outcompete weeds.

With integrated strategies like these, the lawn and garden can be kept robust and weed-free without having to rely solely on chemical weed and feed products around delicate flowers.

Key Takeaways on Weed and Feed and Flowers

To summarize, key points to understand about minimizing risks from weed and feed use around ornamental plants include:

• Standard weed and feed can damage or kill flowers, vegetables and shrubs. Read labels carefully.

• Some products are specially formulated to be safe on listed species when used as directed.

• Prevent granules from contacting flower foliage to avoid injury.

• Allow new plantings to mature over 2-3 years before using weed and feed nearby.

• Spot treat weeds rather than broadcast applying weed and feed in mixed beds.

• Test products first on small areas of flowers each year before widespread use.

• Rotate chemical modes of action to avoid overexposing plants to the same active ingredients.

With vigilance and care, many flowering plants can tolerate selective use of safer weed and feed products. But when in doubt, use alternative non-chemical methods for managing weeds around delicate ornamentals. Your flowers will reward you with a long and vibrant bloom season.