Weed & Feed is Bad for Trees
We know, people have told you it is fine.
We know, the marketing tells you it is fine.
We know, you have done it for years and your tree looks fine.
Weed & Feed is bad for trees.
Weed and feed products are designed to be a simple single product that is home owner friendly, however weeding and feeding are two very different actions.
One action is to kill plants (that are not sod) and the other action is to improve the health of soil (in theory).
The herbicide in most weed and feeds is a “woody stem killer” and trees are woody stemmed plants.
There is no safe distance for application in an urban setting as the chemicals will leech/move through the soil in water. Even if your neighbor uses it, your tree will be affected.
While the dose may be low enough not to immediately kill your tree, it will cause it stress and combined stress is what kills trees.
The signs of stress caused by weed and feed appear months after application, often late summer:
- reduce vigor
- lead burn
- wrinkled leaves
- damages outer layer of leaf
- limp droopy leaves
At Texas Tree Surgeons we love trees and we want trees and lawns to live symbiotically together, not at odds of one another. If you notice any signs of stress on your tree, or would like help in managing a healthy balance of needs in your yard please schedule an assessment with one of our certified arborists.
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