The Grass Doctor

Can I plant grass seed and Scotts Turf Builder with Crabgrass Preventer at the same time?

Or will the Crabgrass Preventer kill the grass seed? If not when should I plant my grass seed in a few bare spots that I have... Not 100% sure I will have Crabgrass but I just don't want to get it!!! I will apply Scotts Turf Builder w/ weed halter in 1 month after this prevention treatment...

Public Comments

1. I don't think you would want to do the grass and theScott's at the same time, it would probably burn up your seeds. You should probably wait until one lawn mower cutting. That would be a safe bet in being reassured your grass has taken hold and is ready for feeding. I'm not sure if the Scotts has built in fertilizer, but I think it does, regardless, you need to feed the grass as well as weed prevention, but in the same sense, you wouldn't want to apply any chemicals until the grass is established, and well on it's way. Good luck with green grass and no crabgrass, if you figure it out totally, be sure to let the rest of us know.
2. Planting seed with the fairly high nitrogen Turf Builder is probably not a great idea even though it would be cool to do it all at the same time. The grass seeds would likely germinate and the turf builder will get on the blades and kill them. I believe the turf builder bag has some recommendations for how tall the blades need to be before an application. Are you sure you will have crabgrass? You will have lots of other weeds as well.
3. These products normally have instructions printed on them that explain how long to wait before and after new seed is applied.
4. As the owner of a landscaping and lawn maintenance company, I can assure you that you can’t put down new seed and Scott’s crabgrass preventer at the same time. The chemicals used in the crabgrass preventer will work in the same way on your new seedlings. They will be killed. Not the outcome you are looking for. I recommend that you properly prepare your soil for the new seed, add seed starter fertilizer (made especially for getting new seed off to a good start), put down your seed, cover it with peat moss (it will keep it moist and the birds will not eat it) and water well for about 3 weeks keeping the soil moist at all times. Once you have cut your grass 3 times, you can then safely use your crabgrass preventer, but by then, it will only work on new crabgrass that will germinate. It will do nothing for established crabgrass. You will need a post-emergent crabgrass killer for that issue. Just so you know, there are commercial grade products available that would allow you to seed and use these particular pre-emergent crabgrass control fertilizers at the same time. However, these products are costly and not usually available to do-it-yourself-ers.
5. ya know, I'm almost positive there's directions on the bag.... some I found online say you cannot seed or sod for FOUR MONTHS after using nearly the same product... so....if you don't already HAVE crabgrass, why use that product?.... or do you not want to plant grass at all this season???... http://www.antonline.com/p_3215-NX_660624.htm
6. You can't, just decide which one you need greater and save the other treatment for later on