How to Apply Combination Fertilizer and Weed Killer

RON HAZELTON:
Ah, the sights and sounds of spring. Flowers popping up everywhere. But the venerable dandelion is really a devil in disguise. They could easily take over an entire lawn but I've got a secret weapon in the name of lawn and gardening expert, Ashton Ritchie.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Ron, how you doing? Good to see you.
RON HAZELTON:
Good to see you.
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
You know, they look so pretty right now, don't they?
ASHTON RITCHIE:
They do.
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
You know, if they just stayed yellow all the time, but unfortunately the puffballs come out, then the seeds blow around and get into your flower beds. But now is a great time to take care of the dandelion, Ron.

You've got, you know, it's actively growing and so you would want to use a good weed and feed that will not only kill the dandelions but encourage the good grass to fill in the area where the dandelion dies. You've got an area over here that has really responded very nicely. The grass just won't let the weeds have a chance to get going. I mean notice how thick the lawn is?
RON HAZELTON:
Yeah.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
So the combination of, of feeding your lawn regularly so it's not starving, so that it fills in the grass is, is healthy and got a good root system and the weeds just have a hard time getting started. But believe me, if those dandelion seeds fall right here, they won't grow.

And the second thing is, mowing the grass taller, around two and a half inches, makes a big difference.
RON HAZELTON:
Now why is that?
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Well, it, it means that the grass is a better competitor against the weed.
RON HAZELTON:
Grow the grass, attack the weeds. That's the strategy. I unload my new spreader from the van and get ready to start. I ask my coach and mentor, Professor Ritchie for a bit of advice.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Make sure that you set the spreader setting. And on the back of every package -- there's a spreading setting. This one says it needs three and a quarter, okay. So we come around to the dial and we set it at three and a quarter.

RON HAZELTON:
My back has been bothering me a little bit, would you, would you put that --
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Sure, sure I've heard that one before.
[SOUND CUT]
The neat thing about the spreader is that it has this edge guard. The shield actually comes in and so now the spreader only throws the fertilizer in one direction. So that means you can do all around the outer perimeter of your yard and you'd have to put fertilizer on your driveway or onto your flower beds. And then once you've got the whole outer perimeter treated, then you disengage and now you're ready to go back and forth.

You get to a nice six foot wide pass of fertilizer and so it's gonna go a lot faster.

RON HAZELTON:
This kind of weed control and fertilizer combination should always be applied when the grass is wet.  It’s important that the granules stick to the dandelion leaves. Laboring under Ashton's close scrutiny, I get to work.
[MUSIC]
Well, Professor, how did I do?
ASHTON RITCHIE:
You missed a spot over there.
RON HAZELTON:
Oh, there.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Bo, just kidding. Just kidding.
RON HAZELTON:
Thank you for your help.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Seriously, Ron, you're well on your way to have a great looking lawn.
RON HAZELTON:
So will you come back next year and see how I'm doing?
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Yeah --
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
RON HAZELTON:
I'm pushing for that.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
I am looking forward to an A --
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
I think it may even be an A plus.
RON HAZELTON:
Oh come on, really?
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Yes.
RON HAZELTON:
All right.
ASHTON RITCHIE:
All right, see you.
RON HAZELTON:
All right, buddy. Have a good --
ASHTON RITCHIE:
Yes, indeed.

RON HAZELTON:
Okay, take care.
[MUSIC]
So, that's the secret. Feed and weed. Feed or read, feed or read, feed or -- read.