Troubleshooting

My Yates Weed’n’Feed hose-on isn’t sucking up!

• There can be a huge variance in water pressures throughout New Zealand. Some people will need their tap to be fully open to get a good spray, while others need to turn the tap down to half-open. You might need to experiment with the tap to find the sweet spot where the hose-on applicator works best.
• If your product isn’t sucking up at all, check that the 'dip tube' inside the bottle is still firmly attached to the inside of the cap. The cap will first need to be removed. To remove the cap, grab the bottle by the handle and with the other hand, grab on to the applicator's hose attachment and gently pull up on it, giving it a wriggle to loosen it. Please make sure you're wearing personal protective equipment - such as goggles and plastic gloves - when handling the product, so you don't get splashed. There should be a long, thin dip tube securely attached to the underside of the applicator head (or it may have dropped off, into the bottle). To replace the applicator head, place it back on the neck of the yellow bottle, then gently tap it down to re-seat it firmly.
• Sometimes an air bubble in the internal dip tube can prevent the product sucking up. To remedy this, while the flip-up tab on the front of the applicator is open and the hose is firmly clicked on, grab the product by the handle, turn on the water at the tap, then tilt the bottle sideways at 45 degrees. Allow the water to flow through the applicator for 30 seconds.
• If you do have continued issues our team are available to assist with troubleshooting. Please contact one of our Horticulturists for expert advice.

I can’t see my weeds dying. Should I reapply?

Weeds will die slowly; it may take up to 3 weeks before visible effects appear. Over-applying can damage the grass. If you’ve applied Weed’n’Feed at the correct rate, the results will come; all you need to do is wait. Because all weedkillers work more slowly in cold weather, you may need to be extra-patient during the colder parts of the year.

If you're sure your Weed’n’Feed application hasn’t worked properly, contact our Horticulturists at yates.co.nz/contact-us and they’ll be able to assist you with troubleshooting.

What's the dilution rate for Yates Weed’n’Feed hose-on, in a watering can or sprayer?

The dilution rate is 30mL of Weed’n’Feed per 1L of water, applied to cover 2m².

Is it safe to use Yates Weed’n’Feed on ALL lawns?

Almost! Yates Weed ‘n’ Feed hose-on is ideal for Fine Fescue, Tall Fescue, Perennial Rye and Browntop Bent, and won't cause any harm to these grasses. They're the most common lawn types in NZ. If you aren't sure what type your lawn is, chances are it will be a blend of these species. 

Here's the watch-out: Weed’n’Feed hose-on is NOT safe to use on new grass (less than 3 months old), or on  Kikuyu, Couch or Dichondra lawns.

Kikuyu is quite sensitive to selective weedkillers, so there's a risk of burning it with Weed’n’Feed. The risk is lessened during winter while kikuyu is in its dormant phase, but much higher during hot weather or periods of drought. We recommend choosing Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular for kikuyu and couch lawns.

Can I apply if my lawn is under stress?

No. Applying almost any product to a lawn under stress can damage it. Lawn stress can occur in several ways. Usually, stress is due to a lack of water, or soils that aren’t absorbing enough water.

If you've had an extended period of dry weather, or you haven’t watered the lawn regularly, it’s best to wait until you have a visibly green lawn and active growth (when you’ll see plenty of clippings in the catcher after mowing). For further details, contact our team of friendly Horticulturists for expert advice.

Is Yates Weed’n’Feed safe to use around pets and children?

Yes, but you'll need to keep pets and children off the area until the spray has dried completely. Applying on a day when weather conditions favour drying can reduce the time your lawn is out-of-bounds.

• DO NOT feed treated grass clippings to poultry, livestock, or use treated clippings to mulch plants.
• Ruminants or horses shouldn’t be grazed on treated grass for a 5-6 week period after application.

Can I add grass clippings to my compost, after I've sprayed Weed’n’Feed?

Not right away! Treated grass and lawn soil can contain diminishing residual traces of Weed’n’Feed, with the rate of degradation depending on the aerobic capacity of the soil. In NZ conditions, it's best to wait 4-6 weeks after application, so that any active residues can be substantially broken down by natural microbial activity. 

• Don’t add treated grass clippings to compost for 4-6 weeks after application. After that period, you can resume composting clippings.
• Don't use treated grass clippings as mulch, if they were mowed during the 4-6 week period after application.
• If your mower has a mulch setting, we'd recommend using it during the waiting period after application, so you don’t need to dispose of treated clippings. Alternatively, consider removing your mowers catcher and simply leave grass clippings on the lawn during the stand down period (give the clippings a rake to spread them out evenly). 

How much Yates Weed’n’Feed do I need to apply?

This varies, according to the size of your lawn. Here's how to work it out:

Step 1 - Measure the Size of Your Lawn

It's easier than you think! The most accurate way to measure your lawn is with a measuring tape; or you can simply step it out, taking big 'one metre-ish' steps. Measure the length and width, then multiply them together to get the total area of your lawn (Length x Width = Square Area).

For example: a lawn 5m wide and 10m long is a total of 50 square metres (5m x 10m = 50m²).

Step 2 - Calculate the Right Amount of Product to Use

Yates Weed’n’Feed Hose-On:

Yates Weed’n’Feed states on the front label how many square metres of lawn the bottle will cover. For best results, apply the correct amount of Weed'n'Feed, to match the size of your lawn. Surprisingly, the dilution rate with water (or the volume of water that's applied) doesn't matter that much...what you're aiming for is to evenly cover the measured lawn area with the correct dose of Weed'n'Feed, from the yellow bottle.

This means you might not need to use up the whole bottle at once - you can store what's left over in the shed, for the next application.

For each 1m² of lawn, aim to apply 15mL of Weed'n'Feed.

Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular

Apply 1kg of granules over 15m² of lawn.

For best results, moisten the lawn before application. Lightly wet the leaves, ideally using a hose gun set to 'mist' or 'gentle shower'. Moistening the leaves will help the product stick better. After application the lawn will look blackened for a few days, but don't be alarmed - it will recover to its normal state.

After the recommended 48 hours, vigorously water the product into the soil until there are no visible signs of the granules and the soil is saturated. This washes the granules off the grass leaves and transfers the product into the soil, allowing the nutrients to become available to the grass.

How often can I apply Yates Weed’n’Feed?

When's the best time to apply Yates Weed’n’Feed?

• Apply Weed’n’Feed as soon as you see weeds - light weed infestations are quicker and easier to control, and if you take a proactive approach you won't need to spray as frequently.
• Apply Weed’n’Feed before weeds have flowered and set seed (the less weed seeds there are in the soil, the easier it becomes to control weeds next season).
• Both the Yates Weed’n’Feed Hose-On and Granular* products can be applied at any time of year, although we don't recommend using them during long periods of hot weather or drought.
  *Avoid applying Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular during the dormant stage when the lawn isn't growing much, as the lawn will take longer to recover during this period.
• You can aerate or core your lawn just before applying Yates Weed’n’Feed.

Can I mow before (or after) applying Yates Weed’n’Feed?

You'll get best results if you don’t mow your lawn for 7 days before, and for 7 days after applying Weed’n’Feed.

Can I spray Yates Weed’n’Feed if rain is expected?

Don't apply Weed'n'Feed hose-on within 24 hours of expected rain, or the product may be washed off weed leaves and prevented from working. Don’t water the lawn again for at least 24 hours after application. If you absolutely need to water, wait until the Weed'n'Feed has completely dried first.

Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular needs a little longer before you water; don't apply it within 48 hours of expected rain, or the granules may wash off weed leaves and drastically reduce its effectiveness.

I don’t like to spray, is there a granular option?

There sure is, we also have Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular. It’s applied by hand and works by burning the leaves of the broadleaf weeds to kill them.

The bag label provides instructions on how (and how much) to apply. The granular product is left on the lawn for 3 days while it’s burning the weeds. The product can be a hazard for pet paws and kids’ feet during this time, so Yates recommends using the hose-on versions if you have kids and pets.

Does Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular leave stains?

Yes, staining can occur from the iron content – don’t allow the product to spill or blow onto hard surfaces, like concrete or tiles. Sweep it up with a dry brush or broom immediately if you have a spill.

Ensure the product doesn’t wash off the lawn onto concrete or paths in heavy rain.

Will Yates Weed’n’Feed kill my lawn?

Weed’n’Feed won’t harm your lawn if you follow the directions (for example, applying the product over the correct area, plus ensuring the lawn isn’t moisture stressed).

It’s important to check the variety of lawn grass that you have and make certain that it’s suitable for use on that variety. If unsure, contact one of our Horticulturists for expert advice.

What if I get Yates Weed’n’Feed on my garden plants?

It’s important not to allow the spray to contact precious garden plants, as it's likely to injure, or even kill them. 

Pro Tip: spray Weed’n’Feed from the outside of the lawn in towards the centre, instead of standing in the middle and spraying outwards.

• If the spray accidentally gets onto garden plants, immediately wash off with a hose to help reduce potential damage.
• Spraying on a day with light wind helps to reduce risk. We recommend spraying only when wind speed is 10 km/h or less. That's a little over 5 knots of wind. If you download the NZ MetService app, it’ll give you local wind speed in km/h, along with lots of other useful weather info.
• If you want to apply Weed’n’Feed but the weather forecast says the wind won't be dropping to a safe level, you can dilute the product into water and apply it with a watering can or Lawn Boy, using a dilution rate of 30mL of Weed’n’Feed per 1L of water, applied to 2m² of lawn.

Does Yates Weed’n’Feed contain fertiliser?

Yes, Yates Weed’n’Feed hose-on contains nitrogen and iron, which are both essential nutrients to encourage healthy green lawn growth. Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular contains nitrogen, iron and sulfur.

We also offer more complex fertilisers for longer-term, controlled-release lawn feeding. These are available in easy liquid concentrate, granular and hose-on formats.

Is Yates Weed’n’Feed the only weed solution for my lawn?

Not at all! Although Weed’n’Feed works on most common NZ lawn weeds, there are a handful of weeds (like hydrocotyle or oxalis) that are very persistent, so we have a range of control options to tackle them. If you've encountered any of these extra-difficult weeds in your lawn, you may get a better result from one of our other selective weedkillers. You're welcome to contact our friendly team of Horticulturists for expert advice (they can also ID weeds you're not sure of).

The 2L Yates Weed’n’Feed bottle covers 130m², so it’s too big for my lawn, is there a smaller pack?

Yes, for smaller urban-sized lawns, check out Yates Weed’n’Feed Concentrate 1L. It’s specifically designed for smaller lawn areas and applied using a watering can or garden sprayer.

Alternatively, choose a convenient ‘carry it around with you’ lawn weedkiller, like Yates Turfix Gun, as a spot spray on individual weeds. It's always there ready to go, as soon as you notice a weed.

I have a large lawn, is Yates Weed’n’Feed the best option?

Weed’n’Feed hose-on is a breeze to apply, but maneuvering a length of hose is more practical for small or medium sized lawns. If you have a very large lawn, choose one of Yates’ selective lawn weedkiller concentrates, dilute it according to label instructions, then apply it using a sprayer or Lawn Boy.