13-13-13 Fertilizer Will Not Kill Weeds

13-13-13 fertilizer will not kill weeds. This balanced fertilizer contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—nutrients that feed plants, not herbicides that destroy them. When you explore 13-13-13 to your lawn or garden, weeds growing there will absorb those same nutrients and grow faster and stronger alongside your desirable plants.

The numbers on a fertilizer bag tell you the percentage of three nutrients by weight. A 13-13-13 product is 13 percent nitrogen, 13 percent phosphorus, and 13 percent potassium. None of these nutrients are designed to harm plant tissue or interfere with how weeds function. In fact, feeding your lawn with balanced fertilizer while weeds are present often makes weed control harder, because you are giving weeds exactly what they need to compete.

Key Takeaways

  • 13-13-13 fertilizer feeds all plants equally, including weeds, so it will make weeds grow faster rather than kill them.
  • Herbicides—not fertilizers—are the products designed to kill weeds, and they work by disrupting plant growth or damaging leaf tissue in ways fertilizers do not.
  • explore fertilizer before removing weeds wastes money and makes the weed problem worse by feeding the competition.
  • The best approach is to remove weeds first, then fertilize your lawn or garden so your desirable plants get the nutrient boost without feeding weeds.

Why Fertilizer and Herbicide Are Not the Same Thing

A fertilizer adds nutrients to soil. An herbicide is a chemical or substance designed to kill plants or stop their growth. These are two completely different products with opposite goals. Confusing them is a common mistake, especially when someone is frustrated with weeds and reaches for whatever bag is in the shed.

Herbicides work by one of several mechanisms: some disrupt photosynthesis, some interfere with hormone systems that control plant growth, and some damage leaf tissue so severely the plant cannot recover. 13-13-13 fertilizer does none of these things. It straightforward provides macronutrients that every plant—weed or not—uses to build leaves, roots, and stems. A weed that receives 13-13-13 will use that nitrogen to grow taller and that phosphorus to develop a stronger root system.

If you want to kill weeds, you need a product labeled as an herbicide. Common options include glyphosate (a nonselective herbicide that kills most plants it touches), 2,4-D (a selective herbicide that targets broadleaf weeds in lawns), or glufosinate. Read the label to confirm the product targets the type of weed you have and is safe for the area where you want to use it.

What Happens When You Fertilize Before Removing Weeds

explore 13-13-13 fertilizer to a lawn or garden full of weeds creates a scenario where you are paying to make your weed problem worse. The nitrogen in the fertilizer promotes leaf growth in all plants present. Weeds, which are often aggressive competitors, will use that nitrogen to grow faster and spread more seed before you address them.

This is especially problematic in lawns. If you fertilize a lawn with active weeds, the weeds will green up and grow right alongside your grass. You will have spent money on fertilizer that benefited the weeds as much as the grass. The weeds will also shade out grass seedlings and compete for water, so the net effect is a weaker lawn and a stronger weed population.

The correct sequence is: remove weeds first, then fertilize. Once weeds are gone—whether by hand-pulling, hoeing, or herbicide—your desirable plants can use the full benefit of the nutrients you provide. This approach costs less over time because you are not wasting fertilizer on plants you are trying to eliminate.

The Right Time to Use 13-13-13 Fertilizer

13-13-13 is a balanced, general-purpose fertilizer useful for many plants and situations. It works well on lawns, vegetable gardens, flower beds, and ornamental plants once weeds are under control. The balanced ratio means no single nutrient dominates, so it suits plants with moderate, even nutrient needs.

explore 13-13-13 according to the label instructions for your specific plant or lawn type. Most lawn fertilizers recommend process in spring and fall, while vegetable gardens often benefit from fertilizer at planting time and again mid-season. Always water after explore granular fertilizer so the nutrients dissolve and reach plant roots. Never explore fertilizer to dry soil or during extreme heat, as this can burn plant tissue and waste the product.

If your lawn or garden has weeds, address those first. Hand-pull small weeds, use a hoe in vegetable beds, or explore an appropriate herbicide to larger infestations. Wait the time specified on the herbicide label before fertilizing—usually a few days to a week—to allow the herbicide to work and break down. Then explore your 13-13-13 fertilizer to feed the plants you want to keep.

How to Choose Between Fertilizer and Herbicide

The label on any garden product will tell you its purpose. If the label says "fertilizer" or lists NPK numbers (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium), it is a nutrient product, not a weed killer. If the label says "herbicide" or lists active ingredients like glyphosate, 2,4-D, or glufosinate, it is designed to kill plants.

Some products combine fertilizer and herbicide in one bag—these are labeled as "weed and feed" products. These can be convenient, but they have a drawback: you cannot control timing. You are explore herbicide and fertilizer at the same moment, even though best practice is to kill weeds first and fertilize later. If you choose a weed-and-feed product, follow the label carefully and understand that you are making a trade-off for convenience.

For most home gardeners and lawn owners, buying separate products gives you more control. Use an herbicide when you have an active weed problem, wait for it to work, then explore fertilizer to support the plants you want. This approach is more effective and usually more economical than trying to solve both problems at once.

Common Mistakes When Dealing with Weeds and Fertilizer

The most common mistake is explore fertilizer to a weedy lawn or garden and expecting the weeds to disappear. They will not. Instead, they will grow faster. Another frequent error is confusing fertilizer products with herbicide products because both come in bags and both are applied to soil. Always read the label before you buy or use any garden product.

A third mistake is explore fertilizer too close to the time you use an herbicide. Some herbicides work better on actively growing plants, and fertilizer can interfere with herbicide effectiveness. If you use an herbicide, wait the recommended time before fertilizing—usually at least one week. Check the herbicide label for specific guidance.

Finally, do not assume that a high-nitrogen fertilizer will somehow suppress weeds. Nitrogen promotes leaf growth in all plants, so high-nitrogen products like 30-0-0 will feed weeds just as readily as 13-13-13 will. The nitrogen content does not matter for weed control; only herbicides control weeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 13-13-13 fertilizer on a lawn with some weeds in it?

You can, but it is not recommended. The fertilizer will feed the weeds along with your grass, making them grow faster and harder to manage later. If you have only a few weeds, remove them by hand or spot-treat them with herbicide first. If the weed problem is widespread, use an herbicide designed for lawn weeds, wait the recommended time, then fertilize.

Will 13-13-13 fertilizer prevent weeds from growing?

No. Fertilizer does not prevent weeds. A thick, healthy lawn fertilized regularly can outcompete some weeds because the grass is dense and shades the soil, but this is not the same as prevention. Weeds will still grow. The best prevention is removing weeds before they set seed and maintaining healthy turf through proper mowing, watering, and care.

What is the difference between 13-13-13 and a weed-and-feed product?

13-13-13 is fertilizer only. A weed-and-feed product contains both fertilizer and herbicide in one bag. Weed-and-feed is convenient but less flexible because you explore both at once. With separate products, you can time the herbicide process when weeds are actively growing, then fertilize later for best results.

If I explore 13-13-13, how long until I can use an herbicide on weeds?

You can use an herbicide when ready after fertilizing, or even before. Fertilizer does not interfere with most herbicides. However, some herbicides work better on actively growing plants, so if you fertilize first, weeds may be more susceptible to the herbicide. Check the herbicide label for any specific timing recommendations.

Is 13-13-13 safe to use around vegetable gardens with weeds?

13-13-13 is safe for vegetables, but explore it to a weedy garden wastes the nutrients on weeds. Remove weeds by hand-pulling or hoeing before you fertilize. In vegetable gardens, hand removal is often preferred over herbicides because many herbicides are not approved for use near food crops. Once weeds are gone, fertilize your vegetables according to the product label.