Yates Weed and Feed: Timing, Watering and Rain Windows

Anyone who has stood in the garden with a hose-end bottle knows the label holds the real instructions. Weed and feed promises two jobs in one pass, but Yates’ waiting periods change with the product and the country, and Yates New Zealand’s own FAQ says hose-on Weed’n’Feed needs 24 hours without expected rain while granular needs 48, so timing matters before you buy.

Hose-on rain-free window (NZ): 24 hours (Yates NZ FAQ) · Granular rain-free window (NZ): 48 hours (Yates NZ FAQ) · Hose-on watering delay (AU 4L): 12 hours (Yates 4L label)

Eight label facts, one pattern: the waiting rules belong to the specific formula, not the Yates name, so one product family can carry several different instructions.

Do weed and feed work?

Weed and feed pairs a weed killer with lawn fertiliser, so one pass targets weeds and feeds turf. The weed side depends on the leaf taking up the product. Yates Australia’s weed control FAQ states that broadleaf herbicides are applied to the leaf, which is why rain and watering windows matter so much.

“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.”

Yates New Zealand (manufacturer FAQ)

How long does it take for weed and feed to work?

• Weeds show signs of dying within 48 hours of application (Yates starter-kit page)
• Full effects take up to 3 weeks (Yates starter-kit page)

The implication: judge results over weeks, not hours. A fast visual response on the leaf is not the same as finished control.

What really kills weeds permanently?

• The sources reviewed do not confirm that a single application removes weeds permanently
• Granular formats are repeated at 6-week intervals (Yates 12.5kg granular label)
• Yates’ starter-kit page says repeat applications can be needed (Yates starter-kit page)

The pattern here is follow-up, not a single decisive treatment, and the lawn calendar should reflect that.

Should you put weed and feed on wet or dry grass?

The sources focus on rain and watering windows more than on wet versus dry grass. The Buffalo PRO label says to apply while weeds are actively growing and when rain is not expected, which is the clearest guidance on conditions in the material reviewed.

How long should weed killer dry before rain?

• New Zealand hose-on: no application within 24 hours of expected rain (Yates NZ FAQ)
• New Zealand granular: no application within 48 hours of expected rain (Yates NZ FAQ)
• Australian concentrate: no application within 24 hours of expected rain (Yates Australia help centre)

“We do not recommend applying Yates Weed ‘n’ Feed Concentrate within 24 hours of expected rain, as the product may wash away and become ineffective.”

Yates Australia (manufacturer help centre)

Why this matters: the 24-hour and 48-hour windows decide whether a rainy forecast wastes the application. Check the forecast before you mix anything.

How long after weed and feed can I water?

1. Read the pack first. The New Zealand hose-on FAQ says not to water again for at least 24 hours (Yates NZ FAQ).
2. Wait until the product has completely dried before watering (Yates Australia help centre).
3. Match the delay to your pack: 12 hours for the 4L hose-on (Yates 4L label), 24 hours for Buffalo PRO (Yates Buffalo PRO label).
4. For granular, wait 2 days before watering thoroughly (Yates shaker label).

Watering delay is the figure that changes most between packs, so it is the one to check against the bottle in your hand.

What happens if it rains after applying weed killer?

• Rain within 24 hours can wash hose-on product off weed leaves and stop it working (Yates NZ FAQ)
• Rain can remove herbicide from the leaf, and herbicides that need watering in can wash into drains (Yates Australia weed FAQ)

The implication: a rain check is part of the application, not an optional extra.

What is the best month to put down weed and feed?

The sources reviewed do not name a best month. They do set conditions: weeds actively growing, no rain expected, and no heat or moisture stress on the lawn.

Is September too late to spray for weeds?

• The Buffalo PRO label ties application to actively growing weeds and no expected rain, not to a calendar date
• Do not apply if shade temperatures exceed 30°C or the lawn is under moisture stress (Yates Australia help centre)
• Climate and weed species for a given region are not resolved by the sources reviewed

What this means: a late-season spray is a question of conditions, so check the day’s weather and the weed growth before following a date.

How many times do you put weed and feed down?

The label sets frequency. Yates’ granular label calls for repeats every 6 weeks, while its weed FAQ says to wait 4 weeks before reapplying.

Can you put too much weed killer on my lawn?

• Granular should not go on lawns less than 6 months old or in hot or windy weather (Yates 12.5kg granular label)
• Australian watering-can dilution: 300 mL in 9 L of water over 20 square metres (Yates Australia help centre)
• New Zealand watering-can dilution: 30 mL per 1 L over 2 square metres (Yates NZ FAQ)

“Do not apply under windy conditions or if rain is expected within 24 hours.”

according to the Mitre 10 NZ product listing (retailer)

The trade-off: reapplying early to speed results adds product to the lawn, and Yates’ weed FAQ warns that repeat applications sooner can damage it.

For a home lawn owner in New Zealand, the choice is clear: check the pack, then keep the lawn dry of rain for at least 24 hours on hose-on or 48 hours on granular. For an Australian owner, the choice is clear: read the watering delay on the exact label in the shed, or accept that a generic rule could waste the application.

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