Scotts Halts vs. Scotts Halts with Fertilizer: Choosing the Right Pre-Emergent Product

Many homeowners confuse standalone pre-emergent herbicides with combination fertilizer-pre-emergent products. Understanding the difference ensures you apply the right product for your lawn's needs.

Two Distinct Products

• Scotts Halts (standalone): A pure pre-emergent herbicide (typically containing pendimethalin or dithiopyr) that prevents weed seeds from germinating. It provides zero nutrition—only weed prevention.
• Scotts Turf Builder with Halts®: A fertilizer blend with pre-emergent herbicide incorporated. Delivers nutrients (usually high nitrogen) plus crabgrass prevention in one application.

Which Should You Use?

Use the combination product if: Your lawn needs spring fertilization AND crabgrass prevention. This is typical for cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass) in early spring.

Use standalone Halts if: You've already fertilized separately, or your lawn doesn't need nitrogen at that time (e.g., warm-season grasses breaking dormancy, or late-season applications where nitrogen could cause winter injury).

Application Timing Matters

Pre-emergents must be applied before weed seeds germinate—typically when soil temperatures reach 50–55°F for several consecutive days (often coinciding with forsythia bloom). In New Jersey, this is usually early to mid-April. Applying too early reduces effectiveness; too late misses the germination window.

Key Considerations

• Never apply pre-emergent if you plan to overseed—it prevents grass seed germination too.
• Water in after application (½ inch) to activate the herbicide barrier.
• Follow label rates exactly; more is not better and can damage turf.

For most New Jersey lawns, a quality fertilizer with pre-emergent (like Scotts Turf Builder with Halts) applied at the correct time provides both nutrition and crabgrass control efficiently.