Question
Hello.  We live in De Land Florida,  about 40 miles north of Orlando.  It is turning out to be a very warm January.  It has been getting in the low eighties almost every day.  Of course it will cool down once in a while.  I have a weed problem.  Would it be OK to use weed and feed in Florida in January?  That is basically the only question I have but it is important to us.  Many thanks....  jim and Mary

Answer
Hi Jim;
Weed and feed does not kill weeds, it keeps the seeds from
germinating.
I don't know when you have to put it down, because I have never used it.
I don't use weeds killers anymore, and I have a weed free lawn.
Weeds love poor soil. They will not thrive in rich soil.
fertilizers do not enrich soil. They add nutrients that make the plants healthier, and then they fade out.
Fertilizers also kill beneficial microbes that do enrich the soil.
I don't use fertilizers anymore either. I put sugar on my lawn . The organic article I read said to use dry molasses, but if you couldn't find it, sugar would work. I tried both, and I think I got better results with the sugar,
The first time I put sugar on my lawn was in early spring, and at the time, I had a yard full of all kinds of weeds, including crabgrass, johnson grass, dandelions, clover, dollar weed, and others.
In about 2 mowings, half the weeds were gone, and the grass (I have St. Augustine)was starting to spread and thicken up. a couple more mowings and all the weeds were gone.
The next spring, about half as many weeds came up. I had put sugar down in the fall. I put sugar down again, and again that fall. The next spring there were very few weeds, and after that year, I have been weed free ever since. I only put sugar down in the spring now.
If you want to still put down fertilizer, apply the fertilizerm then put down the sugar, and water it all in together.
Watering is very important. You want to establish a deep root system to protect from heat and cold damage and to prevent thatch buildup.
Water to a depth of at least 6 inches. Rewater when the top 2 inches are dry.
Shallow watering causes the roots to come to the surface to get water. they die out and trap other debris and that forms a layer of thatch that will prevent water from soaking in to the roots.
When you mow, leave the clippings to compost and feed the lawn.
In the spring, set your mower blades to a low setting, about 2 inches, and mow when there is about 1 to 2 inches of growth. frequent mowing, if your grass spreads by runners, like St. Augustine, Burmuda etc. That causes the roots to grow more and send up more blades, and thicken up your lawn.
When the temperature gets in the 80s, set the blades as high as you can. the taller blades of grass shade the roots and the soil. This cuts down on damage from heat.
I use 1 pound sugar to each 250 to 300 sq. ft.
I compost the leaves that fall, and all the fresh vegetable scraps from my kitchen, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves etc. NO animal products!!!!
If you cook vegetables with butter the butter is an animal product. Animal products will carry parasites .
Only well rotted cow or horse manure, no dog or cat waste.
In the spring, we top dress our lawn and garden with the compost.
I hope this helps you.
Please feel free to write anytime.
Charlotte