NJ Lawns Community

Hey everyone, just joined the forum. I moved to Paramus last fall and this is my first year doing lawn care. I have a rygrass lawn (I think it's perennial ryegrass based on the seed bag I found in the shed). My next door neighbor told me to wait until May to put down Scotts Step 2 but I'm seeing all kinds of stuff online saying apply in April, some saying Memorial Day. I'm totally confused. When is the right time for Bergen County? Also is this even the right product for ryegrass? Thanks in advance!

Hey welcome to the forum! DON'T listen to your neighbor on timing - no offense to him but that's outdated advice. For Scotts Step 2 (which is basically a weed and feed with mesotrione for crabgrass prevention), you want to apply WHEN the soil temps reach about 55-60 degrees consistently. In Paramus/Bergen County that usually means around late April, sometimes early May. Watch the forsythia bushes in your neighborhood - when they start blooming, that's your signal. Applying too early and you'll waste product because it breaks down before the crabgrass germinates. Too late and the weeds already popped. I'd say aim for around April 25th to May 5th window. Also yes Step 2 is fine for ryegrass but just don't use it if you're planning to overseed this spring - the herbicide will kill your new seedlings.

Agree with WW on the timing but wanted to add something important - are you sure you need a weed and feed? If your main issue is just general fertilization and not heavy crabgrass pressure, you might be better off with just a regular starter fertilizer. I've seen way too many people in this area dump Step 2 on their lawn every year and wonder why their turf gets thin. Also watering matters - if you're irrigation isn't dialed in yet, the granules won't activate properly. You need about 1/2 inch of water within 24-48 hours of application. What does your current irrigation setup look like?

Ivan makes a good point honestly. For someone new to lawn care I'd recommend getting a soil test first before dumping chemicals down. Rutgers cooperative extension does soil testing cheap ($20 or so). Find out what your lawn actually NEEDS first. Too many guys in this forum just slap down Scotts products because their dad did. Also OP - if you're on well water, watch your phosphorus levels. There's been new regulations on phosphorus fertilizers in NJ the past few years. Some Step 2 products have phosphorus which you might not even need. Just saying...

Thanks both! Didn't realize there's that much to it. I don't have an irrigation system yet - was planning to get one installed this summer. So I should probably wait on the fertilizer AND the irrigation? Also I have no idea what my soil is like. I might grab a soil test from the Rutgers extension. Do they have an office in Hackensack or is it somewhere else? I saw there's a home depot on route 17 but idk if they sell the proper test kits.

Pro tip - DON'T get an irrigation system installed until you know what your lawn actually needs! That's like putting a roof on a house before you've figured out if it rains in your area. Get the soil test first (Rutgers is in New Brunswick but you can mail samples, or grab a kit at some of the garden centers in the area - Ringwood Nursery carries them). Once you know what you're working with THEN worry about irrigation. Honestly for a smaller lot in Paramus you might just need a good hose timer and some oscillating sprinklers. Most residential lawns here don't need full irrigation systems unless you're over 10k sqft. Save yourself $3-5k and do it right later.

Lol Ivan always trying to save people from bad irrigation installs 😂 But seriously he's right. Also regarding the original question - if you DO decide to use Step 2, put it down LATER this spring (maybe mid-May) since you don't have irrigation set up yet. The lack of consistent watering will make early-applied herbicide less effective anyway. Wait until you can commit to watering for best results. And honestly? Consider going organic this year and just using a good quality compost topdress + corn gluten meal for weed control. It's friendlier for the environment and won't wreck your soil microbes long term. Just my 2 cents as an organic gardener.