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      Planting Grass for a New Lawn
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    • Featured Products

      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding - Front of Bag
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
    • Featured Articles

      Raking a lawn before planting new grass seed.
      Planting Grass for a New Lawn
      Woman pushing red lawn mower cutting a green lawn.
      Spring Lawn Care Tips
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      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding - Front of Bag
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
    • Featured Articles

      Raking a lawn before planting new grass seed.
      Planting Grass for a New Lawn
      Woman pushing red lawn mower cutting a green lawn.
      Spring Lawn Care Tips
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Lawn Spreader

Lawn Food

Feeding is important to maintaining a great lawn.

Lawn Food

How to Start the Scotts® 4 Step® Program

Start here for a yard worthy of cookouts, kids, pets and play.

Start here for a yard worthy of cookouts, kids, pets and play.

How To Do The Scotts® 4 Step®

Without proper care, your yard can quickly become a battleground of grass vs. weeds. Fortunately, there's no need for a turf war, thanks to our most-requested annual lawn care plan, the Scotts® 4 Step® lawn. We show you exactly how and when to feed for a better spring, summer, fall and winter lawn.

Start here for a yard worthy of cookouts, kids, pets and play.

Step One Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food

1 - Step 1® Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food

Step® 1 Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food
Prevent problem grassy weeds like crabgrass

Apply off the season with Step® 1. Apply in early spring, anytime between February and April when temperatures are still cool (under 80F). Step® 1 prevents crabgrass before it can germinate. It also feeds to green up a winter-weary lawn, too.

TO DO:

  • Ready yourself for the season, but prepare for the year buy all four bags now.
     
  • Choose from 5,000 sq. ft. or 15,000 sq. ft. size.

  • Apply Step® 1 on or before Easter.

  • To help improve your soil before the growing season, apply Scotts® Foundation Soil Improver around the same time as your Step® 1 application.
Step Two Weed Control Plus Lawn Food

2 - Step® 2 Weed Control Plus Lawn Food

Step 2® Weed Control Plus Lawn Food
Stop dandelions; nourish grass plants.

Apply Step® 2 in late spring, anytime between April and June, but be sure to wait 4-6 weeks after applying Step® 1. It kills many broadleaf weeds like dandelions, while feeding and nourishing the lawn. Step® 2 builds thick, green turf from the roots up.

TO DO:

  • Apply Step® 2 near Memorial Day.
     
  • Apply on a calm day, on a damp lawn, and when rain is not expected for at least 24 hours.
Step Three Standard Fertilizer

3 - Step® 3 Lawn Food with 2% Iron

Step® 3 Lawn Food with 2% Iron
Green things up

Give your lawn a mid-season boost with an application of Step® 3. Apply in the summer, between June and August. Step® 3 feeds and strengthens the lawn against heat and drought, guaranteed.

TO DO:

  • Apply Step® 3 close to Independence Day.
     
  • If rain is not expected, immediately water after application.
     
  • Spot treat weeds, as needed.
Step Four Fall Lawn Food

4 - Step® 4 Fall Lawn Food

Step® 4 Fall Lawn Food
Protect and strengthen

Step® 4 can be applied 4 to 6 weeks after Step® 3, between August and November. It greens up the lawn now, and helps strengthen and protect it for a better lawn next spring.

TO DO:

  • Apply Step® 4 from Labor Day until mid October.
     
  • Water in to speed greening, if desired.
Package of Scotts® Foundation Soil Improver
Scotts® Foundation Soil Improver
Learn More
Scotts® STEP® 1 - Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food
Learn More
Scotts® STEP® 2 Weed Control Plus Lawn Food 2
Scotts® STEP® 2 - Weed Control Plus Lawn Food 2
Learn More

Related Articles

Whether you are just starting out, maintaining or troubleshooting, you'll find advice and answers here for all your lawn care needs.

Fertilizer spreader in use.
Related Article
Lawn Fertilizers: What You Need to Know

Read this before you purchase your next (or first) bag of lawn food.

Learn More
Baseball in a baseball glove next to a bat on a green lawn.
Related Article
When to Fertilize for a Greener Lawn

When it comes to feeding your lawn, timing matters. This simple guide tells you all you need to know.

Learn More
2021-03-02
2021-03-02
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Main navigation (US)

  • Shop

    • Lawn Food

    • Grass Seed

    • Weed Control

    • Spreaders

    • Mulch & Garden

    • Insect, Grub, & Disease Control

    • Outdoor Cleaners

    • Tools & Accessories

  • Learn

    • Lawn Basics

    • Lawn Food

    • Grass & Grass Seed

    • Weed Control

    • Spreaders, Mowing & Tools

    • Insect & Grub Control

    • Lawn Disease Control

    • Mulch & Garden

    • Other Lawn Problems

    • Watering

    • Backyard Transformations

    • Lawns Matter

  • Plan

    • Build A Plan

    • Get The App

    • Mulch Calculator

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