Is weed and feed safe for dogs? What the Scotts labels say
Short answer: the granular label says keep people and pets off the lawn during application and until dusts have settled. The label also says to apply to wet grass and not to water or mow for at least 24 hours, and the weed killer includes 2,4-D, which NPIC says dogs may be more sensitive to. NPIC's general guidance is that granular lawn products may require keeping pets off for 24 hours or longer. Follow the label as the minimum.
What the EPA-accepted label says
- Product
- Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed (granular, sold under several Turf Builder names)
- EPA Reg. No.
- 538-333
- Active ingredients
- 2,4-D 1.22%, Dicamba 0.081%
- Form
- Granules applied with a spreader
- Signal word
- Caution
- Label version
- Accepted by EPA September 17, 2026
“Do not allow product to contact people or pets directly or through drift. Keep people and pets off lawn during application.”
“Do not allow people or pets to enter the treated area until dusts have settled.”
“Do not water or mow lawn for at least 24 hours after application.”
“For best results, apply to grass that is wet from dew or watering.”
Exact wording from the EPA-stamped label (label PDF). This is the label version EPA accepted on September 17, 2026. Bags made earlier may carry earlier wording. The label also offers the alternate wording "People and pets may enter the area after dusts have settled." Match the EPA Reg. No. printed on your container before relying on this. Last checked November 4, 2026.
Why this page mentions longer than "dusts have settled"
The label's re-entry line is about dust, and this site never suggests a shorter wait than the label. The label also tells you to apply to wet grass and not water or mow for at least 24 hours. NPIC says granular lawn products may require keeping pets off for 24 hours or longer while the granules dissolve and the area dries. That is general NPIC guidance, not a Scotts label rule.
Granules vs liquid
| Granular (538-333) | Liquid hose-end (538-328) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weed killer | 2,4-D 1.22%, dicamba 0.081% | 2,4-D, 2,4-DP-p, MCPP-p salts |
| Label re-entry | Until dusts have settled | Until sprays have dried |
| Main pet risk | Granules on paws and fur | Wet grass on paws and fur |
| Practical wait | Label minimum: dusts settled. NPIC general guidance for granular lawn products: 24 hours or longer | Until fully dry to the touch |
What the EPA-accepted label says
- Product
- Scotts Liquid Turf Builder Weed & Feed
- EPA Reg. No.
- 538-328
- Active ingredients
- 2,4-D dimethylamine salt 0.95%, 2,4-DP-p DMA salt 0.47%, MCPP-p DMA salt 0.48%
- Form
- Liquid, hose-end
- Signal word
- Caution
- Label version
- Accepted by EPA January 10, 2025
“Keep people and pets out of the area during application.”
“Do not allow people or pets to enter the treated area until sprays have dried.”
Exact wording from the EPA-stamped label (label PDF). Match the EPA Reg. No. printed on your container before relying on this. Last checked November 4, 2026.
Dogs vs cats
NPIC's 2,4-D fact sheet says pets are exposed by touching wet treated grass and grooming, drinking the product, or possibly eating treated grass, and that dogs may be more sensitive to 2,4-D than other animals. Cats are exposed the same ways if they go outside.
Kids
The label says keep out of reach of children, and its re-entry rule covers people as well as pets. NPIC says that while children may be especially sensitive to pesticides in general, there are no data showing they are more sensitive to 2,4-D specifically.
Practical steps
- Keep pets off during application and until dusts have settled (label), and consider NPIC's 24 hours or longer for granular products.
- Sweep granules off sidewalks and the driveway back onto the lawn, as the label says.
- Store the bag as the label directs, out of reach of children.
- If you want a fertilizer without a weed killer, see pet safe lawn fertilizer.
Questions people ask
How long after weed and feed can dogs go on the grass?
For the granular Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed label we checked, the label says not to let people or pets in until dusts have settled. NPIC adds that granular lawn products may need pets kept off for 24 hours or longer while granules dissolve and the area dries, and the label separately says not to water or mow for at least 24 hours. The label time is the minimum; NPIC's general guidance for granular lawn products is 24 hours or longer.
Is Scotts Turf Builder lawn food the same as weed and feed?
No. Plain Turf Builder lawn food is a fertilizer with no weed killer. Under federal rules (40 CFR 152.6(g)), a plant nutrient product is not a pesticide, so it has no EPA registration or EPA re-entry statement. Read the bag. Our fertilizer guide covers what to watch for.
Is the liquid version different?
The Scotts Liquid Turf Builder Weed & Feed label (Reg. No. 538-328) says to keep people and pets out during application and until sprays have dried.
Why are dogs mentioned specifically for 2,4-D?
NPIC says dogs may be more sensitive to 2,4-D than other animals. See our 2,4-D page.
Sources
- EPA label, Reg. No. 538-333, accepted September 17, 2026. Checked November 4, 2026.
- EPA label, Reg. No. 538-328, accepted January 10, 2025. Checked November 4, 2026.
- NPIC: Pesticide Use Around Pets (updated April 14, 2026). Checked November 4, 2026.
- NPIC: 2,4-D Fact Sheet (reviewed March 2009). Checked November 4, 2026.
- 40 CFR 152.6(g): plant nutrient products are not pesticides (eCFR). Checked November 4, 2026.