As you look out over your lush, green lawn, you likely want to keep it that way. But you may have heard stories about fertilizer burning and damaging grass if misapplied. So you might wonder – will nitrogen fertilizer burn grass if you use too much?
The short answer is yes, it’s possible to burn your lawn by over-applying nitrogen fertilizer. But when used properly, fertilizer nourishes your grass and helps it stay vibrant.
In this article, as a professional fertilizer production line manufacturer, we’ll look at how nitrogen fertilizer interacts with grass, signs of fertilizer burn, tips to use fertilizer correctly, and what to do if you over-fertilize.
How Does Nitrogen Fertilizer Affect Grass?
Before diving into fertilizer burn, it helps to understand what fertilizer does for your lawn.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that promotes lush, green growth. It’s a key ingredient in most lawn fertilizers.
Small amounts of nitrogen fertilize grass through a process called nitrification. Special bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen into a form grass roots can absorb – ammonium and nitrate.
The grass plant takes up these nitrogen compounds through its roots and uses them to produce chlorophyll and proteins. More chlorophyll gives grass a richer green color. And proteins are essential for new cell growth.
So when you apply an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer, it leads to:
- Dark green grass blades
- Faster growth
- Increased density from new shoots
- Improved drought tolerance
However, too much nitrogen fertilizer can overfeed the soil and grass. Excess nitrogen salts accumulate and draw moisture away from grass tissues.
Without enough water intake, the grass dries out. The result is yellowing, browning, or death – what we call fertilizer burn.
What Does Fertilizer Burn Look Like?
If you over-fertilize, you may notice these signs of damage:
- Irregular brown or yellow patches
- Crispy, dried-out grass
- Stunted growth
- Distinct fertilizer spreader striping patterns
Often the fertilizer burn shows up within 48 hours as a response to the over-abundance of nitrogen. However, it can take up to two weeks after application.
If the grass blades simply look yellowed or dried out, the lawn may recover with proper care. But brown, dead patches indicate more severe damage. They signal it’s time for reseeding or resodding parts of the lawn.
6 Tips to Apply Fertilizer Without Burning Grass
To get the benefits of fertilizer without the damage, follow these best practices:
1. Read the Label
The first rule of fertilizer application is to carefully read packaging instructions.
Reputable fertilizer products clearly state how much to apply per square footage. This rate balances plant nutrition needs with the risk of burn.
Exceeding the recommended amount raises salt levels in the soil and increases the chances of damage. So accurately measuring fertilizer keeps your grass happy.
2. Consider the Season
Fertilizing during the peak growing seasons of spring and fall takes advantage of soil conditions. Warm soil temperatures combined with adequate rain or irrigation help grass effectively take up the nutrients.
Meanwhile, fertilizer applied during summer or winter has a higher chance of burning grass. Hot, dry summers leave grass under stress and unable to process excess fertilizer. And cold soil temperatures limit nutrient absorption, leading to buildup.
Of course, grass type also plays a role. Cool-season grasses grow more actively in spring and fall. While warm-season varieties thrive during summer.
3. Don’t Fertilize Wet Grass
It might seem counterintuitive, but you actually don’t want to fertilize waterlogged grass. That includes soon after heavy rain or irrigation.
Wet leaves causes fertilizer granules to stick, rather than reaching the soil. This leads to an unhealthy concentration of nitrogen on grass blades.
Instead, allow the lawn to dry first before fertilizing. Then water-in afterward, so the nutrients properly dissolve and absorb down to the roots.
4. Water First, Then Apply Fertilizer
Speaking of watering, “water in before and after” is the golden rule.
Pre-watering prepares soil so it can retain the nutrients better. Dry ground rejects the fertilizer, leading to pockets of excess.
Then, post-watering activates the fertilizer and prevents potential leaf burn. It also helps move granules off grass surfaces. Aim to water lightly for 10 to 15 minutes immediately after spreading.
5. Use a Drop Spreader
This specialized fertilizer spreader has a row of openings across the bottom to drop granules directly onto the lawn.
The benefit over broadcast rotational spreaders? Far greater control and precision.
You can easily apply an even coating in defined lawn sections. No more overlapping those spreader passes across your yard.
6. Act Fast If You Over-fertilize
Uh oh, you misapplied! Don’t panic, but do act quickly.
First, rake up any spilled fertilizer granules on your lawn’s surface. They’ll continue to burn grass until removed.
Next, water the area. Flood it to rinse fertilizer residues off leaf blades and leach the excess salts down through soil. About an inch of water daily for a week should do the trick.
What Happens If Fertilizer Burns Your Grass?
With proper follow-up care, your lawn can bounce back from mild and moderate fertilizer burn.
Ensure about an inch of water per week, either natural rainfall or supplemental irrigation. This helps flush salts out while supporting grass growth.
Also mow, edge, and rake out dead material. Removing damage allows greener shoots to fill in bare or thin spots.
It takes patience, but you should see improvement within a few weeks.
However, if large sections suffered severe fertilizer burn, you might need to reseed or resod. Scratch out dead grass down to bare soil and replant trimmings or grass seed.
The Best Way to Feed Your Lawn
While yes, you can burn grass with nitrogen fertilizer, don’t let fear stop you from nourishing your landscape. After all, fertilizing plays a key role in lush, green turf.
The solution? Apply premium fertilizers designed specifically for lawns, like Pennington UltraGreen. Quality nutrients release gradually, so grass can properly utilize them.
Combined with sound watering and cultural practices, fertilizer keeps your lawn thriving year after year. Your grass will thank you!
