- 6 easy steps for fixing an over-fertilized lawn<\/a>
- Step 1: Check the extent of the damage<\/a><\/li>
- Step 2: Sweep any excess (if you used granular fertilizer)<\/a><\/li>
- Step 3: Water your lawn<\/a><\/li>
- Step 4: Inspect the roots again<\/a><\/li>
- Step 5: Prepare the ground for replanting<\/a><\/li>
- Step 6: Replant the affected area<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- FAQ about lawn over-fertilization<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
6 easy steps for fixing an over-fertilized lawn<\/span><\/h2>
![\"yellow](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_14747617254_dd85aea258_c.jpg\")
Scot Nelson<\/a> | Flickr | CC0 1.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Besides promoting grass growth<\/a>, fertilizing your lawn helps improve its resistance to pests and diseases, boost root development, and prevent weed infestations.<\/p>
But even with the best intentions, homeowners can still make mistakes that lead to over-fertilization<\/a> of their lawns. Just because your lawn is dense and thick doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s healthy. Applying too much plant food can cause fertilizer burn<\/a> or yellowing of the grass.<\/p>
Before fixing the issue, the preliminary step is to check if your lawn is showing symptoms of over-fertilization. You certainly wouldn\u2019t want to worsen the problem by using a solution for a wrong diagnosis.<\/p>
Apart from grass turning yellow, these tell-tale signs<\/a> can help you verify if you have an over-fertilized lawn<\/strong>:<\/p>
- Browning of grass tips<\/li>
- White crusty buildup<\/li>
- Rapid and excessive grass growth<\/li>
- Pests infestations<\/li> <\/ul>
Once you\u2019ve determined that your turf is indeed suffering from over-fertilization, you can start following these steps to fix your over-fertilized lawn<\/strong>:<\/p>
Step 1: Check the extent of the damage<\/span><\/h3>
Examine the roots of your grass to assess how extensive the problem is. Remember to check the grassroots in random areas of your lawn<\/strong>. Unless the roots are already dry and crispy, you might still be able to save your lawn.<\/p>
Otherwise, your grass may be beyond repair and you\u2019ll need to reseed your lawn<\/a>, which can cost anywhere from $0.09 to $0.19 per square foot.<\/p>
Pro tip:<\/strong> Doing a soil test<\/a> is a surefire way to determine whether your soil is already overloaded with nutrients.<\/p>
Step 2: Sweep any excess (if you used granular fertilizer)<\/span><\/h3>
If you\u2019ve applied a liquid fertilizer, you can skip this step. Otherwise, don\u2019t water just yet.<\/p>
After inspecting the damage, you must remove any leftover fertilizers on the soil. You can use a broom to sweep out the granules<\/strong> that haven\u2019t been absorbed by the soil yet. If you fail to do this step, more fertilizer salt will be added to your already saturated soil. And you don\u2019t want your soil to be laden with salt.<\/p>
According to T.A. Bauder, a water quality specialist at Colorado State University Extension, saline soil<\/a> (soil containing a large amount of salt) can be harmful to plant growth. So, if your soil becomes saline due to a large amount of fertilizer salt, it can inhibit the development of your grass. For newly seeded lawns, saline soil can hinder the germination of grass seeds.<\/p>
Step 3: Water your lawn<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Sprinkler](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/AdobeStock_383769774-1.jpeg\")
pridannikov<\/a> | Adobe Stock Free | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Your next step is to water your over-fertilized lawn. The goal is to flush out all the excess salt from your lawn and leach the fertilizer from the soil and root zone.<\/p>
You\u2019ll need to water your lawn until the soil can\u2019t soak anymore. That means at least an inch of water daily for a week or two<\/strong>. Remember to do it even in areas where the grass seems healthy.<\/p>
Also, hold off on mowing during this time<\/strong>. Letting your grass grow taller will allow it to absorb more nutrients from the fertilizer-saturated soil.<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> The amount of water you\u2019ll use will depend on the size of your lawn. You can use this rainfall calculator<\/a> to estimate just how many gallons of water you\u2019ll need per watering session.<\/p>
Step 4: Inspect the roots again<\/span><\/h3>
This part is exciting because you\u2019ll find out whether the last three steps have worked their magic. Usually, watering diligently (step 3) for at least a week will yield new growth. If you see new grassroots, it\u2019s a sign that the problem has been solved<\/strong> and you can resume your regular lawn care routine<\/a>. You\u2019ll just have to allow more time for your grass to grow.<\/p>
But if this is not the case, you\u2019ll need to replant the grass. The next steps will be specific to this task.<\/p>
Step 5: Prepare the ground for replanting<\/span><\/h3>
You should only proceed to this step if, after doing steps 1 to 4 above, there\u2019s still no new grassroots.<\/p>
Prep work is crucial to make your soil suitable for planting new grass. If done correctly, it will allow the roots of your new grass to establish faster<\/a>. Fortunately, you don\u2019t need to use special tools for this step. You\u2019ll just need to do the following:<\/p>
- Clear the area by removing or raking the dead grass.<\/li>
- Water the area for seven days.<\/li>
- After watering for a week, wait two to three days before planting new grass.<\/li> <\/ol>
Step 6: Replant the affected area<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Person](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Applying-lime-to-lawn.jpeg\")
Horticulture<\/a> | Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> Before sprinkling new grass seed, you\u2019ll need to add topsoil<\/a> first. It will help retain moisture and allow the new seeds to germinate faster. It\u2019s not recommended to do it the other way around because the topsoil will end up suffocating the seeds.<\/p>
Depending on the quality of your topsoil, you also may need to apply lime or other soil amendments to help promote healthy grass growth.<\/p>
Pro tip:<\/strong> Refer to our guide on \u201cHow to Care For New Grass<\/a>\u201d to avoid issues with your new lawn.<\/p>
Now that you\u2019ve fixed your over-fertilized lawn, never repeat the same mistake of applying too much fertilizer. These guides can help you learn everything you need to know about fertilizers:<\/p>
- \u201cWhat is Slow-Release Fertilizer?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cWhat is Quick-Release Fertilizer?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cSlow-Release vs. Quick-Release Fertilizer<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cWhen is the Best Time to Fertilize Your Lawn?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cPet-Friendly Lawn Fertilizer: What to Look For<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cLate Summer Lawn Fertilizer: How It Helps Your Lawn<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cCan You Combine Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cCan You Fertilize and Seed at the Same Time?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cHow to Select and Use Inorganic Fertilizers<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cOrganic vs. Inorganic Fertilizers<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201c5 Ways to Apply Fertilizer<\/a>\u201d<\/li> <\/ul>
FAQ about lawn over-fertilization<\/span><\/h2>
How long does it take for grass to recover from fertilizer burn?<\/span><\/h3>
It usually takes a couple of weeks for grass to recover from the effects of over-fertilization. That\u2019s why you\u2019ll want to be responsible when using fertilizer<\/a>.<\/p>
How can I avoid over-fertilizing my lawn?<\/span><\/h3>
To avoid burning your grass, you must know which nutrients are lacking and apply the right amount of fertilizer properly and at the right time.<\/p>
Can over-fertilization cause water pollution?<\/span><\/h3>
Yes, over-fertilization can cause water pollution through nutrient runoff. When the excess nitrogen and phosphorus get washed into nearby water bodies, it can lead to eutrophication<\/a> or oxygen depletion and algae blooms.<\/p>
Let the pros take care of your lawn<\/span><\/h2>
It\u2019s never a good thing to over-fertilize your lawn. Even with the required know-how to fix an over-fertilized lawn, undoing the negative effects would still take time and effort. So, if you don\u2019t want to worry about over-fertilization, you can hire a lawn care pro<\/a> who knows how to apply fertilizers safely and properly.<\/p>
Also, avoid issues by letting a local pro<\/a> handle lawn care needs like mowing, aeration, and dethatching.<\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Managing Saline Soils<\/a><\/li>
- Rainfall calculator (English units) How much water falls during a storm?<\/a><\/li>
- Environmental Implications of Excess Fertilizer and Manure on Water Quality | NDSU Agriculture<\/a><\/li>
- WHY A FERTILIZER BURNS<\/a><\/li>
- What is eutrophication?<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
Main Photo Credit: Sten Porse<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Don\u2019t know how to fix an over-fertilized lawn? Here\u2019s a step-by-step guide, from inspecting the damage to replanting the affected area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":33573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[375],"class_list":["post-33560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lawn-care-tips","tag-lawn-fertilization"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1024px-Scorching-by-fertilizer-1.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Melanie Joseph","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/melanie-joseph\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40248,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33560\/revisions\/40248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Rainfall calculator (English units) How much water falls during a storm?<\/a><\/li>
- \u201cWhat is Quick-Release Fertilizer?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- \u201cWhat is Slow-Release Fertilizer?<\/a>\u201d<\/li>
- Step 2: Sweep any excess (if you used granular fertilizer)<\/a><\/li>
- Step 1: Check the extent of the damage<\/a><\/li>