What Happens if I Spill Fertilizer on My Yard?

Fertilizer Burn

• Fertilizer burn occurs when too much fertilizer is applied to grass, as through a spill. The buildup of chemicals from the fertilizer, including excess nitrogen and salts, remains on the surface of the grass and dries it out. The dehydrated grass takes on a burned appearance, often starting in small patches; eventually the whole surface of the grass can be dried out or killed off by the fertilizer burn. Spilled fertilizer is a serious problem.

Cleanup

• Cleaning the fertilizer up as much as possible after the spill is key to saving the area of the grass where it fell. Scooping the fertilizer up with a shovel or garden tools to be spread over the rest of the garden as needed helps keep the grass healthy. Use a lawn mower with an attached bag in the area of the spill; cut the grass short, and use the bag to catch as much of the fertilizer as possible.

Water

• Watering the lawn regularly is one of the best things a homeowner can do after a fertilizer spill. Water helps keep the grass hydrated and healthy in addition to dissipating and dissolving the leftover fertilizer from the spill. Keeping the soil and grass damp limits the fertilizer burn that can occur from dropped fertilizer. Avoid over-watering the grass, however, as too much water can cause the grass to suffocate and drown.

Considerations

• Although most lawns require fertilizer twice a year, in the spring and autumn, avoid applying fertilizer to an area with a spill for at least a full year. Adding extra fertilizer to the area where the spill occurred leads to more buildup and contributes to further fertilizer burn or the death of the grass. Use caution in fertilizing the lawn after a spill to prevent further problems.