How Do I Make a Burned Lawn Green Again After I Spilled Fertilizer on It?

Lawn turf grass consumes high levels of nitrogen, but excessive nitrogen causes grass to burn, turn yellow and die. Inexpensive, high-nitrogen chemical fertilizers are water-soluble and have a high potential to burn grass, according to the University of Vermont Extension website. Synthetic chemical fertilizer must be watered in immediately to avoid burn. Organic fertilizers rely on microorganisms to release nutrients slowly over a period of eight weeks. They do not have as high a burn potential. If a chemical, water-soluble fertilizer spill has occurred, you can return the lawn to green growth.

Hose and lawn sprinkler
3-pronged hand weeding tool
Organic homemade or commercial compost
Grass seed

Instructions

- 1
  Mow the area with the mower blade set at 3 to 4 inches high. Grass root growth is supported by mowing. Gently loosen soil in the affected area with a three-pronged hand weeding tool. This aerates the soil, allowing oxygen to stimulate microorganism activity. Microorganisms help rebalance soil affected by excessive nitrogen.
- 2
  Flush the burned spot area immediately with water. Hand soak or use a sprinkler. This flushes out the remaining nitrogen salts that continue to burn leaves and roots. Soak the burned area for 30 minutes.
- 3
  Examine the affected area after one week. If new grass growth has not begun, treat the area as new lawn. Apply a 1-inch layer of organic homemade or commercial compost and re-seed it.

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