Lawn Remedy for Fertilizer Burn

Water

• Water is the first line of defense against fertilizer burn. The affected area of the lawn should be kept soaked thoroughly with water. It will take a little time for the excessive salts to get diluted. You can also reseed the damaged areas, but this would not be a quick cure because the grass would take time to grow and establish.

Use Grass Clippings

• The best way to minimize the chances of fertilizer burn is to avoid the use of fertilizers if possible. A good option is to use grass clippings. When you mow the lawn, leave the clippings. They are biodegradable and as they decompose they help feed the grass. Grass clippings are nearly 80 percent water, 10 percent mostly fiber and the rest contains nutrients your lawn needs. When clippings are removed, it disrupts the natural growth and decomposition cycle in the lawn and removes essential nutrients. In order for the clippings to be effective in this manner they need to be small enough to filter to the soil and start decomposing quickly. If the clippings are too long they will only mat on top of the lawn and choke the grass.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer

• Some of the low-cost water soluble fertilizers either containing just nitrogen or nitrogen combined with other nutrients green lawns faster. But they are also more likely to cause fertilizer burn. Organic and slow-release fertilizers are a little more expensive but also have less chance of burning the grass. The slow release fertilizers are also more resilient to heavy rains. All fertilizers should be used exactly as directed and should be spread evenly and carefully. They should not be dumped in corners when using push-type feeders. Fertilizing dry soil is also not recommended.