How to Fix an Overfeeding of Nitrogen in Plants

Plants growing in soil that contains too much nitrogen flourish with green growth, but produce little to no flowers or fruit. If you fed your plants with too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer, there are several ways to fix or at least improve the situation. In the future, though, carefully measure out your fertilizer and know that it's better to apply less fertilizer than too much.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Mulch

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Water your plants slowly with several inches of water to flush out some of the excess fertilizers, including the nitrogen.

   • 2

     Stop feeding your plants with a fertilizer that contains nitrogen for the next two or three feedings. By that time, the nitrogen should be corrected.

   • 3

     Add a thin layer of fine mulch to your garden, such as shredded bark. According to Colorado State University, some of the nitrogen in the soil will be used up as the mulch decomposes.