How to Reverse Nitrogen Burn on Tomato Plants

An excess of nitrogen on and around tomato plants can cause harmful burning to the leaves, stem and roots, stalling fruit production and potentially killing the plant. To reverse nitrogen burn on tomato plants, the amount of nitrogen around the plant will need to be decreased as fast as possible. As the amount of nitrogen in the soil is decreased and the nitrogen burn is reversed, the plant should start to recover.

Things You'll Need

Rake
Pruners

Shredded dried leaves
Wood-chip mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Rake away any mulch or straw from around the base of the tomato plants. Discard this mulch or spread it around plants that thrive in nitrogen.
- 2
  Inspect the tomato plants for signs of distress. While excess nitrogen can cause a flourish of deep-green leaves, burned areas on the plant appear yellowed and limp. Clip off yellowed leaves or stems, using clean hand pruners, and remove any deformed fruits.
- 3
  Rake the top 1 to 2 inches of soil, working carefully around the tomato plant, to loosen the soil without digging up the roots. Place a 1-inch-deep layer of shredded leaves over the loose soil. Mix the leaves into the soil with a rake.
- 4
  Water the ground to soak the soil thoroughly all over until it begins to pool. Allow the water 10 minutes to absorb and soak the soil again.
- 5
  Add a 3-inch-deep layer of mulch over the soil. As the mulch and leaves decompose the nitrogen levels will drop and reverse the burn over a period of one to three months, depending on how severe the nitrogen levels were.
- 6
  Give the soil at least 1 inch of water weekly to provide for the plant and wash available nitrogen away from the plant. The water also will keep the leaf material damp so it can break down. Keep up with regular watering until the end of the growing season.

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