Applying too much fertilizer to the lawn will cause the levels of nitrogen and salt in the soil to rise rapidly, which can damage or even kill the grass. When this occurs, it's known as a “fertilizer burn” and looks like yellow and brown strips or patches of dead grass. Correct fertilizer application rates are extremely important when growing a healthy lawn. Applying excessive amounts of fertilizer to lawns will increase nitrogen and salt levels in the soil, which can damage or kill grass.
This phenomenon, known as a fertilizer burn, appears as yellow to brown stripes or patches of dead grass. Often the symptoms appear the day after the application. The best ways to treat the problem are to leach excess fertilizer from the soil and re-plant dead areas. Too much fertilizer can alter the soil's pH balance, which is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity.
If the soil pH is higher than 7.3, also known as too alkaline, nitrogen and phosphorus cannot dissolve, two vitally important macronutrients needed for healthy lawn growth. If it is too acidic, for example at a pH of 4.5, excess nutrients such as aluminum, iron and manganese can become toxic and kill grass. As already mentioned above, over-fertilizing can kill grass. Increased nitrogen and salt levels in the soil will cause grass to be damaged or die.
When this occurs, it's often referred to as “fertilizer burning,” so sections of the grass look yellow or brown and grow very slowly, if at all. Fertilizers are a great way to ensure that your lawn stays green, healthy and lush. However, if overapplied, they can dry out the soil and cause the grass to turn yellow or brown or kill it completely. If your lawn was laid in the fall, the pre-grass fertilizer you applied to the soil before laying the grass should be sufficient to keep the plants running.
Sow by spreading over bare areas depending on whether overfertilization affected only one section of the turf or the entire turf. Every six to eight weeks, Scotts Turf Builder can be applied every six to eight weeks at any time of the year, whether the grass is dry or damp.
