- As a salt, fertilizer attracts water to it. If there is more salt than the plant roots can handle it begins to draw the water from the root filaments. This then dries up the plant and causes it to look burned. The same process happens when a dog urinates on a lawn. The brown spots are where the extra nitrogen in the urine dried out the roots.
- Remove any visible extra fertilizer on the burned spot with a trowel and while wearing gloves. It can be reused somewhere else. Run water over the area with a hose or sprinkler for at least two hours every day for a week. This dissolves the salts and washes them away. Check to see if the grass is doing better, and if not, continue to water for another few days. This should be sufficient to leach the excess out.
- The area may need reseeding. Till the first 2 inches of soil and lay down a good quality grass seed that matches your climate and the rest of the yard. Water it thoroughly and keep watering for the next few weeks as it begins to grow. If the grass starts well but then dies off, the soil may need to be replaced in that area with new topsoil. Clean off the first 2 inches of existing soil and replace it with a combination of topsoil and compost. Replant the seeds.
- Avoid burning the grass by only using as much fertilizer as necessary, and then using a slow-release product. Testing the soil beforehand for any lack of nutrients gives an idea of what is needed. Carefully follow the manufacturer's directions. Using a broadcast spreader avoids clumping the fertilizer together in one spot. Do not overlap any covered areas and use the least recommended amount; you can always add more later.
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