I've overfertilized ("burned") my lawn—what can I do?

Over-fertilization can happen, for example, if a bucket or bag of fertilizer tips over on the lawn. The key is how quickly you react and how severe the damage already is.

Immediate Measures for Recent Over-Fertilization

If the problem is caught in time, there's a good chance the lawn can be saved.

Remove fertilizer granules immediately
Pick up as thoroughly as possible:
- with a broom or rake
- by hand (please wear gloves)
- For fine debris, use a vacuum cleaner if necessary
Water thoroughly
Water the affected area several times with 15–20 l/m² of water.
This flushes out excess salts and relieves the roots.

This process should be repeated several times.

If the lawn has already changed color, there are usually two types of discoloration:

It's yellowish, but there are still some green stalks
There is still a good chance of recovery here.
- Water the area immediately and repeatedly at a rate of 15–20 l/m²
- Do not apply any more fertilizer for the time being
- After a few days, new, healthy stalks usually start to grow again
If the area remains brown despite intensive watering, the grass has already been too severely damaged. In that case:
- Remove dead grass
- Lightly rake the soil
- resow
The lawn is completely brown.
In this case, the grasses are usually dead.
- Thorough watering can still help prevent the need to replace the soil
- For a quick solution:
  - Dig out the affected area to a depth of 5–10 cm
  - Fill with fresh lawn soil
  - Resowing the Lawn

Why does the lawn “burn” from over-fertilization?

The term “burning” is colloquial. In reality, the lawn is drying out. The high concentration of fertilizer salts in the soil creates an imbalance:

Suddenly, there are more minerals in the soil than in the plant
Water is drawn from the roots into the soil (exosmosis)
The grasses dry out and die

With prompt action and sufficient water, mild cases of over-fertilization can often still be remedied. In cases of more severe damage, the only solution is usually a Partial repair through reseeding or reconstruction 🌱.