fertilizer burn in some areas of lawn

suggestuse – posted 05 September 2006 00:56

I noticed that a small area of my lawn has been burned by fertilizer. It’s unsightly. Should I dig up the sod and cover with top soil?

Grassguy – posted 05 September 2006 18:58

what kind of turf is it? Next time before applying fert get a soil test if you havent already.

hankhill – posted 05 September 2006 23:59

What kind of fertilizer did you use?

I only use granular fertilizer that’s labeledas guaranteed to not burn, so I haven’t hadyour problem. However, I find that somebrands don’t seem to do *anything*.

I’ve had good luck with Vigoro from theDepot. I also use the Scott’s w/ atrazineon areas with invading Bermuda that aren’tnear any trees–the atrazine will kill oaktrees if you apply enough of it.

[This message has been edited by hankhill (edited 06 September 2006).]

TexanOne – posted 06 September 2006 00:31

The best way to correct the problem of too much fertilizer is to completely drench, re-drench, and then again drench the affected area. The idea is to detoxify the soil by diluting it with LARGE amounts of water.

Obviously, this is not the most environmentally friendly way to take care of the problem because you will undoubtedly wash the contamination down into the sub soil / water table, but it’s the easiest way to deal with something like a fertilizer spill.

Of course, if you ask the EPA, they will want you to excavate the affected soil area to a depth of 3’, remove your house, some trees, and replace the soil with perfect, commercial-grade, composted topsoil, but who wants to do that?