Fertilizer burn is when plants develop signs of damage and unhealthy growth due to over-fertilizing. Fertilizers contain mineral salts that draw moisture from the soil and plants, which can lead to dehydration. This lack of moisture can affect a plant’s root system and impede new growth. 

Fertilizer burn appears as yellow or brown dry spots on green foliage or large, dry patches on grass.
The primary symptoms of fertilizer burns on plants are yellow or brown spots on their foliage. Foliage fertilizer burn can also show up as burnt, crunchy leaves. Lawn fertilizer burn shows up as streaks of discoloration on grass blades and dry brown patches of dead lawn grass. 

If you use a fertilizer spreader on your lawn, fertilizer burn will appear as long strips of burnt grass where you may have overlapped the fertilizer.
Fertilizer burn is easy to avoid if you take the proper precautions. Here are some key tips to help you prevent fertilizer burn:

- __Fertilize dry plants__. Apply fertilizer to dry ground, whether you’re working with grass or plants. Adding fertilizer to wet soil increases the likelihood of fertilizer burn.
- __Follow fertilizer application instructions__. Check how much fertilizer your lawn and plants will need, and avoid using more than the recommended amount on the package. Excess fertilizer is the leading cause of fertilizer burn, and using too much will not improve your plants’ growth rate. 
- __Keep fertilizer off of plant leaves__. Fertilizer sitting on your plants' foliage can cause fertilizer burn. Only apply fertilizer to the soil around your plant. Spray away any excess fertilizer from your plant's leaves with a garden hose. 
- __Use organic fertilizer__. Using chemical fertilizers on your plants and lawn grass increases the risk of fertilizer burn. Fertilize your plants with an organic type of fertilizer or [compost](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-compost) to reduce the risk of fertilizer burn and keep your plants healthy.
- __Use slow-release fertilizers__. If your plants need regular fertilizing, consider using a [slow-release fertilizer](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/slow-release-fertilizer) rather than regularly adding more to your soil, which can build up and cause fertilizer burn.
Treating fertilizer burn is a matter of reducing the amount of fertilizer in your soil to prevent further damage to your plants or grass. Here’s how you can fix fertilizer burn:

1. __Remove excess fertilizer__. First, rid your lawn of any residual fertilizer. If you use granular fertilizer and it’s still sitting on your soil or grass, scoop as much of it up as you can with a small trowel or shovel. 
2. __Rinse the soil__. Thoroughly rinse your soil to wash away the excess fertilizer. Saturate your soil with water until it cannot absorb any more. As you do this, make sure the soil is draining. Repeat once a day for about a week. You can also use a sprinkler to do this. 
3. __Prune dead foliage__. Prune all of the dead foliage off of your affected plants. If you’re treating burned grass, reseed the area with new grass seeds over the damaged brown grass. You’ll have to wait to see if the affected areas can recover, but [pruning](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-prune-your-plants-and-trees) damaged growth away is a good start.
Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.
Plants and lawns with dry brown patches and damaged roots may suffer from fertilizer burn. Learn how to fix and prevent this garden problem, which can ravage your healthy lawn or plants.

Plants and lawns with dry brown patches and damaged roots may suffer from fertilizer burn. Learn how to fix and prevent this garden problem, which can ravage your healthy lawn or plants.

Fertilizer Burn Repair Guide: How to Fix Fertilizer Burn

Fertilizer burn is when plants develop signs of damage and unhealthy growth due to over-fertilizing. Fertilizers contain mineral salts that draw moisture from the soil and plants, which can lead to dehydration. This lack of moisture can affect a plant’s root system and impede new growth. Fertilizer burn appears as yellow or brown dry spots on green foliage or large, dry patches on grass.

What Is Fertilizer Burn?

The primary symptoms of fertilizer burns on plants are yellow or brown spots on their foliage. Foliage fertilizer burn can also show up as burnt, crunchy leaves. Lawn fertilizer burn shows up as streaks of discoloration on grass blades and dry brown patches of dead lawn grass. If you use a fertilizer spreader on your lawn, fertilizer burn will appear as long strips of burnt grass where you may have overlapped the fertilizer.

What Does Fertilizer Burn Look Like?

Fertilizer burn is easy to avoid if you take the proper precautions. Here are some key tips to help you prevent fertilizer burn:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Fertilize dry plants. Apply fertilizer to dry ground, whether you’re working with grass or plants. Adding fertilizer to wet soil increases the likelihood of fertilizer burn. </li><li class="">Follow fertilizer application instructions. Check how much fertilizer your lawn and plants will need, and avoid using more than the recommended amount on the package. Excess fertilizer is the leading cause of fertilizer burn, and using too much will not improve your plants’ growth rate. </li><li class="">Keep fertilizer off of plant leaves. Fertilizer sitting on your plants&#39; foliage can cause fertilizer burn. Only apply fertilizer to the soil around your plant. Spray away any excess fertilizer from your plant&#39;s leaves with a garden hose. </li><li class="">Use organic fertilizer. Using chemical fertilizers on your plants and lawn grass increases the risk of fertilizer burn. Fertilize your plants with an organic type of fertilizer or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-compost' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-compost","linkCopy":"compost","category":null}'>compost</a> to reduce the risk of fertilizer burn and keep your plants healthy. </li><li class="">Use slow-release fertilizers. If your plants need regular fertilizing, consider using a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/slow-release-fertilizer' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/slow-release-fertilizer","linkCopy":"slow-release fertilizer","category":null}'>slow-release fertilizer</a> rather than regularly adding more to your soil, which can build up and cause fertilizer burn. </li></ul>

How to Avoid Fertilizer Burn

Treating fertilizer burn is a matter of reducing the amount of fertilizer in your soil to prevent further damage to your plants or grass. Here’s how you can fix fertilizer burn:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Remove excess fertilizer. First, rid your lawn of any residual fertilizer. If you use granular fertilizer and it’s still sitting on your soil or grass, scoop as much of it up as you can with a small trowel or shovel. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Rinse the soil. Thoroughly rinse your soil to wash away the excess fertilizer. Saturate your soil with water until it cannot absorb any more. As you do this, make sure the soil is draining. Repeat once a day for about a week. You can also use a sprinkler to do this. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Prune dead foliage. Prune all of the dead foliage off of your affected plants. If you’re treating burned grass, reseed the area with new grass seeds over the damaged brown grass. You’ll have to wait to see if the affected areas can recover, but <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-prune-your-plants-and-trees' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-prune-your-plants-and-trees","linkCopy":"pruning","category":null}'>pruning</a> damaged growth away is a good start. </li></ol>

How to Fix Fertilizer Burn

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described &quot;Gangster Gardener.&quot; Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.

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Plants and lawns with dry brown patches and damaged roots may suffer from fertilizer burn. Learn how to fix and prevent this garden problem, which can ravage your healthy lawn or plants.

Plants and lawns with dry brown patches and damaged roots may suffer from fertilizer burn. Learn how to fix and prevent this garden problem, which can ravage your healthy lawn or plants.
