Too much fertilizer can harm or even kill your lawn and garden plants if it is used in excess. This article answers the question, “What is fertilizer burn?” and explains the symptoms of fertilizer burn, as well as how to prevent and treat the condition.
Fertilizer Burn is a term for what?
Fertilizer burn can be defined as the burning or scorching of plant foliage as a result of excessive application of fertilizer. Excess fertilization or fertilizer applied to wet leaves are the two main causes of fertilizer burn. Salts in fertilizer wick moisture from plants. Excessive fertilization can cause yellow or brown discoloration and damage to the roots of plants.
If you use a slow-release fertilizer, you may see symptoms of fertilizer burn within a few days or a few weeks. Yellowing, browning, and withering are all signs of this disease. You may notice white, yellow, or brown streaks in your lawn if you applied fertilizer in a specific pattern.
Preventing the Burning of Fertilizer
In a positive light, it is possible to avoid fertilizer burns. Fertilizer burn on plants can be prevented by following these guidelines:
- Do not over-fertilize your plants. Adding more fertilizer won’t improve your results, and it could harm or kill your plants in the process.
- Fertilizer burn can be avoided by using slow-release fertilizer, which releases the salts gradually into the soil rather than all at once.
- There’s no danger of fertilizer burn when using compost to feed your plants. A layer of compost of 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) once or twice a year is ideal for most plants.
- During a drought, plants are more vulnerable to fertilizer burn as the fertilizer concentration in the soil increases. Wait until the weather improves and the moisture levels rise.
- Feeding wet grass or allowing fertilizer to contact wet leaves should be avoided.
- After using granular fertilizer, be sure to give your plants plenty of water to allow the salts to disperse throughout the soil evenly.
What to Do if You Get Sick from Using Fertilizer?
It is best to treat the area as soon as possible if you suspect that your plants have been over-fed. Treat a fertilizer spill by scooping up as much of it as you can. Over-fertilized soil can only be remedied by flushing it with as much water as it can hold for the foreseeable future.
Don’t let the water drain away. If toxic runoff enters nearby waterways, it can wreak havoc on aquatic life and pollute the environment. Allowing the water to soak in rather than run off is the best way to use it.
