The Grass Doctor

I Burned my Grass Lawn. Now what?

I accidentally put too much fertilizer on my lawn because a large chunk of it went onto my lawn while i was preparing the spreader :( That exact spot is now fertilizer burned (completely brown/yellow grass). What are my best options now? Should i dig up the dead area and put new top soil and seeds in its place or should i water the entire area heavily and hope the grass grows again. I live in the Canada (Southwestern Ontario) and i am not quite sure what my grass is but it is either St. Augustine or Fescue. Thanks

Public Comments

1. Water heavy until fall when the temps fall to around 75 in the day. If it still has not come back dig it up level with topsoil compost mix and reseed.
2. I agree with Dee
3. I agree with dee only sprinkle some washed sand over the area it encourages grass growth.
4. Fescue is extremely hardy, and has deep roots. Watering the burn spot will help any existing fertilizer left there to become diluted (this MAY cause some additional burn tho). Adding a little lime will also help neutralize it. You don't mention just how big the burned area is....if it is only a small area, (for instance, small enough you could stand with one of your feet on either side of it), then a quick fix is to cut that burn spot right out. Don't dig too deeply, simply take the layer of burned grass off...add a little sand or preferably lime, then a layer of top soil, and reseed. If you have a really large burn area tho, rather than digging out the top soil, I would recommend simply reseeding the area. If you want a fast growth, try a little blend of rye grass, and whatever you currently have...Fescue or St Augustine. You can purchase grass seed seasonally almost anywhere, but certain stores, like farm supply, or hardware stores may carry it year round. Along with the seed, they should have pictures showing what the grass looks like...that would help you identify which kind you have. By the way, rye grass will pop up in about two weeks, and give you a good green color to cover the burn. Mixing it with what the rest of your lawn is made up of, will help that patch to blend in better, as the slower growing grass takes root :) And of course... you could always do what the golf courses do, and paint the grass! =D
5. sell your lawnmower.