7 Surefire Signs a Lawn Has Too Much Nitrogen

Nitrogen is one of the most important chemical elements for lawns and gardens. However, too much nitrogen can ruin the grass, weaken the ruins, and make it very difficult to grow a healthy yard. Balancing your lawn’s nitrogen is quite simple once you know how to identify the symptoms.

Signs that your lawn has too much nitrogen include:

• Brown grass patches
• Burnt grass tips
• Nitrogen fertilizer burns
• Soil diseases and fungi
• Reduced grass growth
• Poor temperature resistance
• Low pH in the soil

Throughout this article, I’ll cover the seven primary signs that your lawn has too much nitrogen, how to fix them, and tips to prevent them from returning. Enjoy!

Brown Patches of Grass

Brown grass patches are one of the most common signs of having too much nitrogen in the lawn. The nitrogen burns through the grass, removing the roots and exposing the dirt. According to We Mow Dallas, your grass will get patchy if it’s exposed to too much manure, nitrogen-packed products, and so on.

How to Fix

Here’s what you can do:

1. Water the grass with hose water to increase its pH.
2. Overseed the grass with grass seeds.
3. Rake the seeds once the soil dries to push them into the soil.
4. Lay a light layer of mulch or thatch to draw the nitrogen out of the dirt.

Review this helpful YouTube video for more information:

Yellow Grass Tips

There are many reasons why your lawn has burnt grass tips. However, the high nitrogen concentration in the soil is a primary cause of the problem. The nitrogen sears the tips of the grass, preventing them from getting enough water. It also limits the roots’ ability to absorb moisture.

How to Fix

Follow these suggestions to prevent yellow grass tips:

• Stop using nitrogen-based fertilizers on your lawn.
• Water the grass to remove as much of the fertilizer as possible.
• Add low-nitrogen compost or nitrogen-free fertilizer to the soil.
• Mow the lawn to 2.5 inches to improve aeration, drainage, and moisture absorption.
• Keep the grass wet during the warmest parts of the day to limit sunlight damage.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Burns

Nitrogen fertilizer burns are caused by the following issues:

• Pet urine (some people use baking soda to neutralize dog urine)
• Nitrogen-packed fertilizers
• Condensed nitrogen used for topsoil and compost
• Nitrogen-rich or unbalanced compost bins

How to Fix

Treating nitrogen burns requires the same steps as getting rid of yellow-tipped grass. The nitrogen has to be reduced or eliminated until the grass is green, then you can add it back to the soil. It’s important to remember that nitrogen plays a key role in your lawn’s longevity.

However, you can quickly remove nitrogen burns by watering, seeding, and aerating the lawn with aeration tools and boots. If your lawn is too patchy, consider tilling the soil to off-gas some of the nitrogen.

Soil and Grass Diseases Thrive in Nitrogen-Rich Lawns

Lawn diseases can make the grass smell bad. Furthermore, they can break down the lawn’s roots, cause the soil to get spongey, and lead to dangerous fungal growth. The spores spread throughout the lawn and grow rapidly. Nitrogen is an excellent food source for these diseases and fungi.

How to Fix

Use a fungicide or disease removal treatment for the soil. Scotts DiseaseEx Lawn Fungicide treats up to 5,000 square feet per 10-pound bag. The azoxystrobin (the treatment’s primary active ingredient) removes over 25 lawn diseases, preventing the nitrogen from ruining the soil.

Another way to prevent fungal growth and bacterial growth in your lawn is to limit the amount of moisture that gets to it. Too much water will inevitably grow bacteria and mold. Keep your lawn mowed and the soil aerated to increase their evaporation.

Stunted Grass Growth

Nitrogen breaks the grass roots and limits their ability to absorb moisture, nutrients, and oxygen. The compressed and broken roots can leave soft spots in your yard. It can also turn the soil into mushy, patchy dirt. This common lawn problem leads to fungal growth.

How to Fix

After you correct the soil’s nitrogen problems with the aforementioned solutions (watering, mowing, etc.), it’s time to overseed the lawn. Stunted grass growth is often reversed by balancing the nitrogen and carbon in the soil. It’s also good to water and seed the soil to increase germination.

Mowing the lawn without the grass bag (also known as mulching, especially when it’s done with mulching blades) will pull the nitrogen from the soil and evenly distribute the nutrients.

Reduced Temperature Resistance

The University of Vermont claims a lack of temperature resistance is one of the main signs of having too much nitrogen in the lawn. Your grass will break when it gets covered in frost, not to mention the patchy soil and dry grass that happens during the warm summer months.

How to Fix

Try these tips to prevent hot and cold temperatures from damaging the lawn:

• Keep the lawn short to prevent frost from making the grass brittle.
• Spray the lawn before it gets too dry or before it’s under direct sunlight.
• Consider planting trees to provide a bit of filtered shade over the lawn.

Soil pH Acidity

Nitrogen typically has a low pH, which can make the soil acidic. It can also reduce the grass’s alkalinity. If your soil is always acidic, it could be a sign that there’s too much nitrogen in the lawn. Acidic soil will damage the grass and deteriorate the roots.

How to Fix

Before you adjust your lawn’s pH, it’s important to use a pH meter. The VIVOSUN Soil Tester reveals the soil’s pH, light, and moisture levels. Stick it into the soil and check all of the reading to know when you have to aerate or water the soil. If it’s too acidic, I recommend sprinkling lime on the soil.

Lime offers a quick and efficient way to increase your lawn’s pH from high nitrogen levels. Sprinkle the Hoffman Pelletized Garden Lime on your lawn to prevent nitrogen burns, root deterioration, acidic soil, and more. One bag has more than enough lime to treat lawns, gardens, and more.