Why Is Too Much Fertilizer Bad for a Plant?

Fertilizer is generally made up of nitrogen, phosphorus and nitrogen. If you use too much fertilizer with these nutrients, you can cause burning to new plants, existing flowers and your lawn.

Fertilizer Burn

When a plant has fertilizer burn, it is not actually burned. Fertilizer burn happens when nutrients in the fertilizer have caused dehydration in the plant's root system. This generally turns the plant's leaves brown.

How It Burns the Plant

Potassium in fertilizer can cause burns because it has a high salt index. Putting too much fertilizer on a plant is the equivalent of pouring a bunch of salt on a plant. The salt in turn soaks up all the plant's moisture, thus causing it to "burn."

How Much to Use

The two types of fertilizer are slow release and quick release. Slow release comes in granules that are spread with a fertilizer spreader. Quick release generally comes in a liquid form that is attached to hose. Use the amount as instructed on the label. When in doubt, use less fertilizer. Few lawns suffer from under-fertilizing.

Fertilizing in the Fall

Many plants should not be fertilized in the fall because it causes new growth that becomes susceptible to winter conditions. If you use a small amount in the late summer months, your plants should be ready to go dormant by winter. However, too much will cause them to become vulnerable to snow and freezes.

Watering

Poor watering and over-fertilizing are a death sentence for plants and lawns. If you do over-fertilize, give your plants plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Avoid burning your plants by fertilizing in the morning or late afternoon. Most plants need at least 1 inch of water a week. Keep up a watering schedule.

Fertilizers

Make sure that you use a fertilizer with the right NPK amount. Ask your nursery when in doubt or look at the bottle to make sure that it fertilizes the plant or lawn you are feeding.