Early spring is an important time for lawn care, and for learning how to wake up a lawn. But over-fertilizing a lawn in spring can do more harm than good, often just as the grass is coming back into active growth. Applying too much feed – particularly high-nitrogen fertilizers – can result in soft, weak grass that looks green initially but is more prone to stress, wear, and drought later in the season.
It can also lead to fertilizer burn, where excess salts draw moisture out of the grass roots, leaving yellow, brown, or scorched patches. In spring, when soils are often still wet, any surplus nutrients are more likely to be washed away, leading to uneven feeding. At the same time, this surge of soft growth creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases and can even encourage weeds.
