Can I Put Nitrogen on My Lawn? (Solved & Explained!)

Not only can you put nitrogen on your lawn, doing so may add some much-needed nutrients to your lawn that it was not getting before. Putting nutrients like nitrogen on your lawn can help your grass stay green even during the winter months. Putting too much nitrogen on your grass can be detrimental to it. 

Why Put Nitrogen on Your Lawn?

Grass needs nitrogen above all other nutrients a plant can need. If your lawn is not getting enough nutrients, you may need to add some to make sure that your lawn stays healthy and grows strong.

By adding nitrogen to your lawn, you can make sure that your grass is getting all the nutrients it needs and get the healthy lawn you desire.

What Does Nitrogen Do to a Lawn?

According to The Turf Grass Group, nitrogen keeps grass healthy and growing strong. The bright green, thick texture you see on a healthy, well-kept lawn is due to having a good amount of nitrogen in the grass.

Along with giving the grass its bright green color and thick texture, nutrients such as nitrogen also help the grass to grow taller and straighter, giving lawns that luscious, full look.

How Should You Put Nitrogen on Your Lawn? 

How you add nitrogen to your lawn varies depending on the temperature, moisture level, and how slow or quick you want your process to be. 

Fast-Acting Nitrogen Fertilizers Can Work Quickly.

According to Lawn Talk, an agricultural extension of the University of Illinois, fast-acting Nitrogen-rich fertilizers can quickly make your grass look greener while making it grow taller and look fuller.

Although this method can yield results fast, it can cause uneven growth and burning. It is a good idea to consult an expert who can tell you exactly how much fertilizer to use on your lawn based on the season and condition of your lawn. 

Controlled Release Nitrogen Rich Fertilizers Can Provide Steady Growth. 

Controlled release nitrogen-rich fertilizers are great for providing slow and steady duces of nitrogen-rich nutrients to your lawn. 

This usually comes in the form of pellets that slowly release nitrogen onto your lawn. 

According to Lawn Talk, although this seems like a foolproof method of distributing nitrogen, disturbances to the pellets, such as people walking on them or when you cut the grass, can cause them to release quicker than they usually would. 

Now we understand why the old man yells “get off my lawn” so much. 

When Should You Put Nitrogen on Your Lawn?

According to Purdue University’s Department of Agronomy and their extensive lawn maintenance calendar, it is better to apply a heavy amount of nitrogen-rich fertilizer in the fall while the grass is still green. 

Purdue also says to add a moderate to light amount of fertilizer during the spring, into the early summer, but keep in mind, you don’t need as much fertilizer when your grass is really wet. A little goes a long way, but always consult the bag for instructions or a professional. 

How Much Nitrogen Do You Add to Your Lawn?

On the bag of fertilizer, it generally gives you how much nitrogen you use in pounds to 1000 square feet of lawn. 

Most homeowners and even some new gardeners find this to be more than a little confusing, so there are online fertilizer calculators that you can use to make things a little easier. 

It is also important to take into account how quickly you want your grass to improve and how much you are willing to spend to do that. All of these things will affect your lawn maintenance schedule. 

Can You Put Too Much Nitrogen On Your Grass?

It is possible to add too much nitrogen to your lawn, and it happens more often than you would think. There are drawbacks to the convenience of using fast-acting nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

Although it gets the job done quickly, it is easy to use too much fertilizer and this can cause grass burn, or fertilizer burn, on your lawn if you aren’t careful. 

Will Nitrogen Kill Your Grass If You Put It On Your Lawn?

If you apply the proper amounts of nitrogen to your grass, it will not kill your grass. However, if you over-apply the fertilizer, it can over saturate the soil with too much nitrogen and salt, causing a burn. 

You can tell that you got fertilizer burn, or grass burn because the grass dies and turns a yellow color from over-saturation of nitrogen. This can happen as soon as 24 hours after applying the fertilizer. 

How Do You know If Your Lawn Needs Nitrogen?

It is pretty easy to know if your lawn needs nitrogen or not. Grass with a healthy amount of nitrogen will have a finished look that Nitrogen-deficient grass will moderately to severely lack. Below are three major ways that you can tell. 

Your Grass Turns Yellow with Low Nitrogen.

When your lawn is deprived of nitrogen, the grass blades start to turn a yellow or brown color. This usually is a good sign that your lawn is nitrogen deprived and it may be a good idea to add some. Nitrogen gives grass its green, healthy color, so without it, the grass turns yellow or brown. 

The Lack of Nitrogen will Cause Your Lawn Growth to Slow Down

If your lawn is not growing as quickly as you think it should, it might be because there is a nitrogen deficiency issue and your lawn is not getting enough nutrients from nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes grass growth so you can put nitrogen on your lawn if your grass isn’t growing fast enough. 

Nitrogen Deficiency Leads to a Reduction of Shoot and Leaf Density 

Nitrogen-deficient grass will grow thin and curvy. This is because it grows weak and frail without the nutrients of nitrogen. When you add Nitrogen to your lawn, your grass grows straighter, stronger, and thicker, creating that luscious look homeowners want.