Lawn Problems

• Excessive nitrogen fertilizer causes heavy top growth and can result in chemical burns in the lawn. It also increases the odds of development of some fungal diseases, such as brown patch, in certain lawns.
  
  

Environmental Damage

• Nitrogen fertilizer runoff causes pollution of rivers and ground water. Excess nitrate levels in drinking water causes a serious condition in infants, known as methemoglobinemia, an inability to use oxygen.
  
  

Solution

• Apply fertilizer to unhealthy lawns only after ensuring that other approaches are not more appropriate. Specifically, check for disease or pest infestation that may be causing the problems. Apply fertilizer no more than twice per year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Consider using organic nitrogen fertilizer, which releases more slowly and poses less risk of leaching.