Question
Kenneth:
I recently applied Scott's Summerguard to my lawn. The setting for the spreader was set 4 times higher than it should have been. As a result it appears that most of the lawn is burnt. Can the lawn be restored, and if so, what steps should be taken.
I believe that Scott's Summerguard product contained a high percentage of Nitrogen.
Hope you can help.
Nick M.

Answer
Nick,
You do not mention where you are located. If you are located in the northern half of USA where cool season grass is grown, then you should never fertilize in summer.

Fertilize a cool season lawn in late spring, early fall and late fall. It does not matter that Scott's and others advertise "Summerguard".. a cool season lawn should not be fertilized in summer.

Especially since you appear to have overdosed the lawn, the grass may not come back, but to be sure, you can water heavily for a few weeks (to flush the root zone) and if the lawn does come back this fall, then you will have to replant.

All lawn fertilizers have high levels of nitrogen. This is what grass needs, but they need it in the right amounts and at the right times of the year. Cool season lawns should not be fertilized when daytime temperatures are consistenty above 85F.