Sugar on Burnt Grass: Does it Really Work?

Grass that has been burnt seems like it could use a little boost. Some corners of the internet would have you believe that the simple act of sprinkling a little sugar on your lawn could be just what your burnt lawn needs. However, does sugar on burnt grass help it to recover or does the sugar do more harm than good?

Will Applying Sugar to Burnt Grass Help It to Recover? (The Short Answer)

Applying sugar to burnt grass will not help it recover. Burnt grass is likely to die back and be replaced with new grass. Sugar does not aid in the recovery of grass, as grass has a hard time using the nutrients table sugar provides. Sprinkling sugar on grass can feed insects, bacteria, and fungi that are harmful to your lawn.

Sugar on Burnt Grass: What Happens on a Chemical Level

Table sugar is a simple sugar. While grasses can create and use some simple sugars through the photosynthesis process, it is difficult for them, if not impossible, to absorb and use simple sugars applied to their roots, leaves, or stems. Though the food is “there” it is not able to be “eaten” by the plants. It would be a little like spreading peanut butter on your arm. Sure, the peanut butter is in contact with your body, but your body can’t make use of it as a form of nutrition.

Will Adding Sugar to Burnt Grass Do Any Harm?

In short, yes, adding sugar directly to your lawn for any reason will do harm. Adding sugar to your burnt grass will not help it as this is not something it needs. However, there are lots of things in the soil that would love to get ahold of this sugar. Ants, for example, will come from all over and extend their tunnels over your lawn if you keep supplying them with sugar. So will the beetles which then lead to problems with grubs.

Not only does sugar sprinkled on your lawn attract insects like a magnet, but it can also feed bacteria. While some bacteria and fungus can help your lawn to thrive, the bacteria that eat these simple sugars will also take large amounts of your lawn’s nitrogen in the process. This starves your already hungry, regenerating lawn of the one nutrient it needs to recover quickly.

Sugary drinks, including beer, can provide these same unwanted effects. The application of sugar over time can also attract larger animals like chipmunks, mice, deer, and moles.

Better Alternatives If You’re Looking to Remedy Burnt Grass

While sugar may not be the solution you’re looking for, there are still a handful of ways that you can support your lawn after it has been burnt. Keep in mind that the type and severity of the burn will determine how to apply these methods, as well as which method will be the most effective.

• Feed Your Lawn – Slow-release fertilizers and nitrogen-based fertilizers are key during recovery. Beyond nitrogen, supplemental calcium and magnesium can also help encourage root growth and stronger grass.
• Cut the Grass – Any burnt or dead ends or pieces of leaves should be removed to encourage the plant to stop wasting energy on these sections. The easiest way to do this is often to mow your lawn.
• Remove Dead Patches – All dead patches of grass should be removed so it is easier for healthy grass to overtake these sections.
• Reseed or Overseed – Seeding over the places where dead grass has been removed is better than waiting for these sections of grass to recover as they often will not.
• Water Your Lawn – Watering your lawn can encourage new growth, help fertilizer settle into the soil, and dilute any substances that may have caused the burnt grass in the first place. Always water in the early morning to help prevent sun damage.
• Remove Excess Fertilizer – Too much fertilizer can cause grass to burn. Always test your grass before applying a fertilizer if you have applied a similar fertilizer within the last 6 months. If the levels aren’t low, you don’t need to fertilize. Some fertilizers will last much longer on or in the soil than stated on their packaging, especially in seasons with little or below-average rainfall.
• Clean Up Any Chemical Spills or Runoff – While this is something you have likely already done, always make sure you take the proper steps to clean up a spill before reseeding or trying to remedy a burnt grass situation.