The first time I tried applying ammonia on my grass was terrible. On top of my head, I thought ammonia was a fertilizer – so it was safe to use on my grass. I was wrong. For this reason, I have decided to write this short article to answer the question, will ammonia kill grass?
The short answer is that ammonia will kill your grass, but that’s if you use the wrong type or the right one wrongly. But you don’t need to worry; you only need to be careful.
So, Will Ammonia Kill Grass?
Yes and no! Your grass will thrive if you apply the right type of ammonia properly. But you will kill your grass easily if you make a wrong choice and apply the ammonia wrongly.
With that confusion, setting things straight and knowing the difference is prudent. The best way to approach this dilemma is to understand the types of ammonia available today. After knowing the types, it will be easier to answer the question, does ammonia kill grass?
Types of Ammonia and Their Uses
In this section, I will explore some of the common types of ammonia and their uses. After the in-depth analysis of each type, you will decide whether you will still use ammonia on grass. To kick us off is:
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is, so far, the most common type of ammonia available. This product is among the best if you want to grow a thicker and fuller lawn. Because of its impeccable nutritional value, ammonia nitrate is the main ingredient in many commercial fertilizers for lawns.
The best part of ammonia nitrate is it serves as both a weed killer for lawn and grass fertilizer. Besides, you can use ammonia nitrate during fall and winter.
However, it’d be good to remember that ammonium nitrate works best on established lawns. The product will burn or kill your grass if you use it on seedlings, young grass, newly laid sod, damaged grass, or patchy grass struggling to recover.
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is a chemical used in the garden. Most commercial fertilizers do not contain this chemical because of its acidity, which increases soil acidity by changing the pH. Although ammonium sulfate is bad for your grass, it is beneficial for increasing acid levels and for garden plants that prefer acidic soil.
Therefore, applying too much ammonium sulfate to your garden will alter the soil pH and increase the acidity levels, thus, killing your grass.
Ammonium Phosphate Sulfate
Does ammonia kill grass when in the form of ammonium phosphate sulfate? No! Ammonium phosphate sulfate is good for grass seedlings and young grass. It is gentler and slow-releasing than ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate.
For best results, you need to apply ammonia phosphate sulfate to the soil before you plant your grass.
Ammonium Hydroxide
Also known as Household Ammonia, this compound is available in dozens of household cleaners, including dish soap. Many people prefer using ammonium hydroxide to make their homemade weed killer.
Household Ammonia is a powerful and effective weed killer when mixed properly. However, you need to be careful when using it. The weed killer can kill your grass easily if you apply it directly to the grass.
According to experts, the best way to use this powerful ammonium hydroxide homemade product is to get rid of weeds in the driveway. To make the product gentler for grass that is adjacent to the weeds, you need to mix the product with soapy water.
NB. You need to be careful when preparing your homemade weed killer. Otherwise, you might make concentrated household ammonia, killing your grass alongside weeds.
How Long Does Ammonia Take to Kill Weeds?
Generally, ammonia is fast-acting. However, it may take longer to kill weeds completely because it dehydrates the weeds from the roots. The solution will take some time to penetrate the soil to reach the roots before the plant sucks up the concentrate, which will then start to work on the roots.
To hasten the process, you need to spray enough ammonia on the soil, especially around the weeds.
Will Ammonia Kill Grass FAQs
Q: Can I use household ammonia on my lawn?
A: Yes, ammonia is a fast-acting weed killer when undiluted.
Q: Will ammonia kill weeds and grass?
A: Ammonia is indiscriminate; it can kill weeds and grass if you do not apply it carefully.
Q: Can ammonia be used directly as fertilizer?
A: Ammonia (NH3) is the main ingredient of many nitrogen (N) fertilizers, thus, can be applied directly as fertilizer. However, it requires special safety, skill, and proper management precautions.
Verdict
Will ammonia kill grass? The short answer is yes – ammonia can kill grass if you use the wrong type or do not apply it as needed. Otherwise, if you use the right type of ammonia and apply it correctly, you will have a healthier lawn.
