Fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline and other chemicals may burn the lawn if accidentally spilled or applied incorrectly. Excessive amounts of these chemicals will cause the lawn to dry out and die.
Damage can be in the form of irregular patches, or definite curves and lines.
These areas turn yellow and die while surrounding grass remains green and healthy. Typically, the damage appears within three days of the spill on the lawn with patches identifying the exact area of the spill. These areas do not spread or widen once they show up. If you spill on the lawn, clean up quickly by rinsing away water-soluble materials 3 to 5 times longer than you would usually water the area. In non-water soluble products such as gasoline, flood the area with water and dishwashing detergent diluted to a strength that you would use to wash dishes.