The Popular DIY Fertilizer Hack That Will Ruin Your Lawn

One of the keys to keeping a lawn healthy and lush is providing the grass with what it needs to grow vigorously. Three of the important tasks are dethatching, aerating, and applying fertilizer. For many years, a popular DIY fertilizer hack has been to use beer on the lawn, but is there any truth in the suggestion? The answer is a big no. While there are plenty of ways to transform a lackluster lawn into a stunning green oasis, pouring some of Milwaukee's finest (or wherever your favorite beverage originates) is not the way to go. In fact, it will almost certainly do more harm than good.

So why do people believe the beer fertilizer myth will actually work? Well, beer does contain a number of the same minerals found in commercial lawn fertilizers: calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, for example. Beer also contains nitrogen and carbon dioxide, both of which are essential for plant growth. The problem is that while each of these ingredients can be beneficial to your lawn, the way they are formulated in the beer-making process, and the other ingredients added, means the finished product can actually damage your lawn and attract pests. Let's look at why.

The first problem is that there really aren't enough of each of the beneficial chemicals and nutrients in beer to make a whole lot of difference to your lawn. Upwards of 90% of beer is water. So, those coveted ingredients are simply too diluted to do much good. It's a similar story with carbon dioxide; the grass can absorb enough on its own. It doesn't need any help.

Then there are the things that are actually harmful. The sugar in beer (and in sodas, another lawn fertilizer myth) can prevent grass from absorbing water. They also attract annoying insects and lawn diseases. Adding yeast introduces a fungus that wouldn't normally be there, potentially upsetting soil balance. It can soon smell bad too. Alcohol can attract fungi and bacteria that aren't good for your grass, plus it can damage the microbes in your soil that keep it healthy.

Beer does have uses in the yard, beyond being something to share with friends. It is ranked among alcoholic beverages that can kickstart a killer compost, and it can be used for pest control. When it comes to grass care, there are a number of little-known DIY lawn fertilizer hacks that can work, just don't try beer. If you accidentally spill some, it's a good idea to rinse it away with clean water before it has a chance to cause any damage.