Early-Season Proactive Trick: Gypsum for Road Salt Damage

[andy10917]

This past week I began noticing the telltale signs of road-salt damage to grass where salt applications had been made. These areas are hell-strips, the edges of driveways and sidewalks.

There really isn't that much that can be done where the use of salt was extreme and/or constant -- that grass is toast. But as the snows switch to Spring rains, grass that has only seen some salt can be saved, if a trick using Gypsum is used.

Gypsum displaces Sodium very well, especially in the wetter season. An application of Gypsum at 20-30 lbs/K aids in recovery from salt damage.

Update 2020: "Rapid types" of Gypsum have become more common/available and require smaller applications than the "standard type". Make sure to read the bag rate to make the proper application rate for the newer types.

[Green]

Promotional material: It really works! I've been doing this the last couple of years with great results. You just have to make sure it's sodium chloride that was used. Sodium chloride is cheap and commonly used, but it doesn't work when it's really cold.

Another tip I'll contribute is to try not to get lots of dirty snow on your lawn. And where the plow pushes it up near the road, I try to shovel it off late in the season when no one is looking. This may not work on a busy street, though, where you might get fined.

[andy10917]

I'm bringing this thread up early this year, as I've received several notes in the past couple of years that locating Gypsum isn't simple in late Winter -- many garden centers are closed and the big-box stores have the lawn and garden areas closed up. Get this when you can - it's too late when you see the dried-out brown grass of salt damage...

Wait to apply until it's typical for snow-melt time, and rains become more common. Don't ask for secrets if the grass already reaches the point of damage -- there are no secrets.

[MorpheusPA]

Andy--would you recommend that even on a soil that's very high in calcium, like a LQC soil?

It's a trick I've used myself here in PA (decidedly not LQC, we tend toward the very acidic unless maintained) and it really does work! You can also use tiny amounts in potted plants, and make sure to flush them each time they're watered, to refresh the soil a bit and dispel the salt buildup.

[andy10917]

I dunno about an extremely-high Calcium soil. It would have to be a benefit/risk decision on the individual case. I'd personally err on the side of using the Gypsum if I'd seen Sodium damage in the past.

[northeastlawn]

Here in S.E. Mass we had one snow storm but it's already melted away. Would now be a god time to put it down?

I would guess we have more snow on the way. Is this a post treatment Feb/March type of thing or a pre-treatment before we get more snow?

[HoosierLawnGnome]

It's been so warm I think they've only treated my road once.

[andy10917]

I would guess we have more snow on the way. Is this a post treatment Feb/March type of thing or a pre-treatment before we get more snow?

I gave you the best-hint/signal that I know, above. Don't overthink or overanalyze it.

"Wait to apply until it's typical for snow-melt time, and rains become more common."

[andy10917]

It's been so warm I think they've only treated my road once.

ST*U.

I have one more week of round-trips of Buffalo, NY Lake-Effect to Nor'easter Sleet/Snow/Ice. Then I get to alternate Buffalo and Key Largo. If you don't shut up, I will flood your PM with Key Largo sunrise and sunset pictures.

[GeorgiaDad]

[andy10917]

Resurrecting this thread as a reminder. I updated the top posting to make it clear to check the type of Gypsum used, as the "rapid type" of Gypsum requires smaller applications, and has become more common/available...

[JHazzardB]

Just curious Andy, you have me on a gypsum application every 2 months right now, would this alter anyone's soil amendments? Asking for friends because my road never gets salted...

[andy10917]

Gypsum is interesting - it displaces Sodium well, and adds Calcium without raising the pH. The only possible negative scenario I can think of would be a calcareous soil - you don't add Calcium to soil that already has far too much Calcium. Duh.

[Green]

[quote=andy10917 post_id=338273 time=1580859056 user_id=100]
The only possible negative scenario I can think of would be a calcareous soil - you don't add Calcium to soil that already has far too much Calcium. Duh.
[/quote]

And I would think that such a soil is like already having built-in gypsum, so sodium damage should be minimal naturally.

[andy10917]

And I would think that such a soil is like already having built-in gypsum, so sodium damage should be minimal naturally.

Nah, but I get where you're going. Most calcareous soils are full of Calcium Carbonate (limestone), not Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum). But there aren't any exchange sites, so Sodium wouldn't stand much of a chance of finding one.

[Green]

I have my gypsum ready to go.

Surprised there aren't many gypsum-rich soils, though.