Salt Invasion is a big problem not only for homes but also for gardens. Invasion of salt causes multifaceted problems. If you have been little ignorant about this problem then it is time to act. It is better late than never.
Let us begin with spotting the salt in and around your home and garden. Have a look at the walkways, driveways, and roadsides near your home and garden and try to explore any possibility of salt existence. Few bare spots and compaction tolerant weeds along the driveway, roadside, or sideways could be having salt invasion.
Sometimes it takes a little more efforts to identify the salt invasion as salt remains covered with a typical white or yellow crust. Inside homes if salt (Sodium Chloride) is used for de-icing purposes then it is more likely that salt invasion could damage other objects as well.
Some other factors also contribute to the severity of this problem. Compaction from foot-traffic, auto-tires, and piled-snow are some of the common representative compounding factors for salt damages. Apparently the damages by such factors may not seem to be enough to kill sod but it definitely increases the stress of the grass. The grass as a result becomes more susceptive to diseases. Capacity of such grass to compete with the grass also decreases subsequently. Runoff on the surface increases ultimately and the grass becomes week and vulnerable to face storm sewers and surface waters.
Some of the grasses are extremely sensitive to the salt invasion while some have different levels of tolerance. For instance, Kentucky bluegrass is one of the very sensitive varieties while perennial ryegrass, fine fescues, and tall fescue are comparatively tolerant varieties.
You must know how to avoid salt damages in your home as well as your garden. If you are living in colder climatic conditions you should always avoid plowing or shoveling the salt-laden snow on to the turf. Instead you should use just the sufficient salt for this job and that too immediately after removing the snow.
Using calcium chloride based de-icing salt is always better compared to simply using the sodium chloride (common salt). Chemically prepared calcium chloride based deicing salts cause far less damage to the grass in gardens.
You might have heard of using urea or other fertilizers for the same purposes. Someone might have suggested you the same also. But using urea or other fertilizers as de-icing agents is even more damaging for the garden grass. These agents run off as soon as the snow melts. It ultimately causes pollution of the garden surface and ground waters both.
Salts normally also accumulate through the spring rains. Water enriched in salts generally leaches salts from the soil in case of good drainage. It is better if the salts run off with water itself as this will not result in to any salt-deposition at surface. But in case salts get dried up then you have no other alternative but to clean off the salts with your hands to flush them out.
Poorly drained soil is another cause of worry for a gardener as it will also facilitate salt depositions. You should prefer mixing more organic matter to such type of soil. You may go up to the depth of 6-inches for this. It is always better to remove the soil and the replace it with fresh topsoil and only then it becomes fit for re-seeding. Prior-reseeding is necessary otherwise salts present in the soil will stop germination and seedlings will be damaged.
So, next time when you spot any salt accumulation in and around your garden you should immediately act upon to get rid off this damaging element.
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My name is Bill Stanley and I have been a home gardener for over 20 years. I enjoy sharing my gardening tips with friends and family, as well as the rest of the world!
Salt Invasion is a big problem not only for homes but also for gardens. Invasion of salt causes multifaceted problems. If you have been little ignorant about this problem then it is time to act. It is better late than never.
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My name is Bill Stanley and I have been a home gardener for over 20 years. I enjoy sharing my gardening tips with friends and family, as well as the rest of the world!
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