Salt Damage Kills Your Lawn Edges Every Winter — The $9 Fix You Apply in November, by Silver Harvest Living on YouTube. 13 min 46 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 46 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Measure the strip where plowed or shovelled snow and salt land, usually 12 to 18 inches wide along driveways and sidewalks.
Rake away leaves, dead grass and debris from that strip so the gypsum can reach the soil surface.
Spread granular gypsum at about 40 to 50 pounds per 1,000 square feet, roughly a handful per square yard, along the edge.
Apply it in November, before the first hard freeze, while the ground is still workable and not frozen or snow covered.
Water the strip lightly or wait for rain so the gypsum dissolves and moves into the top layer of soil.
Put up a low barrier such as snow fence or burlap stakes to keep shovelled snow off the grass edge.
Shovel snow onto the driveway or a bare patch, not onto the lawn, and avoid piling salty snow against the edging.
In early spring, water the edges deeply to flush leftover salt and reapply gypsum on any yellow or bare patches.
Tips and common mistakes
Skip rock salt on paths next to grass and use sand or a pet-safe de-icer instead.
Wear gloves and a dust mask when spreading gypsum, since the powder irritates skin and lungs.
Do not apply gypsum to frozen or snow-covered ground, because it will wash away in spring.
More is not better, so stick to the bag rate and avoid locking up other nutrients in the soil.
Questions
Does gypsum really reverse salt damage?
It helps flush sodium out of the soil and improves soil structure, but badly burned grass may still need reseeding in spring.
When should I apply it?
November, before the ground freezes, gives the gypsum time to work into the soil before winter.
Can I use it on any grass type?
Yes, it is safe on common lawn grasses. Check the bag rate for your soil and the size of the strip you are treating.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
