In cold Minnesota winters, ice buildup can be a serious concern. Losing traction in your vehicle or slipping on the sidewalk are experiences everyone wants to avoid. This is where rock salt can come in handy. By penetrating through the ice, rock salt can make paved surfaces safer and more navigable, and large quantities can be purchased from most hardware stores very affordably.
Unfortunately, winter salt does have one disadvantage: it can seriously damage your lawn. Keep reading to learn about how rock salt interacts with your lawn, and how best to avoid the pitfalls.
Dehydration
Salt naturally dehydrates, which can cause problems for your lawn. At a time when your grass is already under the pressures of cold and lack of sunlight, rock salt can further complicate the spring growth of your lawn by dehydrating it.
How to Protect Your Lawn
Despite the dangers that rock salt can pose to your lawn, there are some easy ways to ensure that your grass comes up healthy and strong in the spring without leaving your driveway and sidewalk slippery in the winter.
- Only spread rock salt on paved areas. Winter salt was designed for pavement, so only use it as directed. While a few grains of salt drifting into your lawn won’t cause permanent issues, avoid sprinkling the salt directly on the grass. Keeping your sidewalk salted and your lawn untouched will likely look more aesthetically pleasing in the wintertime anyway.
- Use a small soil barrier or silt fence. Try installing a short (3-4 inches high) guard around your plot of grass. This will prevent any rock salt or melted runoff from spilling into your lawn, as well as prevent any passing plows or salt trucks from spraying the salt into your grass
- Cover your grass with plastic sheeting. This option involves staked or weighted-down plastic covers on your lawn, which will fully protect your grass from salt. This can usually be affordably purchased at a hardware store or online.
- Use other ice-melt options. If you can’t avoid spillage into your grass or prefer not to invest in protective measures, you can swap out your winter salt for sand or even kitty litter. This will give you enough traction to navigate icy spots without compromising your lawn.
Prepare For Spring With Scott's Lawn Scare
At Scott’s Lawn Care, we are a team of professionals who are trained to help you with all of your snow removal needs and springtime lawn prep needs. We will work with your unique home situation to ensure that your home is safe and verdant. Make sure you’re taking the right steps: contact Scott’s Lawn Care at 763-479-8155 or visit our website: scottslawncare.net.