Will Road Salt Kill Grass?

Significance

• Road salt is a definite enemy of grass, spraying onto a lawn with full force as maintenance trucks clear thoroughfares during the winter. The damage normally appears in the spring as grass along the edge of the road takes on a brown, brittle appearance. In fact, the grass is indeed likely dead.

Repair

• Not only is the grass fatally affected, but the salt seeps deep into the soil. This means a heavy watering may be called for. The soil should be watered repeatedly, especially during dry periods, to cleanse the earth of the damaging sodium chloride. Otherwise, grass replaced with new seed or sod will continue to suffer injury.

Prevention/Solution

• In severe cases, even heavy watering may not clear the dirt of salt. It may be necessary to completely dig away several inches of soil, replace it with new soil and reseed or add grass sod. Although roadway salt spray is impossible to control, individuals may choose to use cat litter or sand, rather than salt, on sidewalks and driveways near a lawn.