Epsom Salt… To Save Your Lawn?!
Epsom salt has been a go to home remedy for years. Known as a natural exfoliant, a remedy to
dry skin, sore muscles, small wounds, or used to create an inhome home spa experience,
epsom salts are widely used. What many people don’t know is that epsom salt can give almost
miraculous results to any lawn or landscape!
What is Epsom Salt? And Why Does It Work?
Epsom salt is simply magnesium sulfate. Broken down, that’s magnesium and sulfur. Now the
question is, how does magnesium and sulfur affect turfgrass and landscape plants? As it turns
out, magnesium plays a vital role in photosynthesis and the production of chlorophyll. A plant
that has an adequate amount of magnesium will allow for more efficient photosynthesis and
thus an abundance of chlorophyll. Having plenty of chlorophyll in the plant tissue is what gives
it that dark green color. As a result, having an appropriate amount of magnesium equates to a
healthier, greener plant!
When Do I Use It?
Epsom salt is best to use after periods of stress. This can be after a long hard winter when the
grass or plant is trying to wake up and stretch its wings, OR it can be used after a long hard
summer when plants are trying to recover and store carbohydrates for the winter. Though it can
be used anytime of the year, these two points will provide the most dramatic response in the
plant.
How Do I Use It?
Epsom salt can be applied in granular form. Granular epsom salts should be applied at 3-5
lbs/1000sqft of turfgrass. For landscape plants, it can be applied as a few handfuls. If you have
the appropriate equipment, epsom salts can be dissolved in water and applied at the same rate.
Either way, the results will be equal.
How Often Can I Use It?
Though epsom salts produce big effects quickly, it can be overused. It’s safe to use it only once
or twice per year as part of a regular lawn care maintenance program. Epsom salt also contains
sulfur. Grant it, sulfur ALSO plays a vital role in the health of plants (disease resistance), it can
make the soil acidic when overused. However, limiting your applications to once or twice per
year will not have enough of an impact to alter your soil pH.
Who knew? Epsom salt, great around the home, lawn AND garden!
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