Benefits of Epsom Salt for Lawns? Does Epsom Salt Kill Grass?
When it comes to gardening, we need to consider a lot of things. Like every other caretaking activity, Gardening is a complex activity that relies on different types of equipment and other ingredients such as rice water & weed killers to succeed. One such ingredient that is heavily debated upon is Epsom salts for gardening. There have been several myths built around the use of Epsom salts for gardening.
The most common myth is that Epsom salts help flowers bloom faster by allowing for faster seed germination, in turn fertilizing your lawn. Another common myth is that Epsom salts kill bushes and shrubs to help the flowers grow faster. But what exactly should we believe in? This is where we come in. This article will walk you through all the benefits associated with Epsom salts.
What Is Epsom Salt?
Also referred to as magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt has been a household name for decades as a popular remedy for several ailments. Epsom salts have been used to tackle everything from muscle soreness to clinical stress. These are affordable, easy to use, and completely harmless when used appropriately. Given their chemical structure, Epsom salts are entirely different from table salts. This is because Epsom salts contain sulfur and magnesium, which many believe improves soil health.
Benefits Of Epsom Salts
As we mentioned above, Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfur, which many consider a good combination at improving their soil’s health. If you have wondered at how your neighbor’s lawn looks better than yours despite making the highest of efforts, then the answer to that is Epsom salt. Many have touted Epsom salt to be highly valued organic fertilizers that can offer countless benefits to your lawn. So how exactly do Epsom salt benefit your property? Here are some of the benefits of Epsom salt.
1. Gives Your Grass A Lush Green Look
There’s no point in going through all those efforts to maintain your lawn if it doesn’t have that lush green shade you want. A freshly mowed lawn with a natural green look only adds to the beauty of your garden and house as well. But at times, the conditions around may leave us with dull, yellow, and malnourished grass which only adds to the frustration. In this case, using Epsom salts throughout the grass might help the grass regain a natural green shade. Simply sprinkle a mixer of water and Epsom salt throughout the grass at least once a month.
2. Helps In Foliage Maintenance
The lawn grass blades, if malnourished, tend to turn yellow and slightly curl over time. Suppose you have noticed curved grass blades in your lawn; it’s an indicator of low magnesium content within the soil. In such cases, introducing your soil to Epsom salts may help rebuild the desired magnesium content. To do so, you can sprinkle a mixer of water and Epsom salts every month. Alternatively, you douse the grassroots with the same solution.
3. Helps Accelerate The Growth
One proven benefit of dousing your plants with Epsom salts is faster growth. If you want flowers in your garden to blossom quickly, try adding a mixture of water and Epsom salts directly to the soil. For best results, water your plants every three weeks with water and Epsom solution. This is one of the simplest and perhaps the most cost-effective ways to help your flowers bloom.
4. Works As a Natural Pesticide
The last thing you need to worry about is losing your garden to pests and other insects. Although there is no proof of this benefit, many continue to believe that Epsom salts work as a natural pesticide and keep those pests away from your lawn. You can always experiment with this site by using a spray conducting pump containing a mixture of water and Epsom salts. In addition, spraying your plants with Epsom salts will help keep away rats and rodents.
Epsom Salt: Facts And Myths
As we mentioned earlier, you may have come across different speculations surrounding the use of Epsom salts. There have been countless myths about the various drawbacks and benefits Epsom salts have to offer throughout the years. Therefore, here we will try to segregate the two.
1. Does Epsom Salt Kill Grass?
No! There is no scientific proof of evidence that indicates that Epsom salt kills grass. For decades, landscapers have been dousing their soil with a water and Epsom salt mixture. And the only thing they can conclusively say is that the medicine only helps with accelerated plant growth and keeps away the pesticides. This is because Epsom salts contain of magnesium and sulfur, which happen to be two key ingredients required for the growth of grass and plants. So NO, Epsom salts do not kill the grass. Instead, they help them grow better.
NOTE: Always mix Epsom salts with water. Do NOT mix Epsom salts with VINEGAR, ultimately damaging the weeds.
2. Does Epsom Salt Kill Weeds?
Yes! Epsom salts have been known to kill weeds for generations. This is because Epsom salts are a chemical mixture of magnesium and sulfur. These are two of the most vital ingredients required for plant growth. However, adding a mix of water and Epsom salts to the soil keeps the soil from taking in other nutrients such as calcium.
Due to lack of nutrients, these plants, over time, tend to wither and die. Thus, Epsom salts are an excellent way to kill weeds. The best way of doing so is by mixing Epsom salts with vinegar and spraying them wherever there is maximum weed growth. However, you should note that Epsom salt is harmful for the environment and therefore, a good weed killer should be used to kill the weed present in your lawn.
3. Does Epsom Salt Make Your Lawn Green?
Yes! One of the key benefits of using Epsom salts is that they help your grass achieve that much-needed green shade. If the grass lacks the necessary nutrients, it becomes malnourished and grows yellowish. In such cases, spraying a mixture of water and Epsom salts over the grass at least once a month provides the soil with all necessary ingredients required to produce chlorophyll.
Also read: Will Chlorine Kill Grass?
Conclusion
There is more to gardening than just mowing and watering your lawn. One has to know the exact ways using which they maximum results out of a single gardening session. Therefore, our article successfully differentiated between the myths and the facts that surround Epsom salts.
