Posted by brooklyn1 on June 1, 2010, 4:11 pm
On Tue, 1 Jun 2010 13:46:51 -0400, FALCONGIRL@webtv.net (MICHELLE H.)
wrote:
>The problem with that is, the homeowners that threw the rock salt on the
>guys lawn, are long gone, because their house was foreclosed on a few
>months back, and put up for public auction, so right now the house is
>currently vacant, and who knows where the other neighbors moved to??
>Plus, I don't think the guy would want to sue them. He is 85 years old,
>and keeps to himself. He never has anyone come over to visit him or help
>him, so I usually ask him if he wants help mowing his grass or raking
>his leaves or shoveling his snow, but he always refuses and wants to do
>it himself.
>But when I talked to him yesterday, when I was wishing him a "Nice
>Memorial Day", he says that he doesn't know what to do or how to fix the
>"rock salt burnt grass".
>I think that "Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss" may help neaturalize the
>soil, but I am not 100% positive about that??
If that 85 year old could afford a sod lawn he can afford to have a
landscaper repair it. Me, I'd rip up all the sod and turn it to
compost or maybe someone who wants it will take it away... then I'd
put down grass seed. A seeded lawn is always prefered except by those
who are too impatient and/or have more dollars than brain cells. Sod
lawns are instant but never actually root into the soil, sod lawns are
extremely susceptable to damage from all conditions that harm lawns
and sod is never recoverable, it's dead, remove it.
Posted by Phisherman on June 5, 2010, 8:14 am
On Tue, 1 Jun 2010 12:35:33 -0400, FALCONGIRL@webtv.net (MICHELLE H.)
wrote:
>Hello All,
...
>In the winter, the neighbors next to him dumped piles of rock salt/ice
...
The soil is contaminated. You got two (maybe three) choices...
1. Wait until the salt leaches out. This may take some time
depending on your rainfall, but cost you nothing.
2. Replace the top soil. This is much more involved. You can hire a
landscaping company to do much of the grunt work. I would show the
neighbor the bill and tell him if it happens again, he pays. Suggest
using a nitrogen salt (fertilizer) or ashes for traction instead of
the rock salt.
3. Consider groundcovers that can tolerate salt.
Posted by David E. Ross on June 5, 2010, 11:01 am
On 6/1/10 9:35 AM, MICHELLE H. wrote:
> Hello All,
>
>
> This question I am asking is not a problem that I have, but a problem
> that I am trying to help someone with. I have an eldery 85 year old
> neighbor, that I am trying to help out.
>
>
> Here is the problem. Last year he says he spent $4,000 to have all brand
> new "Kentucky Bluegrass" sod installed on his front yard.
>
>
> In the winter, the neighbors next to him dumped piles of rock salt/ice
> melter all over their driveway everytime there was a snowstorm, and when
> they shoveled their driveway, and threw the snow up onto the edge of his
> yard, all the rock salt landed on his grass, and now he has BIG Yellow
> patches of grass, all on the side of his yard.
>
>
> I feel really bad for the eldery gentleman, who lives alone, and never
> has anyone to come over to help him out, and I want to try to help him
> fix it. HE doesn't think that it can be fixed, because the rock saLt/ice
> melt is now mixed in with the soil.
>
>
> What about adding some topsoil as a "topdressing", and then new seed? I
> have a bag of "Organic Topsoil", I could give him?
>
>
> Would that "Scotts Patchmaster" stuff work? Or that new "Scotts EZ Seed"
> I keep seeing commercials for?
>
>
> I also have a bag of "Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss". Should I try
> spreading some "Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss" on it for him??
>
>
> What would be the best way to neutralize the soil of all the rock salt,
> and revive the lawn, to turn the Yellow spots Green again?
>
>
> ANY info. will greatly be appreciated!
>
>
> Thanks!
>
No topping will help. Try broadcasting a generous amount of gypsum over
the affected areas and rinsing it into the soil.
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>
XML site map
>guys lawn, are long gone, because their house was foreclosed on a few
>months back, and put up for public auction, so right now the house is
>currently vacant, and who knows where the other neighbors moved to??
>Plus, I don't think the guy would want to sue them. He is 85 years old,
>and keeps to himself. He never has anyone come over to visit him or help
>him, so I usually ask him if he wants help mowing his grass or raking
>his leaves or shoveling his snow, but he always refuses and wants to do
>it himself.
>But when I talked to him yesterday, when I was wishing him a "Nice
>Memorial Day", he says that he doesn't know what to do or how to fix the
>"rock salt burnt grass".
>I think that "Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss" may help neaturalize the
>soil, but I am not 100% positive about that??