Restoring Soil after Salt Water Flooding on Lawns & Garden Beds
The effects of costal flooding can last long after the water recedes. The soil may now be
drenched with salt water, which will negatively affect your plants and grass. You may already
see symptoms such as leaf drop, drooping and browning. The steps below will improve your soil,
which in turn will help your existing plants or replacement plants to survive.
1. Once the water has receded, a thorough clean-up will be in order. Remove any debris such as
leaves, branches and garbage to allow sunlight to get back down to the grass and plants. This will
also help to dry out the soil, which may be saturated with salt water. Remove any silt (very small
particles of rock) that was left on lawn or garden areas when the water receded. This can be
done by hand, or with a shovel or rake.
2. Once the cleanup is complete, you need to aerate. Aerating is simply poking holes into the
soil. This can be done with aerating sandals that have 2-inch spikes on the bottom (similar to golf
shoes), or it can be done by hand with an aerating tool. For larger areas, renting a core-aerating
machine may be more effective. Core aerators take out plugs of soil as they are run over the
lawn (like a lawn mower) and are far quicker and efficient. Another effective method is by
slicing the soil with a spade, which typically works best for garden areas. Keeping the foot traffic
to a minimum in these areas is also important.
The next 2 steps are critical to the restoration process.
3. Flush the soil by irrigating with fresh water. This will help wash the salt out of the root zone.
4. Apply gypsum to the affected soil. Gypsum reacts with the salt to break it down so that
minimal damage occurs on the lawn or plants. Salt also leaves excess sodium in the soil, which
will most likely change the soil’s pH. A simple soil test can determine the pH and the correct
balance can be obtained by adding lime if needed.
You can bring in soil samples to Hicks if you cannot test them on your own. For instructions on
how to take a proper sample and the best time to bring it in, please call 516-334-0066.
5. Next, apply a 1-inch layer of compost. This will slowly add organics back to the soil and feed
the plants naturally. (When applying to trees and shrubs, be sure to leave some space between the
compost and the trunk). Fertilizers could be used again in as little as three months. At that point
it will be more beneficial to use slow-release organic fertilizers like Espoma Bio-Tone or Dr.
Earth. Also, products like Dr. Earth’s Metabolic Transformer with restore soil’s microorganisms
by replenishing beneficial bacteria and fungi. Fertilizing right away would be a mistake.
Encouraging excessive growth in damaged soil will be more harmful than beneficial to the plants
or lawn.
Keep in mind that the steps above are a guide to restoring your landscape after flooding. Some
loss to trees, shrubs and grass may still occur. If you have any additional questions or concerns,
please feel free to contact us at any time at 516-334-0066 or HicksInfo@HicksNurseries.com.