The Effects of Salt and Vinegar on Grass and Shrubs?

Question:

What are the effects of salt and vinegar on grass and shrubs that you don't want to kill? How long will it take for the ground to recover? How do I help the ground to recover?

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Mona123 from Bear Creek, NC

Answer:

Mona123,

When too much salt gets into the soil, whether it's Epsom salt or a build up of fertilizer salts, water is drawn out of a plant's roots instead of flowing into them. This is normally referred to as "burning", but actually the plant is becoming severely (or fatally) dehydrated. The plant's leaves and stems start to shrivel and turn brown and leaves may mutate from chloride toxicity. The best way to remedy soil containing excess salts is to remove the contaminated soil and amend it with healthy, nutrient-rich soil. For the amount of salt used by most gardeners in homemade tonics, the area can probably be considered "recovered" as soon as it's refreshed with some nutrient-rich soil.

Vinegar is a weak acid and when applied to the soil, it lowers the pH. Changing the pH too quickly can damage or even kill plants by altering their roots ability to absorb water and minerals. Fortunately, because vinegar is a weak acid, it degrades in water and doesn't bioaccumulate (stay in the environment). After flushing the soil with water, you can expect the pH to return to normal within 48-72 hours.

Ellen