Will saltwater kill grass?

[jhearnsberger]

I have a pvc line running outside to a 25' soaker hose that is 1' underground. I will be running 12 gallons of saltwater and about 50 gallons of regular water through the line once a week.

My family has been asking if that will kill the grass. Common sense tells me that saltwater kills grass. But, I thought things might be different since we use a different type of salt. I have not noticed any dead patches in the past. I would think it would be a good fertilizer.

I have done a little research and some say it will and some say it won't. Who can tell me for sure whether I will be affected or not?

Thanks,

Jake

 

[Joshporksandwic]

When i do water changes i use a pump and water all the grass along the fence that i can get with my trimmer and it dries it. So the answer is yes

 

[jhearnsberger]

Of course mine is underground and flushed with a good bit of freshwater. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[Heliman]

salt - Sodium Chloride is a grass killer. Over time the salinity of the area where the salt water is pumped will rise to the point where the grass will die....period.

Salt content of groundwaters after clearing for gardens/crops is a major cause of loss of productive farmland...especially here in Aus.

 

[jhearnsberger]

I don't believe it will be enough salt to affect it any. I will have a lot of freshwater to the amount of saltwater. I doubt I will have enough salt to raise the salinity enough to the point of killing my grass.

 

[Sk8r]

It's what the ROmans did to Carthage so their land would never be able to support a city again.

 

[mfinn]

Salt is salt. Whether it's diluted or not, it will build up over time and start killing the grass

 

[aguz1126]

In my experience I made the mistake of hosing it out a window. For over a year there is an area in my lawn that I don't have to mow.

 

[mike_cmu04]

It will kill your grass I use it to kill weeds in my driveway

 

[jhearnsberger]

So, even though the salinity is low the salt will build up and build up? It won't dissolve into the earth? The ground has salt in it anyway doesn't it?

 

[RogerJoys]

Funny to read this. I use the "water out" to kill the grass growing in between the bricks on my back patio. It's effective but I am not sure I'd make a habit of it for years and years

 

[Heliman]

I don't believe it will be enough salt to affect it any. I will have a lot of freshwater to the amount of saltwater. I doubt I will have enough salt to raise the salinity enough to the point of killing my grass.

I dont know why you asked the question....salt will surely kill grass...but if you want to go ahead, that's fine...your call. Most folk here suggest it will be a killer...eventually.

 

[SoLiD]

It takes some time but it will eventually. If you have concentrate the old water in one general area (permanent hose) it will happen in a shorter time.

 

[coralreefdoc]

Paspalum

 

[mike_cmu04]

I don't believe it will be enough salt to affect it any. I will have a lot of freshwater to the amount of saltwater. I doubt I will have enough salt to raise the salinity enough to the point of killing my grass.

If you dont think it will kill it dont listen to us but i guarantee your family wont be happy when the grass is dead.

 

[NMC]

I've lived in the same house since 1990. Since I moved in, I've had this invasive ground cover that I've tried and tried to get rid of. Even used Roundup. It keeps coming back.

I started my tank in Feb. of this year and have been dumping my water change water on some of this stuff....dead as a door nail. Will it kill grass? No doubt.

 

[ken55]

I think it has a lot to do with where you live. If you live, literally, right on the coast the native grasses will be far more tolerant of the salt. But I suppose that over time even those would succomb if you dumped in the same area every time.

Anywhere inland? Toast!

 

[thegrun]

So, even though the salinity is low the salt will build up and build up? It won't dissolve into the earth? The ground has salt in it anyway doesn't it?

It only takes a few times for the salinity to reach a point where the ground is incapable of supporting plant life and remain sterile for years.

 

[Squidmotron]

It depends on the concentration and rainfall and such I'm sure. I've done it with no consequences, but a lot might be problematic over time.

Rome salting the Earth after defeating Carthage is now widely considered an historical myth.

 

[Vince272992]

YES do not make the mistake i did by dumping 20gal of saltwater on my front lawn every 2 weeks!!!
now i have a huge dead spot in my lawn and it looks like crap haha

it kills weeds tho so dump it on them!!!