This has been a very severe winter in much of the United States, which means that people have been reaching for rock salt and other deicing products to clear their sidewalks and driveways. In addition, local sanitation authorities use rock salt before and during snowstorms to keep the snow from sticking, and to melt the snow and ice.

These measures are great for protecting people from falling and getting hurt and for helping cars drive in dangerous weather. However, all of this salt use can potentially make it difficult to protect your lawn from damage. So what can you do to repair the damage? Here are some tips:

First of all, be careful with the salt use

Sure, you cannot control how much salt the local authorities put on your streets. But you can control what you do for your sidewalks, steps, pathways, and driveways. Your first step when it comes to deicing these areas should be using a snow shovel and/or an ice chipper. Snowing frequently, even during a snowstorm, will prevent ice from building up.

The next step is using products like sand and kitty litter, which will increase traction on your pathways. While these products do not melt ice, they do make it safer to walk to the pathways.

Then, if you use a deicing product like salt, use it judiciously and wait for it to work, instead of blanketing every layer of your pathways with a thick layer of rock salt or other product. In addition, be careful that you put the product on the sidewalk, and do not put it on your lawn. And when you shovel, make sure that you do not put the shoveled snow that has salt in it onto your lawn.

Protect your lawn from salt damage

Some people put fences or screens around their lawns, or use burlap on their trees, to protect them from salt damage.  Others water their lawn when the temperatures warm up, and make an effort to get the salt off their lawns. Needless to say, though, you must wait to do this until the temperatures are in the 40s or 50s; otherwise, you could end up with a frozen mess in your yard! Whatever you do to minimize the salt use, and protect your lawn, you will have less to do when spring comes.

Use pelletized gypsum

The gypsum, also known as calcium sulfate, will dislodge the salt on your lawn, and prevent it from further damage. Using the gypsum is a good way to get your lawn back in shape.

Talk with a Lawn Doctor professional

If your lawn still looks bad due to salt damage, talk to a Lawn Doctor professional. He or she can work with you to create a custom lawn care service plan to help get your lawn back in great shape for spring.