When you think of cheap and effective fertilizer, often times you’ll think of lime. It is often said that lime is the “poor man’s fertilizer”  because it’s inexpensive and very effective at changing the pH of the soil, allowing the grass plant to access the nutrients that are already in the soil. But we’re suggesting a different treatment; Gypsum!

Gypsum has many benefits for your lawn, and in this blog we’ll outline the top reasons to use gypsum for your next fertilizer application! If you want other options, then consider getting something like a  high nitrogen organic fertilizer. 

The Benefits of Gypsum

Gypsum, unlike lime, is pH neutral. Despite that, almost every lawn can see significant benefit from an application of gypsum and it’s inexpensive to apply. The product Koopman sells is OMRI certified organic and can be used to neutralize salts from pet urine, deicing chemicals, and heavy fertilizer application, especially in those tough areas along walkways and driveways. It also provides key nutrients often missing from New England soil: calcium and sulfur. We sell gypsum in a pelletized form which makes spreading easy from a broadcast spreader.

Another great benefit of gypsum is that it serves as a natural aerator for the soil. Many of us have hard packed soil with a lot of clay. With annual treatment, this will help open up compacted soils and cultivate a naturally healthy ecosystem. We also rent core aerators to actually pull plugs of soil up and introduce air directly into the soil. Many landscapers recommend annual aeration, but with regular application of gypsum, you may not need the manual method as often.

Wrap Up

So don’t get mad at Spot, but hit those dog spots with gypsum and make that urine stain disappear naturally and easily! While you’re at it, spread it over your entire yard to boost the healthy ecosystem that is your lawn. It’s a quick inexpensive way to make a very visible difference in your yard. If you have spots and no dog – check for grubs eating the roots. If you pull on the grass and it comes up like carpet – see our stores for the solution to instantly stop grubs. Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions feel free to reach out to use at koopmanlumber.com!