Lawn gypsum treatments are made from ground-up gypsum stone.
Gypsum, or calcium sulfate, is a common gardener's tool for manipulating soil for better plant health. While the benefits of gypsum treatments are often over-stated, using gypsum in garden projects can benefit your plants by improving the condition of your soil. Learning about the proven benefits and risks of using gypsum is an important first step before starting a gypsum project in your garden. You may also want to consider testing your soil for nutrients and heavy metals before using gypsum, so you can monitor how those levels change after treatment.
Soil Conditioning
Gypsum is an effective tool for breaking up compacted soil to improve aeration and moisture saturation. If you have soil that is tightly packed or that has a high clay content, a gypsum treatment project will improve your soil composition over time. It can take up to three years for gypsum to penetrate the soil layers, but you will begin to see improved drainage a few months after your first treatment. All you need to do is sprinkle a layer of gypsum on top of the soil, and it will work its way in gradually.
Sodium Removal
Soils with high sodium levels can be toxic to many plants. Sodium rich soils are typically found near the coast where salt water has leached into the soil from the ocean. Gypsum treatments increase the leaching of sodium from the soil, replacing it with calcium, a necessary nutrient for plant growth. A sodium-reduction project with gypsum involves regular, bi-weekly spreading of gypsum over your soil beds. Watering after treatment is not advised, since this will wash away the gypsum. If you are having a lot of rain, you may need to apply the gypsum more regularly.
Nutrient Balancing
In addition to reducing sodium, gypsum treatments also increase the leaching of aluminum, a mineral that can be harmful to plants in high levels. If your soil has high levels of aluminum, gypsum treatments will be effective. However, if you live near a wetland or body of water, aluminum that leaches from your soil will end up in the watershed, so use only the minimum amount you need to protect your plants. Gypsum can also leach beneficial nutrients from the soil like manganese, magnesium and iron, so you may need to add these nutrients in the form of fertilizer during gypsum treatments.
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