How much salt is too much salt for plants? Slugs have been invading my garden beds in masses recently and I got a bit too vindictive. I grabbed some salt and started sprinkling it along the edges of my beds and around plants to deter the pests. I always sprinkled the salt well outside of the length of each plant’s “canopy” (trying to think of the word here). I never put salt at any bases or under any “canopies.” By the time I reached my front door to go back inside I realized that I had used regular salt and not epsom salt! Now I am panicking! I ran back out to see what I might be able to do and I was only able to find a few pieces of salt here and there but otherwise it was not so much salt that I was able to find it on top of the 4” of dark brown mulch so that I could try and do something about it. So I went to researching and am reading that very little salt is needed to ruin soil. Have I ruined all of my garden beds and killed all of my precious plants for good?! I can not NOT obsess about this.
Too much salt will cause damage to and/or kill your plants but find some Garden Lime and follow the directions to counteract the salinization of your soil.
Thank you! Does it take a lot or a little to kill off plants?? I did not use much, just a light sprinkle around and not so much that I could see it settled on top of the mulch when I went to look. If I get garden lime should I just do a light sprinkle over top where I put the salt? I am totally kicking myself. Of course I will not be able to think about anything else for the next two weeks and several rain showers...
Next time, and there will be a next time since slugs are persistent, try mason's sand. It is very coarse and cuts the slugs' tummies. This is not the play sand, but mason's sand. You can find it at Home Depot, Lowe's, or any good lumber yard. Spread it around your plants. It will cause no harm, and although it will have to be renewed every few months (rain incorporates it into the earth) it's quite inexpensive.
If you have sprinkled pinch of salt then it won't cause any damage. But if in case damage occurs, use a lawn spreader to spread over the damaged plants or seek help from professional lawn care services.
I do not think that that some salt will do your garden any harm. I say this because I have taken seaweed from the sea and dumped a large, thick layer on top of a couple of beds. My plants did not suffer from this, in fact they grew very well...this was not because of the salt though, it was because of the elements in the seaweed.