Repair lawns damaged by salt and pets Gypsum neutralizes the damage caused by salt and pets, improving soil density, the foundation for a beautiful lawn. Winter sidewalk and road deicing can combine with compacted soil to produce a toxic environment for grass. While fertilizer can provide nutrients for growth, it does nothing to improve the condition of the soil. That's why lawn care professionals make the application of gypsum their first step in spring lawn care. Gypsum conditions the soil and loosens heavy, compacted clay. According to Dave Jackson of Oldcastle, a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden products, gypsum physically changes the structure of the soil to improve drainage, prevent runoff and erosion, while encouraging deeper, healthier root growth. Gypsum also corrects pet damage to grass and is easy to apply. Convenient pelletized gypsum, available from brand names such as Yardright and Correct, can be worked into the soil with a rototiller, mixed by hand in planting beds, or spread easily over lawns with standard fertilizer spreaders. Experts recommend applying gypsum to existing lawns twice each year. For more information, visit www.YardRight.com.