Q. I have a high brick
wall in my backyard that has white crystals, or “whiskers”, forming on it. This is because of the over watering by my
neighbor on the other side of the wall.
I asked my neighbor if they would decrease their watering but that
hasn’t happened. I have used vinegar and
brushed it off with a stiff brush. I also tried brushing it with a dry brush. They are not working. I bought some muriatic acid, but I am afraid
to try it because I have plants and trees right by the wall. I would appreciate any advice you can give me
to solve this problem.
wall in my backyard that has white crystals, or “whiskers”, forming on it. This is because of the over watering by my
neighbor on the other side of the wall.
I asked my neighbor if they would decrease their watering but that
hasn’t happened. I have used vinegar and
brushed it off with a stiff brush. I also tried brushing it with a dry brush. They are not working. I bought some muriatic acid, but I am afraid
to try it because I have plants and trees right by the wall. I would appreciate any advice you can give me
to solve this problem.
 |
| Soft deposits on a porous wall are “fuzzy” or can look like white whiskers. |
A. You are correct. This white, “powder” or “whiskers” is because
of the water coming through the wall from your neighbor. When the wall dries, white “salts” are left
behind on the surface of the wall which were previously dissolved in the
irrigation water.
of the water coming through the wall from your neighbor. When the wall dries, white “salts” are left
behind on the surface of the wall which were previously dissolved in the
irrigation water.
The only long-term solution is to reduce the amount of
water applied on the other side of your wall.
Eventually irrigation water coming through the wall and containing salts
will undermine the strength of the wall.
water applied on the other side of your wall.
Eventually irrigation water coming through the wall and containing salts
will undermine the strength of the wall.
Phosphoric acid is better for the plants than muriatic acid
I am afraid this is a common problem with no easy
solution if your neighbor is not willing to help. In the meantime, use phosphoric acid rather
than muriatic acid to remove white “whiskers” from the wall. Phosphoric acid is safer to use and the
phosphorus contained in the acid is a plant nutrient.
solution if your neighbor is not willing to help. In the meantime, use phosphoric acid rather
than muriatic acid to remove white “whiskers” from the wall. Phosphoric acid is safer to use and the
phosphorus contained in the acid is a plant nutrient.
Muriatic acid contains chlorine, also a plant nutrient,
but needed in very small quantities by plants compared to phosphorus. Chlorine can be toxic to plants if too much
is available.
but needed in very small quantities by plants compared to phosphorus. Chlorine can be toxic to plants if too much
is available.
Ultimately, your neighbor’s landscape should have a “dry
zone” at least 3 feet wide next to this wall.
This dry zone does not have to be void of plants. It can contain water conserving plants
irrigated with drip emitters.
Minioasis landscape design
zone” at least 3 feet wide next to this wall.
This dry zone does not have to be void of plants. It can contain water conserving plants
irrigated with drip emitters.
Minioasis landscape design
An even better solution
is to convert this landscape to a “desert landscape” using a minioasis
landscape design. Minioasis landscape
designs feature high water use areas of the landscape close to the house,
located where people like to congregate.
The other areas are designed and landscaped to use less water by having
fewer and smaller desert adapted plants.
This is funny, because my neighbor has the same exact problem, but on both sides of the wall there is nothing around but gravel, no watering at all. I think it is because the former owner of the house had two big dogs and they may have had a habit of peeing against the wall, which, I believe, causes the same problem. The problem was there when my new neighbor moved into the house. So I think there is more than one possible cause of this problem.