If you are considering installing a water softener, but you are concerned the softened water will negatively affect your yard and garden, do not be. A water softener can actually benefit your lawn and garden in the following ways.

Potassium Chloride as a Softening Agent

Most traditional water softeners that have a storage tank for the softening agent and a water tank to process the water use potassium chloride tablets as the softening agent. While this is a form of salt, it will not "salt" your vegetation to the point of drying it out or starving it for water. Instead, the potassium chloride could add a much needed nutrient to the soil that is responsible for helping plants and grass grow.

Potassium Chloride as a "Fertilizer"

In fact, potassium chloride is extracted from the ground in many areas around the globe, and putting it back into the soil where you live is a beneficial process. This nutrient provides much of the needed "food" to plants, grass and trees, and it is so easily applied when you have a water softener in your home that utilizes potassium chloride tablets as the softening agent. Many commercial fertilizers contain this nutrient, and, rather than buying several bags of expensive fertilizer, you could apply a daily dose of potassium chloride via softened water and your garden hose. 

Potassium Chloride as a De-Icing Agent

If you live in Florida and have citrus groves, softened water may also be a boon when there is a freeze and your citrus fruits are in danger. Potassium chloride is a de-icing agent (obviously, because it is a salt!) so you can spray your fruits regularly with softened water to try and save them from being iced over. If you are able to heat the softened water prior to spraying it over your citrus groves, then your fruits get a double dose of protection against ice via the warm water and potassium chloride.

Why You Should Not Worry about Over-Fertilizing

When you use bags of fertilizer with potassium chloride in it, you can possibly over-fertilize, which will cause your grass to yellow and plants to wither. However, watering and "fertilizing" your plants with softened water does not carry the same risks. Instead, you are applying a diluted nutrient to your yard and/or garden. Because the water contains a lower concentration of potassium chloride, even daily watering will not over-saturate the ground with potassium chloride. However, you may want to be careful about over-watering your yard and garden, especially if you live in an area of the country that already receives adequate yearly rainfall.

Check out http://johnsonwater.com/ for more information on how a water softener can be beneficial to your garden and lawn.