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Feb. 16, 2016 — Each winter, vast quantities of de-icing salt are applied to state and municipal roads to keep them safe for commuters, and salt is spread near houses to avoid pedestrian injuries. This is necessary for safety, but did you know excessive salt can cause widespread damage to trees and shrubs — possibly leading to permanent decline and even death?
Even severe salt damage might not be visible on a tree until the end of summer, leaving homeowners wondering what might have caused the problem. In some cases, decline might not be visible for years.
"Salt deposits migrate to the stems, buds, and roots of trees," said Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). "This causes disfigured foliage, stunted growth, and severe decline in tree health. Salt runoff washes from pavement into the ground, increasing salt levels in the soil."
There are steps you can take to ward off tree damage from salt. TCIA recommends taking the following measures:
• Don't use de-icing salt unless necessary. Mix salt with abrasives such as sand, cinders, and ash.
• Use alternative de-icing salts such as calcium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate.
• Improve drainage of soils. Add organic matter such as activated charcoal or gypsum, and thoroughly leach salt residues from the soil by flushing with water.
• Erect barriers between pavement and plants.
• Plant trees in locations away from any type of salt spray.
• Plant salt-resistant trees in areas where high salt spray is inevitable, such as near walkways, driveways, or roads.
• Provide adequate irrigation and mulching to reduce water loss.
• Prune properly and add fertilizers to correct nutrient deficiency as indicated in spring soil testing.
• Control tree-damaging diseases and pest infestations.
A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape, and how best to protect them. Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees should contact the TCIA, a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938. It has more than 2,100 member companies that recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance.
