Out
On A Limb / May 2007
Please Pass
the Salt
They don’t mind cold wind and sleet, and even tolerate spending months at a time standing in snow and ice-it’s part of their job description-but trees do have a grievance about some of the winter weather hazards. Mid Ohio Valley residents may think their droopy trees are just suffering the effects of wildly erratic March and April temperatures. But, the problem may be salt.
Common rock salt, or sodium chloride, is generally the least expensive, and hence, the most popular de-icer for sidewalks, porches and sometimes roads. When ice and snow treated with rock salt melts, it often seeps into soil or is splashed up by traffic. The runoff can cause wilting of tree leaves and other injuries to vegetation. A variety of trees may be affected.
Homeowners would have reason to assume the deteriorated appearance of their trees is a result of lack of water, since the symptoms are very similar to those of drought conditions. But, the salts that are disseminated into the air by vehicles during deicing tend to cause thinner leaves and later spring blooming. Stunted growth or browning of foliage, thinning of branch tips, premature fall coloration, defoliation and dead branches are other symptoms. If traces of rock salt reach the foliage, it becomes desiccated. Some trees absorb the sodium and others suffer from root damage when salt seeps into the soil. In severe cases, the tree is so weakened, it is an easy target for insect infestation.
Evergreens, including conifers, pines, spruce and holly trees, are the most susceptible to damage. The soil damage can result in significant drooping of the tree, especially at the top, since salt inhibits absorption of water by the root system.
To divert salt sources from trees, homeowners can erect barriers of burlap or wood or lay down mulch to prevent seepage. Thoroughly watering during dry periods is also helpful as a preventive measure to decrease the opportunity for heavy damage to trees. Some trees, including birch, oak and juniper, are more salt tolerant and may be a better choice for planting near roads or driveways.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Top • Home • Subscribe • Advertise • Submit • Distribution • Contact
Support Our Advertisers • Organization Resources • Women Owned Business
Send an Email About This Article