Homes Plus
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HOMES PLUS Deicing salts and your plants By Michael Timm SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS How harmful is deicing salt for my plants? I get asked this a lot and my answer is: There is always some damage, but it could be minimal or extensive. It depends on certain factors. The factors involved are what type of salt is used, what plants are involved and their location in reference to exposure, and how often it is applied. What type of salt is being used? All salt can damage plants, especially in excess. Although the chloride in salts causes the most damage, what it���s mixed with does make a difference. Sodium chloride is your worst choice. It is the most harmful to your plants because a high level of sodium in the soil is also bad. This is the type of salt that is most prevalent in road salt mixes today mainly , because of expense. This is why the plants next to the road normally suffer the most. For your own personal use on sidewalks, driveways, etc., find a less damaging salt to use. Calcium, magnesium or potassium chloride salts are less harmful to plants. These type of salts are less damaging because the plants use these nutrients more readily and if levels get too high, they are , less harmful. The salt type should be listed right on the bag. If you���re planting next to a road, try using salt-resistant varieties of plants. Trees such as white spruce, Austrian pines, oaks, honey locust and birches are good choices. Serviceberry hydrangea, winterberry , , mockorange, potentilla, cotoneaster and shrub roses are a few good shrubs to use. A couple of perennials would include the Karl Foerster feather reed grass, daylilies, thrifts and yarrows. If continuous color from annual plants is what you���re after, try ivy geraniums, moss roses, lantana and coleus. Existing plants that might already be there can be protected by covering them in the winter to avoid direct contact from splashing, and flushing the soil in the spring with clear water. Lastly limit the use of salt as much as , possible. The less salt used, the less damage incurred. Instead, you may want to try straight sand or a mixture of sand and salt. Also, don���t apply salt when it is below 5 degrees because it isn���t real effective and doesn���t dissolve. Try not to pile salt-laden snow over or around your plants. Also, never apply salt in spring when plants are coming out of dormancy; they are more sensitive at this time. There can be a delicate balance between winter safety and plant health from the use of salts, but as you can see, there are alternatives out there to help protect our plants, so give some a try Happy gardening! . (Michael Timm is the head horticulturist with Ebert���s Greenhouse Village in Ixonia. He can be reached at mtimm@ebertsgreenhouse.com.) 11 Cabinetry For every Room, Every Budget! Free Legends of the Field Canvas Sports Print* with Cabinetry Purchase! 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