salt damage Archives - Gamma Tree Experts LLC

Salt is extensively used in colder regions on roads and sidewalks to avoid vehicle damage and pedestrian injury. This is necessary for safety, but the use of excessive ice melt agents can have negative affects on your trees and shrubs.

Common Ice Melt Agents

The two most common Ice Melting agents are Calcium Chloride and Common Salt. As snow and ice melt away from using these agents, the run off washes from pavement and into the ground increasing salt levels in the soil, which can lead to permanent decline and even death.

Negative Affects you might see from Ice Melt Agents

Immediate damage can accrue, but visible damage may not show up until the end of summer or even in a few years. While the salt pulls the moisture from the trees and shrubs you may see browning or dry leaf tips. Evergreens might have some dying leaves in the winter.

Browning tips

Recommendations to limit damage during winter months

Remove snow and ice mechanically if practical.
Avoid using deicing salt unless necessary.
Use ice melt in moderation to avoid negative affects on your trees and shrubs.
Improve drainage of soils. Add organic matter such as gypsum or activated charcoal and water area to leach salt residue from soil.
Plant trees in locations away from main roads. In areas with repeated need for ice melt consider planting plants that are resistant to salt damage.
Erect barriers between pavement and plants.
Mulch plant to reduce water loss.

Contact one of our Certified Arborist if you are unsure about your trees health.

Or visit this website for more information: https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care/established-tree-care/ice-melter-damage

Winter stress on trees and shrubs in the St. Louis area can cause a number of problems in our home landscapes. Snow and ice damage, salt injury, and general desiccation can all wreak havoc on our plants. What causes the problem and what can we do about it?

Snow and Ice Damage

Snow and ice can be a significant problem on trees and shrubs, especially evergreens like pines and arborvitae. The excess weight that accumulates on the limbs can cause them to break. Proper pruning to eliminate dead and weakened branches is your best course of action. Occasionally it may be necessary to add cables or braces to further protect the limbs from snow and ice damage.

Salt Injury

Trees and shrubs along the side of driveways and streets are also likely to suffer from road salt injury. The best course of action is to choose salt tolerant plants such as Junipers, Norway Maples, Honey Locust, and Buckthorn for these locations. In addition, apply mulch in the fall and be sure keep these plants irrigated both in late fall and early spring.

Arborvitae browning

Wind damage

Perhaps our biggest source of winter stress on trees and shrubs in St. Louis is wind damage. The high winds simply cause our evergreens to dry out and turn brown. Arborvitae, boxwood, and cypress all show some degree of stress during the winter. Occasionally, the damage can be fatal. Again, the best plan of action of avoid wind damage is to put the right plant in the right place. Mulching is important, as well as watering adequately in late fall and even during the winter if necessary.

Boxwood shrub with winter stress

Pruning

Winter is a great time for pruning deciduous trees in the St. Louis area. The trees are dormant and the arborist is able to get a better view of the limb structure and to spot any potential damaged or diseased limbs.

If you are concerned about winter stress on trees and shrubs, please contact Gamma Tree Experts to have your trees evaluated by one of our ISA Certified Arborists.

For some additional information regarding this topic visit:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/