De-Icing the Water
Each year, communities across the U.S. pour hundreds of tons of salt and other de-icing materials on roads and highways. Rock salt, or sodium chloride, is the most commonly used de-icing agent. The salt works by dissolving the precipitation on roadways and lowering the freezing point, thereby melting ice and snow. Although this is beneficial for safety, the dissolved salt can have negative effects on the surrounding environment. Melting snow and ice can carry chemicals into vegetation and soils along the roadside. According to Trout Unlimited, elevated salt levels in soils can inhibit the ability of vegetation to absorb both water and nutrients.
Viewer Tip: Try these tips during winter.
- Try using an alternative to traditional de-icing compounds. Options include a salt-free melting agent like calcium magnesium, sand or sawdust, which do little harm to plants.
- Protect plants from direct exposure to the spray of salty slush during snow removal by covering them with burlap cloth.
- Salt-tolerant plants should also be planted near the street to block exposure for more sensitive plantings.
Season: Winter
This information is provided by Trout Unlimited. Learn more: www.tu.org.
