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Mitigating Salt and Ice Melt Damage

Why use Gypsum?

Its early spring and you’ve just started clearing up yet another winter’s damage to your yard and landscape. You may notice that some of your evergreens, especially the ones closest to the road are turning brown on the road side. You wonder; is it a bug, a disease or could it be damage from this winters plowing?

Salt damage to plants shows up early on evergreens. Browning of the foliage on the side facing the plow spray is a sure indication of salt damage. Almost all ice melting substances are technically salts, which work by causing water to remain liquid at temperatures under 32º F. Most salts, although necessary to keep our roads clean and clear of ice, also have unfortunate side effects, which include potential harm to plants and soils. Damage from ice melters can occur two different ways. 1) As an airborne mist affecting foliage, buds, and stems, or 2) by entering the soil. Either type of contamination can cause slow growth, deformities, susceptibility to diseases, or death of plants.

Damage to plants from contact with salt spray or mist can occur many feet from a street or highway. Evergreens generally show effects in early spring while deciduous plants (ones that drop their leaves for the winter) may not show damage until well into the growing season after exposure. Symptoms include yellowing or dwarfing of foliage, or dieback and “witches broom” of twigs. The damage is usually more noticeable on the side of the plant facing the drift.

If possible treat by pruning dead or deformed branches and by washing away any surface salt residues. Treat for soil contamination if exposure has been long and heavy. If you know your plants will be exposed to salt drift spray them with an anti-desiccant like Wilt Stop late in the fall. The coating from the anti-desiccant will help to prevent salt absorption thru the foliage.

Damage to plants from salt contamination of the soil is caused when moisture is drawn from plant roots. High salts interfere with water uptake by plants. Above-ground symptoms include wilting – despite plenty of water, yellowing, or “burning” of the foliage and stems. Salt contamination of the soil can have a cumulative effect, with the potential for serious plant damage building over a period of seasons.

To alleviate the adverse effects of salt (NaCl) in the soil, gypsum (CaSO₄) should be applied as a corrective or preventive measure. Rate of application will depend on the severity of salt contamination. For moderately contaminated soil, or where it is anticipated, apply 100 to 200 pounds of gypsum per thousand square feet over the affected area. This treatment can be made every three years. For heavily contaminated soil, apply up to 700 pounds of gypsum per thousand square feet, or 150 to 200 pounds per year for up to three years.

As with most garden endeavors, prevention is always the best cure. Gypsum can be applied to soils in the fall to help prevent soil contamination during the winter months.

Gypsum is a naturally occurring substance that will not pollute the environment. It is frequently used as a soil conditioner or for clearing muddy water in.

Plants that have been weakened by heavy or chronic exposure to salt may not respond to gypsum treatment.