Choose plants carefully for gardens exposed to road salt

Snow plows are welcomed in winter as they clear streets and spread salt, allowing us to travel in all but the worst snowstorms. In the spring, however, when the damage to gardens from road salt is revealed, our thankfulness for snow plows wanes.

When salt lands on plants, it pulls water away from their roots, leaves and buds, making plants look like they have been burned. When water dissolves salt and soaks it into the soil, plant roots take in the salty water and transport it throughout the plant. High levels of salt within a plant are toxic.

Injury from road salt can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be caused by a variety of reasons including winter burn, nutrient deficiencies, compacted or wet soil, and drought stress. Specific symptoms that occur due to salt injury include damage on the side of the plant that faces the street, plants downwind have more damage than those upwind, damage is worse near the street and decreases with more distance, and plant parts above the salt spray show little or no damage.

There are several ways to prevent or reduce the damage from salt injury in both areas where salt is spread by municipalities and areas where salt is applied by the homeowner. First, in areas along streets where salt is spread by snow plows, creating berms so salty water runs away from roots of plants or installing barriers like burlap or snow fence around plants will help. In early spring, water the soil deeply to flush out salt, and gypsum can be added to heavy clay soil.

Homeowners can eliminate the use of salt and use inexpensive kitty litter (without additives) or sand on sidewalks. These don't melt ice, but help provide traction. There are also organic, salt-free products that cost more than salt but melt ice from sidewalks and driveways.

It is possible to have a beautiful garden near the street if plants are chosen for their ability to tolerate road salt. There are a surprising number of shrubs and perennials that are able to endure a salty diet. This chart of both deciduous and evergreen shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials includes a small sampling.

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette in Winfield. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.