Now that we are halfway through winter, there are some things you should be aware of. — Rock salt can be deadly to both trees and pets.
“You can feel the effects of rock salt on any tree,” said Brad Gould, an arborist with Hartney Greymont. He said rock salt tends to dry out the soil and deplete it of nutrients the trees need.
Gould said the trees most at risk during the winter are those in densely populated areas.
“These are the areas where trees are most affected by rock salt because they are generally planted in high-traffic areas,” he says, adding that trees are available in these areas. It doesn't have a lot of nutrients, he added. If only it were grown in a more remote area.
“But any tree near a road can be affected by rock salt,” Gould reiterated, adding that evergreens are usually the most affected. “And you know when they're affected. — Trees such as evergreens will have a lighter color. ”
Arborists suggest planting trees that are resistant to rock salt
Good news? Gould explained that trees can recover from the effects of rock salt.
“Planting trees that are tolerant of rock salt can help,” he said, noting that trees such as oaks and locust trees appear to be more resistant to the negative effects.
Other disease-resistant trees include eastern red cedar, mugo pine, southern magnolia, longleaf pine, yellow birch, thornless honey locust, Kentucky coffee tree, black walnut, and sweet gum, Hartney-Greymont says on its website. , white spruce, and Colorado blue spruce.
However, trees are not the only living things that are susceptible to the effects of rock salt. Pets are also at risk.
According to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA-Angell), it's important to wear boots or boots on your pet not only because of the cold and snow, but also because “walking your dog on the sidewalk or street can hurt your dog. ” is important for this reason. You'll probably come across ice-melting products like rock salt. ”
Depending on your dog's health, snow can dry out his paws and cause them to crack.
“And when combined with rock salt, it can cause pain to your dog's paws.” — The granules can get stuck between the toes or on broken skin and cause foot burns (literally rubbing salt into the wound),” MSPCA Angel said in a statement.
The organization also said that if your dog won't cooperate with having boots on their paws, “suggest less invasive protection options such as barrier wax Musher's Secret or Vaseline.”
State officials say rock salt damages the environment and personal and public property, including corroding cars, trucks, bridges and roads. Contamination of drinking water. and the death and extinction of plants and wildlife. ”
