Green & Growing

Salt is often used to melt ice from our treated road. Salt may also cause leaves spread to different tree species as well as reducing sidewalks and driveways and is then to appear later than usual in the spring. losses from salt. White pines, roses, rhododendrons flushed into adjacent lawns and flower beds — causing damage. The salt enters plant cells or the spaces between the cells and causes them to lose their cold hardiness. Salt also desiccates the plant by drying out bud scales which exposes tender tissues underneath the scales and reduces potential blossoms in the spring. The sodium in sodium chloride can reduce the root’s ability to absorb potassium, calcium and magnesium. Evergreens are particularly susceptible to salt damage and their needles may be brown instead of green starting at the tips of the needles and progressing through the summer months. Several years of salt accumulation may result in smaller leaves, flowers or fruit. The leaves appear burnt or brown starting at the outer edges and progressing towards the middle. Leaves may turn color earlier in the fall and an entire tree may appear stunted. GREEN AND GROWING By Linda G. Tenneson and yews are especially susceptible to salt damage. The web site “cues.cfans.umn.edu/old/ extpubs/1413salt/DD1413.html” from the University of Minnesota contains a list of trees evaluated into three categories of sensitive, intermediate or tolerant to salt spray and soil salt damage. The Soil Testing Laboratory, which is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences, will test soil for salt content. Go to “soiltest.cfans.umn.edu” for details and submission forms. Publication SP610 from the Some salt may be flushed away from plant roots, but this is likely to also remove these desired nutrients. Fertilizer is then needed to replace these nutrients and mulch to prevent further moisture loss. Snow fences or barriers such as burlap wrapping will help keep salt away from sensitive plants. Planting a variety of salt-tolerant trees from different species reduces the possibility that a pathogen, or insect that attacks one species, would be able to Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Tennessee also has information on treating salt affected soil. Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v Coarse sand is an alternative to provide traction on ice. Calcium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate do less damage, but are more expensive to Farmers asked to complete questionnairepurchase. Salt may accumulate over several winters making the soil less habitable to plants. Trees may lose their tolerance to salt as they mature. Plants growing next to high traffic streets are more likely to receive salt spray than those near residential streets. Salt spray trucks can send salt solution up to 60 feet from the edge of a road. The side of the ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is asking produce farmers to fill out the annual Grower Questionnaire which will help farmers identify the federal food safety requirements which apply to their operations. Data from the questionnaire also provides the MDA with a more accurate assessment of Minnesota’s produce farming sector. Data gleaned from previous questionnaires has found that 41 percent of Minnesota fruit and vegetable farmers are growing more than five crops – with some growing up to 80 fruit and vegetable crops in a season. Tomatoes and apples are the top crops grown by produce farmers. More than half the produce farms are under 10 acres in size tree or shrub nearest the street will have more “The Grower Questionnaire is an important tool to The most current data is available in the 2020 damage than the opposite side. help Minnesota’s produce farmers navigate the fed- Produce Safety Program Report. No tree is insensitive to salt damage; but while some can tolerate the spray, they cannot tolerate an accumulation of salt in the soil. Trees which are covered with snow will have less salt damage. And branches growing above the height of the salt spray will not be damaged. Salt damage may not be noticeable until spring. Tuft-like growths, sometimes called “witchesbrooms,” may appear on branches closest to a salt eral produce safety requirements,” said Alexandra Cortes, MDA Produce Safety Program Outreach Analyst. The Grower Questionnaire should be filled out once per year, per produce farm. Participation is voluntary. Farm contact and location information is classified as private and not made public. Produce growers who opt out of the questionnaire will be contacted by the MDA Produce Safety Program to determine any inspection requirements. The 2022 MDA Grower Questionnaire is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ProduceSafety. Farmers can contact the MDA Produce Safety Program at (651) 539-3648 or email producesafety. mda@state.mn.us to request a paper copy of the questionnaire, or for more information. This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. v