Never Use Rock Salt Near These 8 Plants

Whether you’ve experienced snow in your area this season or are expecting some in the coming weeks or months, you are probably more than likely preparing to use rock salt. Although rock salt can be helpful when melting snow (and preventing it from refreezing) so you can navigate with a vehicle or walk through snowy areas, using it near plants or your garden can be detrimental to your plants and your garden, because after all, it is salt.

Jim Lapic, a master gardener with the Penn State Master Gardener Program, notes that rock salt can harm plants at both the surface and soil levels. “If the plant is susceptible to rock salt, then you cannot use salt near it without impacting it,” he explains. “Even if you can flush the soil in the spring, there was still damage done over the winter.” Although many plants experience similar (if not identical) harmful effects from rock salt, there are some nuances to consider. 

With this in mind, we chatted with gardening experts, lawn care specialists and arborists to learn more about which plants you should keep your rock salt away from throughout the winter season, and what can happen if you don’t.

To continue reading this article, click here. 

For more information, contact the Milwaukee office.