De-icers may be affecting local trees

Some Kalispell trees apparently are suffering from chemicals in de-icers.

According to a news release from Kalispell Parks and Recreation, the decline of some trees on downtown boulevards could be due to de-icers.

Recent soil samples have indicated that the amount of salts is having an adverse affect on the trees.

Most of the problem comes from de-icers put down to deal with ice and snow.

Most de-icing chemicals are technically salts that work by lowering the freezing point of water below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Salts damage plants through repeated yearly applications, resulting in build-up of adjacent soils that may damage plant roots so they are unable to take up water. Plant symptoms include wilting even when soils are moist, an abnormal blue-green cast in the foliage, marginal leaf burn or needle-tip burn, and general stunting or lack of vigor.

De-icers should not be used simply to melt snow or ice. They should be used as an aid to mechanical removal.

De-icers should be mixed with an abrasive such as sand or kitty litter so that the amount of chemical used can be reduced and the abrasive can provide traction. Avoid shoveling snow that contains de-icers directly onto plants.

Plant tolerance is increased if the soil is rich in organic matter.

Additional information can be obtained on the city of Kalispell Web site, www.kalispell.com, at Hot Topics, or by calling 758-7849.