TechNotes Jan. 22 - Roadside Salt, Perennial Plant of the Year, Soil Temperatures

TechNotes are provided by Syngenta GreenCast.

Roadside Salt

Prior to the next big winter storm, protect your plants from the potential of road salt injury. Road salting can cause damage to broadleaf and evergreen trees and shrubs. Salt injury symptoms appear as abnormally early fall color, needle tip burn, browning of the leafs that progresses to the central main vein, and witches brooming (tufts of twig growth). 

In well established residential areas, use course sand for de-icing sidewalks instead of salt.  Protect plants with barriers made from plastic or burlap prior to the ground freezing. If you can, plant salt-tolerant species.
 
PPA names Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ perennial plant of 2007 
  
The Perennial Plant Association awarded the title of Perennial Plant of the Year to Nepeta 'Walker's Low'. Introduced in 1988 in Europe, Walker's Low catmint has become increasingly popular with each passing year due to its lovely blue-violet flowers and its long bloom time, attractive grey-green foliage, ease of propagation, lack of pest or disease problems, and low maintenance requirements.

Soil Temperature Map