This resulting, mixture is toxic through extreme desication of plant tissues. Buds that are damaged can prevent the tree or shrub from leafing and flowering the following spring. Salt can also injure the crowns of non-tolerant and newly seeded turf areas by preventing new shoot and leaf generation the next spring. Soluble salts in the soil also have a severe impact on plant life. Even in, Minute quantities.
All soils contain certain amounts of clay particles.
Clay has a negatively charged electrical site that holds onto calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other positvely charged elements. When the amount of soduim on these sites reaches a high level, the clay particles disperse and form a water impermeable layer in the soil structure. Ice melters containing potassium chloride and urea tend to have less affect on vegetation as both these materials are also fertilizers. However, over- application of either can cause salt damage. Next Page Both sodium chloride and calcium chloride are detrimental to plant growth and should be very limited in their contact to plants.