I created a windbreak with some white spruce trees that I bought from a local gardening center, they are not seedlings, but they are not full grown either, they are medium sized about up to my knees, and I planted one fairly close to the road, and was just wondering if during winter the plow trucks salt will kill it, is this a species that tolerates salt? please let me know, Thanks.
White spruce is hopelessly salt intolerant in my experience. Blue spruce (P. pungens)is the best bet if you're set on spruce.
Depends on the origin; White Spruce sourced from the Newfoundland coast is salt tolerant, inland origins less so. But even inland origins are still more salt tolerant than e.g. Eastern White Pine.
How close to the road are we talking about? On our winter highways it doesn't seem to be an issue because the trees are brushed back a good fifty feet in most places. On secondary roads (read gravel) calcium chloride is only used in summer to firm up the surface and settle dust, and is not used in winter. There is some browning and some die back if trees are within say 15 feet of the shoulder. Spruce, pine and aspen are all affected, but only the closest trees. Don't know if there are other factors involved. Carl
