Planting shrubs by road, salt concerns

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Cottage_Rose Cedar Springs, MI(Zone 5b) May 03, 2006

I'm planning to plant a hedge row on the front of our property by the road. I'm starting out with small 1 year plants. I'm thinking about planting Rosa Rugosa which is salt resistant and maybe some other flowering shrubs but I am concerned about the snow plowing the county does during the winter and the effects of the road salt.
How can I protect the new shrubs from the salty, muddy snow the plows push up in the area where the plants will be?
Would snow fencing be enough?
Are there any flowering shrubs that are real tough for such locations?
Thanks for any help.

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) May 04, 2006

Some of the coastal species like Myrica might be your best bet. Rosa rugosa can be extremely invasive, so I'd think several times before even considering that one unless you know you can keep it in its cage.

Salt does its dirty work in several ways - mostly as aerosol spray from passing traffic, but also via soil penetration from melting. Different plants vary in their susceptibility to each of these problems. Maybe someone here who lives on the beach has good first-hand advice for you without having to go to one of the Internet sites to find it.

Guy S.

Post #2246346
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Decumbent Cincinnati, OH(Zone 6b) May 04, 2006

My perovskia seems to thrive on the annual salt infusion it receives from the road.

Scott

Post #2246361
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Cottage_Rose Cedar Springs, MI(Zone 5b) May 04, 2006

Thanks! :)
Will look into the recommended species.

Post #2247843
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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) May 04, 2006

Google "salt tolerance" and you'll probably get a bunch of info.

Guy S.

Post #2247894
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Cottage_Rose Cedar Springs, MI(Zone 5b) May 04, 2006

I've done that before and some of the salt tolerant plants in my experience have not been salt tolerant.

Post #2249187
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newyorkrita North Shore of L. I., NY(Zone 6b) May 04, 2006

Plant the rugosa in a mixed shrub group and you will be digging it out of the rest of the hedgerow forever.

Post #2249235
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