Review of cool-season turfgrasses for salt-affected roadsides in cold climates

Turfgrass is often planted along roadsides because of its adaptability and capacity to perform a wide range of functions. Like other roadside vegetation, it must withstand a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses while persisting long term with minimal management inputs. In cold-weather climates, snow and ice management practices on roads include the use of deicing salts. Deicing salts can have negative impacts on infrastructure and the environment including soil structure degradation, surface and ground water contamination, and reduction of vegetation quality along roadsides. Insights from past evaluations of turfgrass response to stresses experienced on roadsides can provide perspective for future approaches. This review provides historical context for the establishment of turfgrasses as roadside vegetation in cold-weather climates where deicing salts are used. Adaptability of species for roadside applications as well as field and controlled environment evaluations of salt tolerance are discussed. In future studies, improved characterization of roadside stress and broader collaborative evaluation programs can enhance testing and result in improved specifications for roadside turfgrass species and mixtures.