What Your Plants Want you to Know about Ice Melt

Looks like we will be seeing a significant amount of snow for the first time since November. If you are making a stop for ice melt today on your way to get milk, bread, and eggs, here are a few pointers from your dear plants.

1.     Avoid plants and the lawn when applying ice melt –

Ice melt is poisonous to your plants and your lawn. Even the ones advertised as “safe for lawns and plants” can be damaging if over-applied. If you do get ice melt on your lawn or planting beds, flush the area with the hose if the ground isn’t frozen.

2.     Overdoing it isn’t helpful –

Applying extra ice melt on your driveway or sidewalk won’t make it work any better. It will only increase the potential damage to your plants, lawn, or pavement. By the way, if you have new concrete, skip the ice melt altogether.

3.     There are great alternatives –

If you are looking for some alternatives to ice melt, cinders, sand, or kitty litters are sometimes used to improve traction. We sell a product that is a mix of magnesium chloride, potassium, chloride, and sodium chloride. This blend lessens the effect of overdosing and works in a range of temperatures.

4.     Don’t apply ice melt to snow –

The best thing to do would be to pre-treat before the storm, but if you are too late you will need to remove the snow before applying ice melt.  Ice melt works by melting the layer between the ice and the pavement to allow for easy scraping and removal. Ice melt does not completely melt the ice or snow, so it is best to spread prior to a storm.

And if you have a nice stockpile of frozen pizzas and firewood, maybe just stay pleasantly snowed-in! Stay safe everyone.