To salt or not to salt for safe walks and driveways?
Q: There have been a lot of ice storms this winter and I read salting is not the best choice for the environment. What should I be using for the ice on my sidewalk?
A: Sodium chloride (salt) is the most commonly used ice-melting product. It is the least expensive and will work at low temperatures (down to 5 degrees).
However, salt is a serious environmental pollutant. Salt corrodes metal and damages concrete. It will cause the pads of your pets' feet to crack and dry out if you do not rinse them and may cause health problems if the de-icers are ingested when pets lick their paws. Salts also damage plants in your garden, your lawn and your soils by making it denser and less permeable to water movement.
Salt you put down this year may affect plant growth this spring and for years to come without adequate rainfall to remove it from the soil.
Want something safer for your plants and pets? Here are some alternatives.
Organic, salt-free de-icer
It's a little pricier than salt, but these products will help to keep your walkways and driveways ice-free. Natural alternatives are made from calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). It is a natural acid that is soluble in water and it has chemical properties similar to vinegar.
Kitty litter and sand
That's right. This mixture doesn't actually melt the ice, but it does provide traction for a more nonslip surface. use kitty litter alone or mixed with sand. Another suggested mix is 50 parts sand to one part of any de-icing compound. This is also effective and less damaging to plant life.
Alfalfa meal
This is a super effective, 100% natural, ice-melting alternative. Because it contains nitrogen, it is usually used as a fertilizer. It's grainy so it will provide traction and is extremely effective when used in moderation.
Sugar beet juice
The juice from sugar beets lowers the melting point of ice and snow, which helps to clear your driveway. It's now being used to melt ice and snow on municipal roads. It's safe for animals, people, metals, concrete and plants. Beet juice is effective to minus 4 degrees.
Reduce your environmental impact of salts on soil by using the smallest amount of de-icer to clear ice. Manage only areas with foot traffic and you may want to wet down de-icers before applying to increase their efficiency and prevent application to soil areas. Remember when you chose a de-icer, you're not just making a choice for your wallet and driveway, you're making a choice for the environment!
The BEST idea: A good shovel will clear your drive while giving you a great workout! It's the most natural, environmentally friendly and green way to get rid of ice and snow this winter.
— Bev Krams
• Provided through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, and University of Illinois Extension, North Cook Branch Office, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 298-3502 on Wednesdays and Saturdays or (708) 725-2400 on Tuesdays or email northcookmg@gmail.com. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mg.