Salt is one of the most efficient means of melting dangerous ice on walkways and driveways. However, it can also cause significant salt damage to your Kansas City landscaping. Not only can salt runoff become toxic for nearby plants, it can begin to take up residence in your soil – creating permanently thirsty and dried out plants. To make matters worse, many of the products which are advertised to melt dangerous ice are salt-based or use other chemicals which can be equally harmful to nearby plant and flower beds.
Tips for Minimizing Salt Damage This Winter
- Use the least amount of product to get the job done. You many find it takes less than you thought to melt adequate amounts of ice.
- Rather than sweeping melted ice puddles off your walks, and into nearby plant beds, wait until the water evaporates and then sweep the residue into piles and dispose of it elsewhere.
- Consider alternative uses for flower beds and/or planters that are near high-ice areas. Use plenty of mulch around walkways, which can protect the soil from salted runoff. You can also try mulching the beds with an attractive mulch material and then plant decorative containers which can set on top of the mulch.
Are you worried about salt damage this winter?