Damaging Impact Of Rock Salt On Your Garden

Over 22 million tons of rock salt are used on the road every year, and this is probably the most used deicer safe for concrete. But here’s something about rock salt, it’s very much damaging to the concrete as well as your garden. 

Want to know how? This article is all about that.

How Rock Salt Damages Your Garden

– Salt Draws The Moisture Out Of Plants

Anyone who lives alongside the roads knows how damaging rock salt can be for their plants. The salt draws moisture from the grass and makes it go brown. This occurs when the passing cars spray the salt on stems and buds of deciduous woody plants and branches, buds, leaves, and needles of evergreen plants. This results in burns on buds and other parts of the plant. Also, it exposes the tender tissues, desiccates the bud scales, and causes many other problems in plants. This, in turn, leaves the plant unprotected, drying out all the parts of the plants. When it happens, the plant becomes weak for fighting the cold and often gets killed because of dry and cold wind. 

– Gets Dissolved In The Runoff Water

Plants are also affected by salt mixed in the runoff water. In the runoff water, sodium and chloride get separated, which can lessen other mineral nutrients present in the soil. Now the plants absorb sodium and chloride instead of the other essential nutrients. 

Environmentally Friendly Ice Melt

– Causes Root Dehydration

Rock salt can damage the plant when salt-laden snow is plowed or shoveled into gardens. Salts in the soil absorb the water, and this means less amount of water is available for the plant, and hence it starts to cause dehydration in roots. 

Bulk Purchase With Safe Paw

Now you know how harmful rock salt can be for your garden, but do you know what else it does? 

• It damages the concrete and rusts the metal inside.
• It harms animals and causes dry paws.
• And It harms children. If ingested, it can cause many health problems. 

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

So What To Do Instead?

Rock is damaging and harmful for the environment in many ways, but if not rock salt, then what? Several ice melts are available in the market, but you need an ice melt that won’t harm concrete. So before you choose, make sure you don’t use an ice melt that contains salt and is safe for children, animals, concrete, and plants. 

Safe Paw is one of the most trusted ice melts for the last 20 years and comes with 0 side effects. The best part is, it’s affordable and easy to use. All you need to do is order it, read and follow the instructions and use it for melting ice. Also, make sure you use it before the winter season, or the snowfall arrives. This will not let the snow and ice get deposited. 

Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)

Calcium Magnesium Acetate is often marketed as an eco-friendly option for de-icing. It’s derived from dolomitic lime and acetic acid and is commonly used in places where environmental concerns are a top priority. Unlike salt-based products, CMA is less harmful to concrete, metals, and vegetation.

However, it’s important to note that while CMA is considered safer for the environment than rock salt, it’s not completely harmless. CMA works slower than other de-icers, and you may need to apply more product to see results, which increases costs and could still have a cumulative negative effect on plants and lawns over time.

Potassium Chloride Ice Melt

Potassium chloride ice melt is another option touted as being “gentler” than traditional salts. It’s effective for melting ice but only works in milder winter conditions, typically above 12°F (-11°C). Like CMA, it’s considered less corrosive to concrete and metal.

However, potassium chloride can still be harmful to lawns if over-applied. It may cause “burns” on grass and plants, damaging their roots and overall health. Not to mention, it can still be dangerous for pets and young children if ingested or if they come into frequent contact with treated areas. Its limited effectiveness in colder temperatures also means you may end up using more product, reducing its eco-friendliness.

Why Safe Paw Is The Best Lawn-Safe Ice Melt

Unlike Calcium Magnesium Acetate or Potassium Chloride, Safe Paw offers a non-toxic and lawn-safe ice melt option that is completely free of chloride compounds. This means you won’t need to worry about damaging your grass or landscape plants when keeping your walkways safe.

The secret to Safe Paw’s effectiveness lies in its patented formula. It features a crystalline amide core infused with glycol to deliver an eco-friendly solution that not only melts ice but also creates a barrier to prevent future ice from bonding to surfaces. Additionally, Safe Paw is completely safe for pets and kids, so you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals being tracked into your home.

Safe Paw works in temperatures as low as -2°F, outperforming Potassium Chloride Ice Melt in colder climates, and unlike CMA, it requires less product for similar results, making it more cost-effective in the long run.

Protecting Lawns and Pets

If you’re worried about the environmental impact of your ice melt products, Safe Paw offers peace of mind. Traditional de-icing products, like potassium chloride ice melt, are known to cause harm to both lawns and pets. Over time, salt-based products can increase soil salinity, making it harder for grass and plants to grow. Safe Paw avoids these problems entirely.

To Conclude-

Rock salt is damaging for any kind of plant and if you want your garden to look green and beautiful throughout the winter season, make sure you provide them with the protection they need, and that’s only possible with the help of a high-quality ice melt.   

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