Have you ever noticed the plants around your sidewalks or driveway looking burned or fading out during the icy winter? If this is the case, it’s time to rethink your deicer and replace it with something more plant-friendly. Keep in mind that deicers can harm both concrete and plants. To avoid these damages, you need to opt for a salt-free and safe ice melt.
How Chlorides Harm Your Plants?
Rock salt (sodium chloride) is the most common ice melting agent, although you may also encounter ice melt products composed of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or potassium chloride.
Plantlife can be vulnerable to chlorides. For maximum health, plants only require a trace quantity of sodium. When high amounts of salt seep into the earth, it prevents plants from absorbing nutrients like potassium and calcium, resulting in sickly plants.
Rock salt and other ice melt chemicals are toxic to plants even in small doses. The salt draws moisture from plants. It is the cause of shriveled, dead shrubs and trees, dry leaf tips, and dying leaves on evergreens in winter or fresh leaves in spring. Because of this reason, chlorides are also not a safe ice melter for wood decks.
Get ready for winter with the ONLY Pet Safe Ice Melt you can trust
The chloride salts in all ice melts are caustic and poisonous, killing the majority of plant life near roads and driveways where they are used. Anything planted near salt or ice melt treated areas is at risk of being damaged by the dissolved salts.
Salt sprayed from surrounding highways can drop on the evergreen tree and shrub branches and leaves, drying them out on contact, harming the leaves, and making the plant less cold, resilient, and more likely to freeze.
Eco Safe Ice Melt
Safe Paw
The Original and the #1 Child and Pet Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe – will not harm waterways and sensitive wetlands.
The best and easiest way to avoid plant damage this winter is by choosing a salt-free and plant-safe ice melt. You can use eco-friendly ice melt like Safe Paw that is easily available in the market. It is environmentally friendly and safe for all. The urea-based natural ice melts will not damage your greenery but on the brighter side, will help their growth in difficult winter months.
Some plants can be protected by wrapping them in burlap or erecting a plastic or burlap fence between them and the road or sidewalk. By scooping or pushing snow away from vegetation treated with ice melt, you can keep it away from the plants.
When the snow melts, you should try to clean the soil with extra water, especially if there hasn’t been much rain to wash it away naturally. To help eliminate salt residue from the yard, place a garden hose near the damaged area and run it low for a few hours.
Pines are especially vulnerable to road salt spray, so take caution to keep them safe. You can try to pick a spot distant from the road salt spray.
Get ready for winter with the ONLY Pet Safe Ice Melt you can trust
By resisting the chloride-based ice melts, you can avoid winter damages. While looking for ice melter for wood decks or concrete, opt for the safest and most effective option- salt-free and natural ice melt.
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.
FAQs
A. A plant safe ice melt is a compound or substance used to melt ice or snow without causing harm to plants. These ice melt products are formulated to minimize damage to lawns, gardens, and landscapes, unlike traditional rock salt which can damage or kill plants.
A. Yes, certain types of ice melt are safe for lawns and grass. Products labeled as lawn safe ice melt or ice melt safe for grass are designed to minimize harm to grass blades and roots while effectively melting ice and snow.
A. Yes, Safe Paw Ice Melter is specifically formulated to be non-toxic and safe for pets and plants. This makes it a good choice for homes with gardens, lawns, or landscaped areas.
A. Yes, most traditional ice melts, which are primarily composed of salt, can harm or kill plants and flowers. Salt can dehydrate plants and disrupt their nutrient absorption, leading to damage or death.
A. Application instructions can vary between products, but generally, you sprinkle the ice melt evenly over the icy or snowy area. Avoid direct application on plants and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
A. Homemade alternatives, such as beet juice or pickle brine, are touted as more eco-friendly options, but they might not be as effective as commercial products. It’s often more reliable and effective to purchase a plant safe ice melt product.
A. Plant safe ice melts can be slightly more expensive than traditional ones due to their special formulation. However, the extra cost is often worth it to protect your plants and lawn from potential salt damage.
A. Traditional ice melt, which is often salt-based, can be harmful to plants and grass. The salt in these products can dehydrate plants and upset the balance of nutrients in the soil, leading to plant stress or death.
A. Ice melts that are safe for lawns and plants typically contain ingredients that are less toxic or damaging than traditional salt-based melts. These might include calcium magnesium acetate, potassium chloride, or urea.
A. For an ice melt to be safe for grass, it should have less corrosive materials. Potassium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, and urea are some ingredients that are typically safer for grass than traditional sodium chloride or calcium chloride.
Stay safe on slippery surfaces with a product that’s 100% natural and safe for pets, people, and your property. Use Traction Magic on sidewalks, steps, or as instant traction for your car.
Imagine an ice melt you can put down and never worry about. It won’t harm pets, kids and your property. That’s Safe Thaw. Unlike anything else on the market, Safe Thaw can change how winter affects our planet.
Prevent slips at home, work or on the go, The handy disposable canister can be taken everywhere, with the same 100% naturally occurring minerals that provide instant traction on ice or snow.
Imagine an ice melt you can put down and never worry about. It won’t harm pets, kids and your property. That’s Safe Thaw. Unlike anything else on the market, Safe Thaw can change how winter affects our planet.
