Articles & ResourcesSalt Free Is The Way To Be!These are exciting times. Every day people are waking up to environmental issues and doing something about them. There are all kinds of environmentally friendly options and products for us to consider. Here comes one more: Environmentally Friendly De-Icers for your sidewalks and driveways. For years the most commonly used solution to an icy walkway has been salt, which has some negative environmental side effects. Fortunately there are alternatives, and we'll take a brief look at them. De-Icing salts work by lowering the freezing point of water. There is no doubt that it's an effective method for ice melting, but it can cause problems. First off, salt is corrosive and therefore damaging to surfaces like buildings, roads and sidewalks. Even our cars can suffer if we don't get salt washed off. Another problem with salt is accumulation in soil. Repeated yearly application of salt can lead to dangerously high levels in soils, which can damage roots' abilities to absorb water and nutrients. Some signs of such a problem include:
Plants can also be affected negatively when snow containing salts is shoveled onto them. This action can increase the likelihood of bud death, twig dieback, and "Witch's Brooms" (a symptom where twigs grow in small clustered bunches). Sands have also been used to help deter ice buildup. Although it's
not corrosive and it doesn't change chemical levels in soils, it still
has its problems. If sand is not properly removed from roadways or
driveways it can be washed into storm drains in the spring. This can
cause clogging, and lead to flooding in the drains. Sand can also
be washed into waterways where it's accumulation on the bottom floor
can bury aquatic plants. And any time you mess with aquatic plants,
oxygen levels will fluctuate as well. All hope is not lost! There are some more "eco-friendly" products on the market. A quick internet search for environmentally friendly de-icers will be a fruitful one. There are even folks working on a de-icer made from cheese whey. A few tips about choosing the right de-icing strategy for your situation:
Keep these things in mind when deciding what to do. Of course, as with many eco-friendly solutions, finding a safer de-icer may be more expensive, but you get what you pay for. The plants in your yard will thank you. Until recently, these products were only available in large quantities for businesses who would buy in bulk. As of yet, the idea of an environmentally friendly de-icer for the household isn't quite a mainstream one. Most companies don't carry them. Perhaps if you call your local hardware or lawn and garden store, you can ask them to start! Of course, most products are available on line. Here's a list of a few products and their websites to get you started:
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