December: Keep Plants Safe While Clearing Ice

Salt-based ice melters are bad for your soil, plants and pets, and unfortunately, most home use products are salt-based (indicated by the word chloride). First, think about whether you actually need to remove the ice or just make it safe to walk in the area. Spreading sand, sawdust, non-clumping kitty litter  and ashes might be all you need to do. Chopping and shoveling the ice away is the next best step. And finally, if you must use ice melters, then look for calcium or potassium chloride mixtures as opposed to sodium chlorides. Use as little as possible and make sure to shovel the contaminated ice and snow away from your garden and lawn.

Posted in Gardening Tips.