HOW DOES ICE MELT AFFECT YOUR LANDSCAPE?

After all this record breaking winter season in Minneapolis, MN, we cannot help but start to think about how it affects your landscape.  Are you using Ice Melt products on your outdoor walkways?  Have you ever thought about how it affects your lawn? The ice melt chemicals can take a toll on landscape plants and there are ways to minimize damage.

HERE IS A LIST OF THE COMMON ICE MELTING PRODUCT INGREDIENTS

• Magnesium Chloride is environmentally friendly and safer for use around pets. It is effective to -13 degrees.
• Sodium Chloride (rock salt) is very inexpensive and works extremely well to about 20 degrees. It is the product most likely to damage plants and pavement.
• Potassium Chloride is environmentally friendly and safer for pets. It works to about 25 degrees but its use is becoming somewhat limited due to market demands for potassium.
• Calcium Chloride works very fast and is effective to at least -25 degrees. It leaves a brine slush that dries slowly.
• Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) is environmentally friendly and works well to 20 degrees. It is primarily used in contractor settings like parking lots and streets.

QUICK FACTS

Magnesium is damaging to concrete to a greater degree than non-magnesium products.

Do not apply ice melter to wood or concrete that is less than a year old.

Use and store these products according to manufacturer’s directions.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT DAMAGE?

Remove snow first.
Use the proper amount of ice melt and spreading it evenly.
For better traction, do not apply more ice-melt, instead use kitty litter, coarse sand, perlite or some other gritty substance.

Learn more about how Ice Melt and your landscaping: https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/how-ice-melting-products-affect-your-landscape

CONTACT EARTHKIND

EarthKind is your local Minneapolis Maintenance Landscaping company that can offer you garden care for your residential home.  Contact us to learn more about us and to get a quote on your next backyard project.

EMAIL: [email protected]

PHONE: 612-834-8481

Minneapolis, MN

REQUEST A PROJECT QUOTE

Looking to get an estimate on one of your outdoor landscaping projects in Minneapolis, MN? Contact us for a project quote.

WILL THE SNOW RUIN YOUR LANDSCAPE?

With all the snow Minnesota is getting, there are thoughts about how the snow is affecting your landscape design.  It is true that heavy and wet snow and ice does cause damage to broken branches, but the snow itself will not hurt landscape plants.

THE TRUTH IS, SNOW IS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD INSULATOR AGAINST THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES THAT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR PLANTS.

The snow that is on the ground does prevent injury to the roots, which generally cannot withstand subzero cold temperatures. The roots of your landscape plants will be injured at soil temperatures below ten degrees F with more sensitive perennials injured at soil temperatures just below freezing. Snow acts as an insulator or blanket, just like mulches, and is one of the best options for winter protection.

CAN SNOW BLOWERS OR SNOWPLOWS DAMAGE MY LANDSCAPE?

The snow that is pushed or thrown over plants is denser than natural snowfall and tends to stick together, which causes damage to your plants.

Learn more: https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/snwinjur.html

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INJURY TO YOUR FAVORITE PLANTS FROM THE SNOW, PROTECT THEM BY CONTACTING EARTHKIND TO HELP SECURE YOUR LANDSCAPE DESIGN.

CONTACT EARTHKIND

EarthKind is your local Minneapolis Maintenance Landscaping company that can offer you garden care for your residential home.  Contact us to learn more about us and to get a quote on your next backyard project.

EMAIL: [email protected]

PHONE: 612-834-8481

Minneapolis, MN

REQUEST A PROJECT QUOTE

Looking to get an estimate on one of your outdoor landscaping projects in Minneapolis, MN? Contact us for a project quote.