As winter weather continues to pummel away at us and many of our tools and equipment begin to wear down the use of ice melt to battle cleaning our walkways and driveways increases. Today, there are many choices and applications to consider before applying. One should always consider the type of pavement the material is being applied to as some ice melts are more corrosive than others. There is also the issue of damaging the surrounding environment and landscape.
The first type of ice melt and the most popular and least costly to apply is rock salt. It is the same as table salt, sodium chloride, with all the impurities - so don't use on food! It's cheap and easy to apply. Unfortunately, it is corrosive to steel and rebar. It will also damage concrete especially new concrete. It does not work well when temperatures are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If it should get into your lawn and shrubs it will damage them.
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The next most popular type is Calcium chloride. Calcium chloride works really well especially in very cold weather. It can work in temps as low as -25 degrees. It is less corrosive than rock salt and is gentler on concrete. However it can damage your lawn and shrubs.
Magnesium chloride is similar to Calcium chloride and is safer for concrete, brick, pavers, and the landscape. It is also more expensive.
Potassium chloride and Urea. These are compounds that are found in fertilizer. They are safer than the above around lawn and shrubs. Concentrates of this can still be harmful. Urea does not contain chlorides and this makes itself safer to use on concrete.
Ice Melt is a deicer and work by attracting moisture to form a liquid brine to generate heat and melt the ice. The product must reach the pavement in order to work. It is best to apply product before snow and ice accumulates. It is also important to note temperature as colder temperatures require material such as Calcium chloride and milder temperatures allow for use of rock salt.
Another product that works well and is in liquid form is Calcium Magnesium Acetate also known as CMA. CMA works in mildly cold temperatures. It is more effective than urea and lasts longer than most chloride salts. It will not corrode metal, damage concrete, and harm vegetation. CMA is biodegradable and very immobile in the soil so it will not harm most groundwater. Of course, to get all these benefits you will have to pay more than any of the above and you will need a sprayer to apply.
A few products that I like are Safe Paw and Mr. Magic® Premium ice melt. Safe Paw is similar chemically to urea but contains nitrate-inhibitors that binds its nitrates to the soil and keeps it out of drinking water supply. Visit www.safepaw.com to learn more.
Mr. Magic® Premium Ice Melt is a blend of many of the above and has an orange color coating so that you may safely see where applied and prevent over application. You can apply less than other brands to achieve the same result thus saving you money. Visit www.saferthansalticemelt.com/mr.magic to learn more.
Of course you can always apply sand, gravel, or bird seed to an area if you are only interested in preventing slips and falls. They are safe, non toxic, and effective.
Here are some tips on how to minimize ice and snow problems:
1. Apply to surface just before it begins to snow or when snow first appears.
2 Before applying, shovel off as much snow as possible
3. Use safe products first when possible. Sand, gravel, and bird seed are safe, inexpensive, and non toxic.
4. Always wear gloves, facemask, and goggles when applying as these chemicals will irritate the skin, eyes, and nostrils.
5. Read the label and follow the instructions on when and how to apply!
6. Do not over apply these chemicals!
7. Do not use ice melt with chlorides on new concrete. (Concrete that is less than a year old.)
All ice melt will cause some damage and impact the surrounding landscape. Treat the landscape early in the spring by watering heavily. Have the soil tested by Cornell cooperative extension and add the necessary materials to bring the soil pH into range.
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