Keeping your balance on icy walkways can be tricky. So is balancing the need for salt versus the damange it does to your landscape and the environment. Here’s some information to help you make an informed choice about how you will keep your driveway and outdoor walking surfaces safe for your family and guests this winter.
The key to responsible and effective ice control is applying the right amount of the most temperature appropriate ice melter. Many professional snow removal companies have this dialed in. Most homeowners don’t have a clue. Fortunately for us shoveling amateurs, Michigan Technological University tested various ice melt products under real world conditions to help us know what works best.
First of all, remove all the snow you can. That will ensure that whatever you sprinkle on actually gets to the ice. Then, based on the temperature, apply the best product, preferably with a mechanical spreaders, such as hand spreaders or push spreaders. That will ensure even coverage. Here’s what the Morton Salt and Michigan Technological University findings recommend.
When the weather is above 20 degrees F rock salt works well. You can also use a blend of rock salt and calcium chloride. When tempertures dip into the single digits, rock salt is not effective by itself and a blend is needed. Hedberg carries a bagged blended product called “Extreme Melt Walkway De-Icer” that is highly effective, less corrosive and environmentally safer than straight salt. For sub-zero conditions, rock salt is not recommended. Calcium choride is effective to -25 degrees F. It generates heat on contact with the ice. Hedberg carries a product called “Safer Than Salt Enhanced Concentrated Ice Melter” that is very popular among snow removal professionals. Its orange colored granules let you see where it has been applied.
Several products new to the market contain sugar beet extracts and molasses and may be more more environmentally sensitive. These products may be available at a local hardware store in liquid or granular forms. We recommend you read the labels for proper usage.
It may take a while to get here, but winter with its snow and ice is an inevitable party of living in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Please be safe and contact us at Hedberg if we can be of assistance.