Winter in Canada can be brutal with all of the ice, snow, and sleet that blankets commercial roadways and residential properties. As a commercial or residential property owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your property is completely operational and safe to use at all times, especially in the dead of Canadian winter. To keep your property free of potential hazards this winter, you might be considering using different types of de-icing agents. Before you run off to the store to stock up on ice removal products, however, you need to take into consideration whether or not the chemicals in these products could potentially be harming your plants and the environment at large. Keep reading to learn more about the impact that de-icers can have on your local ecosystem.
How Salt Is Used For De-Icing
De-icing agents are widely used to remove ice and snow from people’s properties because they’re a much easier and cheaper solution than chipping away at the hardened ice with a blunt object. The chemicals contained in these products are mostly compound variations of salt and therefore, they actively lower the temperature of the ice back down to the freezing point, which melts it down into its liquid form.
Benefits of Using Salt for De-Icing
Salt is one of the most effective de-icing agents when it comes to preventing road accidents and keeping your property safe for pedestrians and drivers. A study in the U.S. found that de-icing with road salt can reduce up to 93% of accidents. How does this work? When vehicles drive over pavement, it causes the snow on the road to compact and stick to the pavement. This make it difficult to remove the snow with snow plows and makes it slippery for other vehicles. Salt, however, creates a layer of “brine” between the snow/ice and the road that prevents the snow from sticking to the pavement. Salt is also budget-friendly as it is one of the more affordable de-icing agents.
The Impact of De-Icing Salt on the Environment
De-icing salt can have a negative effect on your local environment, especially if it makes direct contact with the plants in your yard. These chemicals can be highly corrosive and poisonous to plants and animals, so you need to be very careful with the quantity and way in which you use them. Never let your pets outside immediately after administering de-icing agents in your front or backyard and make sure to remove it as soon as the snow and ice have melted away. The longer these chemicals linger on your hardscaping or lawn, the more destructive they are. Another thing to consider is that salt can contaminate the local water supply if it’s not properly filtered.
All of the landscape managers and groundskeepers at FOREVER GREEN LAWN & LANDSCAPE INC. are extremely environmentally conscious. We make sure to only use landscaping and garden care products that are completely safe for you and your family while also maintaining the integrity and beauty of your property. To learn more about the types of all-natural de-icing agents we use for our clients, please feel free to contact us.
