De-Icing Your Driveway Without Killing Your Lawn

Winter brings difficulties to those who live in areas where there is constant snow, or below freezing temperatures. We have recently seen the east coast hit with blizzard-like conditions, and while our roads are often cleared of snow, it is our job to clear the driveways and access points to our home – the alternative, of course, is to stay frozen in.  The problem arises when substances like salts are used to help break up the ice – salt and gardens, including lawns, are not a good match.

There are a number of methods you could use to move snow and ice from your driveway that should minimize some of the harm that your lawns and plants suffer during winter. If you don’t mind the work, a shovel or snow blower can help to clear most of the snow. If you have frozen ice on your driveway, then a mix of sand and bird seed can help to give your car traction – it won’t break up the ice, however.

More expensive alternatives include laying an electric ice mat under your driveway the next time you have it sealed. For most, it is a mixture of salt and sand that they fall back on, salt to help melt the ice and sand for traction. Solutions that are not a good idea include those with high concentrations of urea. A small amount is good for your garden – the amount required to de-ice your driveway would kill your plants and lawn if applied directly, so avoid them on your driveway because they will end up in your gardens and lawns.

Popular rock salt, although cheap, is the worst salt you can use. You require about a handful per square yard and this is too harsh for your gardens. Calcium chloride on the other hand, while still not ideal, will at least treat about 3 square yards per handful and so cause less damage. Ultimately, if you use salts to de-ice your driveway, your lawn will suffer.

As soon as the spring thaw has finished and the days start to warm again, use a lawn seeding tool to prepare the surface, then oversow with a hardy grass to suit your region. If snow and ice are a regular feature of your winters, then oversowing will become a regular feature of your springs. I suggest you get yourself a tool that makes oversowing a breeze.