GSVPOA Members,
Winter has settled in for a while and it’s nice to see a full blanket of snow out covering the golf courses. This is the time of year that the maintenance staff gets to take a breather and make sure that all of our equipment is reconditioned and ready to go for next season.
We do however get tasked with keeping a few sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Which got me to thinking about which ice removal product is best to use. Not all salts are the same in their performance and have the potential to cause harm to your surrounding landscapes and yards. Going with one product over another could be the difference between burnt or green grass along the edge of treated areas come spring.
Sodium chloride, sometimes referred to as rock salt, is generally the least expensive ice melt product and is most commonly used on roadways and parking lots. Although it is effective down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it is typically not the best choice for areas of your property where overthrow or runoff are possible given its potential to severely damage plants. Take extra care if this is all you have available so that you don’t injure your turf or landscape plants.
Magnesium chloride is another common ice melt that can work well down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. It is less harmful to plants than sodium chloride. However, it can cause significant damage to concrete and result in flaking, crumbling and fracturing. Therefore, many transportation departments have stopped using it so take extra caution with this material.
Potassium chloride is another option that can work down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not cause as much damage to concrete as magnesium chloride but can cause plant injury if overapplied. When spread properly it generally has a low impact on vegetation. Corrosion to metal is typically of greater concern. Sometimes it is blended with sodium chloride to help lower cost and improve the ice melting performance.
Calcium chloride is typically the best choice because it melts ice at very low temperatures, all the way down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit, and is a relatively safe choice for lawns and landscapes when applied properly. However, similar to magnesium chloride and potassium chloride, overapplication can result in plant injury. Another thing to keep in mind is calcium chloride is also corrosive, so make sure to rinse those metal banisters.
Calcium magnesium acetate is a fairly safe option for plants that performs best at temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. On the downside, it is one of the pricier options and can negatively impact aquatic life. Most of the time it is sold as a blend.
Regardless of which salt option you choose, I recommend pretreating your sidewalks and driveways so you don’t have to use as much material. This will reduce costs and lessen the risk of damage to turf and other plants. Trying to melt ice after things have been compacted and frozen is difficult and can require much more salt.
Finally, if you are looking to use the safest after-the-storm material for turf, stick with sand. The particles will aid in traction without causing any harm to plants. Plus, it can easily be swept or blown away in the spring.
Nathan Armstrong, Class A
Golf Course Superintendent
Glade Springs Village POA
