December 2013 - Fivestar Landscaping

Combat Ice the Natural Way

Have you ever used salt based ice removal products and when spring arrived noticed that your sidewalk was chipping and crumbling or your lawn was damaged? Salt is a very effective ice buster but it and some other ice removal products can literally eat your sidewalk and kill your grass.

When rock salt melts, it releases chloride which can damage concrete and metal. It can also damage fabric so if you track it into your vehicle it can eat the carpets and cause the floorboards to rust. Runoff from salted roads and sidewalks can also get into the groundwater, streams, and lakes.

If you want to keep your sidewalk and driveway safe and green, here are a few alternatives to rock salt.

Urea – this natural fertilizer is less corrosive than salt and is gentler on your pets’ tender paws. It has high levels of nitrogen and comes in liquid form. If over used it will damage lawns and plants and could runoff into lakes, ponds, and rivers and cause algae blooms.
Alfalfa Meal – contains nitrogen and is primarily used as a fertilizer but it’s less harmful to water supplies if used in moderation. It’s dry and grainy and when it’s scattered on sidewalks and driveways it provides welcome traction while it’s melting the ice.
Sugar Beet Juice – if you grow beets, you have a ready-made supply of ice remover. Beet juice can be used on its own or mixed with salt solutions to dilute them. Beet juice lowers the freezing point of water and is completely harmless to people and animals.
Birdseed – while birdseed won’t melt ice, it provides traction and a meal for wild birds when they need it most.
Kitty Litter – scatter clay based, non-clumping litter, or litter made from recycled paper or corn fibers on sidewalks and driveways to provide traction.

The best way to control ice on sidewalks and driveways is to remove snow as soon as it falls. Now that gardening season over, 5 Star Landscaping can provide you with full snow and ice removal services.

Protecting Landscaping from Chinooks

Many people in winter bound parts of Canada envy Calgarians for the Chinooks that give them periodic, albeit temporary relief from cold winter weather. However, the sudden warming that occurs during a Chinook can be disastrous for many plants.

Is there anything you can do to protect your landscaping from the effects of a Chinook?

The sudden temperature changes that occur during a Chinook can trick plants into thinking it’s spring. Roots get active, sap starts to flow, and buds begin to plump up. When cold weather returns, as it always does, sap and buds freeze, and in severe cases, plants or trees can die.

First of all, choose your plants carefully. The effects of a Chinook are more dramatic in outlying areas and newly developed neighbourhoods which aren’t as well protected from the wind. To be safe, grow plants that are suited for Zone 4 or lower and can withstand wild fluctuations in temperature and moisture levels. Deep watering during the growing season encourages deep roots.

Plants such as cedars are very vulnerable to drying out. Try to position them and other sensitive plants on the east side of your house so they are protected from sun and winds blowing in from the west. Snow tends to drift in the most sheltered parts of your yard so those are good spots to place sensitive plants.

The best time to prepare your plants for Chinooks is during the growing season and fall. However, there are a few things that you can do during a Chinook to protect plants from damage.

While you’re out hanging Christmas lights, take a break and wrap or erect burlap screens around evergreens to protect them from the drying effects of sun and wind. When a Chinook hits, if temperatures reach 10 degrees Celsius or higher, you can deep water your evergreens and flower beds. You can also spray evergreens with products like Wilt Proof to prevent them from drying out. Make sure that root areas are protected by mulch. The sun and warmth that accompanies a Chinook can cause frost heaves and expose roots. Cover exposed roots with about 10 cm of mulch.

Chinooks are an amazing weather phenomenon and can provide a nice break from numbing winter cold, but they can be very hard on plants.

If you have winter gardening questions, contact 5 Star Landscaping.