Our recent Christmas snow and ice storm has created some very slippery walkways and driveways around Minnesota. The icy conditions have home owners reaching for salt and sand.
Not so fast................

Oh for those of us that struggle with winter, of coarse, being Australian I do! Keeping driveways and walkways free of ice can be a challenge. Also, as a gardener, I'm concerned about salt damage on lawns, shrubs and perennials.

Did you know that salt, sand and most de-icers can severely damage all driveway surfaces and burn, or even worse, kill lawns and all other plant material. Sand is not much better it too is salty and hard to pick up in the spring. There is no joy in the spring raking up dead grass or having to detoxify your garden from salt damage.

However not all is doom and gloom there is hope and a ray of warm sunshine. There is a ice melting product that is naturally gentle to the environment. 'Freezegard' is a made in the USA product with an active ingredient of Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate.

What does this 8 grade science combination mean? This combination dissolves quickly to create a brine that effectively melts ice and snow to a temperature of -25 degrees F. Use a quarter cup per square yard, if applied as directed before a snow it will melt away snow flakes too.

Here's the 'Little Beauty' of it. Freezgard is less toxic than baking soda! Thats good news for home owners, gardeners and pet owners alike. The flaky crystal is easy to spread and will not eat away at concrete, asphalt and clay pavers, and it is even safe for carpets. It will not burn your little pets paws if they walk on it and its safe for humans too. Pound for pound Freezgard contains one third fewer Chlorides than regular ice melter's which is good news also for Minnesota lakes and streams.

As for salt from road spray on your boulevard. I use gypsum in the fall and the spring, gypsum another natural product will help leech away salt damage.

Good luck with melting away your driveway ice castle. If nothing else your garden will love you back. I get kisses on both cheeks from my garden!