And one surefire way to damage or even kill your plants is by using the wrong ice melt.

It’s true, ice melts can be INCREDIBLY damaging to your lawn and garden. 

So which lice melt is safest for your lawn and garden?

More importantly, how do you use ice melt properly without damaging your vegetation?

Today, let’s take a deep dive into how ice melts work and see which one is safest for your lawn.

In short: Which ice melt is best safest from my lawn and garden?

Overall the best ice melt for your vegetation is going to be a calcium chloride-based ice melt. 

However, magnesium chloride is also a good option when applied correctly

Remember you MUST apply it properly, or you still run the risk of damaging your lawn, or even the plants in your garden.

Keep reading to learn how to apply an ice melt in a plant-safe way.

Why are some ice melts harmful to plants?

Some ice melts, especially chloride-based salts can be harmful to your plants and your lush beautiful lawn.

The most common ice melt is rock salt or sodium chloride is the most common ice melt product, and it works well to melt ice to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. But it is actually pretty harmful to plants and your lawn.

Additionally, it can also be corrosive to concrete and flagstones, so it is best to avoid this type of ice melt when possible.

As a salt, it can cause a plant to become dehydrated. This happens during the natural process of the plant taking in its nutrients from the soil.

You see, as a plant absorbs the salt, it spreads throughout the entire plant. As this happens, it will begin to pull moisture from the plant. Eventually, this can lead to a damaged plant, or, ultimately, a dead one.

This is especially problematic in the colder months when evergreen plants are already at a higher risk of ‘wilting’ a natural process that causes plants to dehydrate in the winter months.

Pro Tip! Avoid using salt if you want to preserve your walkways and vegetation

So which ice melt is safest for use around plants?

There are a few good options for ice melts that will be less likely to harm your plants. But keep in mind that proper use is perhaps the most important aspect.

Overall you want to avoid using any salt-based ice melt; these ice melts may be cheaper but are more likely to cause damage to your plants or even your concrete.

A few good ice melt options include:

• Calcium chloride

• Potassium chloride

• Magnesium chloride

In short, the best option for your lawn and garden is a calcium chloride-based melt. 

If you live in a state like New York, where you get a lot of snow each year, you will want to keep reading.

Or hire a snow removal service that will treat your ice for you.

How to Avoid Damaging Plants With Ice Melts

Here’s the deal, when it comes to protecting your lawn and gardens from damage caused by ice melts. it’s not only important to select the right one, but also apply it properly.

Below are a few tips for using ice melts properly.

Tip #1: Remove Snow Before Applying Ice Melt

Look, ice melt is for melting ice, n to snow.

So one of the best ways to ensure that you use less ice melt is to remove the snow before it settles or freezes.

This will greatly reduce the amount of ice melt you need to use and will help your vegetation stay healthy and green.

Tip #2: Pre-apply Ice Melt before it Snows

Most people don’t know this, but if you pre-treat your sidewalk before snow or freezing rain, it will be more effective.

And a good ice melt, like a magnesium chloride-based ice melt, will require less to melt the ice than standard rock salt. And because less of the chemical is required, it will have less of an impact on the environment surrounding the applied areas.

Tip #3: Flush Your Lawn

In the spring, when the ground thaws, you want to consider ‘flushing’ your lawn or garden in the areas that may have been exposed to any ice melts you have used.

This will help the salt to settle deeper into the ground, and help it spread throughout the lawn or garden. And voila, when the little bit of ice melt that is still present in the soil is finally absorbed, it will be unlikely to be enough to damage the plant.

You also want to prepare plants for the winter by defending your garden against deer.

Pro-Tip! Wilt-proof can also help keep your plants from severe winter damage that may be caused by ice melts.