During the winter, deicing salt melts the ice on your driveway and sidewalk, but it can harm your landscape. Sodium chloride can cause plants to dehydrate and lose their integrity. It can even interfere with natural photosynthesis and the production of chlorophyll, which can dramatically affect the health of your greenery. There are safe ways to protect your lawn and landscape, however. Here are a few lawn maintenance tips to remember this season.

How to Safeguard Your Landscape from Winter Salt

1. Use a Salt Alternative

Don’t be fooled by salt-free deicing agents that claim to be friendly to your landscape. They might be safe in small doses, but they can cause a long-term threat to your grass and plants if you use too much.

A product like calcium magnesium acetate is a non-corrosive alternative that won’t rob your yard of the vital moisture it needs. Sand is another option, although it is primarily useful for providing traction. It’s also safer to use on driveways and pavers.

2. Cover With Some Burlap

Cover any plants you’re worried about with a burlap screen. It will prevent exposure to winter salt without starving your plants of moisture. For best results, situate it along the edge of your garden or any area where the greenery might be at risk.

3. Take Advantage of Water

Once the temperatures elevate above the freezing point, it’s a good time to check on the condition of your plants. Some deicing products may have made their way onto the leaves and soil. Rinse them off with water to dilute the salt — even if you used an alternative product — to reduce the risk of damage.

4. Use Only the Minimum

You don’t need to oversaturate your driveway with too much of your deicing agent. Even an alternative product should only be used in moderation to prevent any possible impact to your yard and reduce the need for excessive lawn maintenance.

5. Grade Your Driveway Properly

Everything from snowmelt to salt can make its way to your plants and trees if your driveway isn’t properly graded. If the incline diverts runoff straight to the garden, for example, then the plants there may be in trouble. You can either regrade the surface in question or remove plants during routine lawn maintenance in areas where runoff is likely to occur.

Need help taking care of your lawn this winter? Turn to the team at Eden Lawn Care & Tree Service. Proudly serving homeowners and business owners throughout Lincoln, NE, since 1987, the locally owned and operated company offers a variety of lawn maintenance services. Count on them for tree trimming, stump grinding, lawn aeration, and weed and insect control. Visit the website for information or call (402) 488-3177 to request a free estimate.