From jcosler@mindspring.com Mon Feb 1 12:48:53 1999 Date: 1 Feb 1999 11:05:25 -0500 From: Sammy's Human To: garden-ecosystems@metalab.unc.edu Subject: Re: eco-friendly de-icer Here is what the Maryland Master Garderner Fact Sheet says: "Careless use of deicing products can damage oth the home & the environment." "Do not use fertilizer to melt ice & snow -- the nitrogen & phosphorous in fertilizer can harm your local streams & the Bay." This last sentence is in bold, large print! "Any of the ice removers listed inthe table can be used with minimal damage to steel, concrete, & plants, if applied correctly." "Product Min Work- Speed Damages Harms ing Temp (F) Concrete & Metal? Plants? Magnesium Chloride -13 Very No Moderately Fast Calcium Chloride 5 Fast Yes* Yes Sodium Chloride (salt) 18 Moderate Yes* Yes Potassium Chloride 25 Slow OK on old concrete Moderately Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) 25 Slow No No *Sodium & Calcium Chloride are particularly damaging to newly poured concrete. Also, these chemicals should not be applied to brick or stone surfaces." __________________________________ Also, I've read (here??) of a product safe for pets, called "Safe Paws". I don't know what it is made of. HTH On 1 Feb 1999 09:56:59 -0500, Barbara Carter wrote: > >Hi, I'm wondering if anyone knows about any eco-friendly products out there >that could be used to de-ice the sidewalk in winter? Salt works really well, >but I suspect it's pretty harsh on the plants and the soil nearby. Would >plain sand work? Is there anything nearly as good as salt that's not so >bad for the environment? > >Thanks, > >Barbara (in Boston) > Judy (zone 7, close-in SS, MD) to e-mail me: jcosler@mindspring.com