The West Chicago Garden Club

Winter in the Chicago area means lots of ice and snow. Keeping paths, steps, and porches free of ice is an important safety measure, but not all ice melting products are plant friendly! Rock salt, or sodium chloride is our most common product, but it’s extremely harmful to plant material and can impact your soil health. Look for products made with calcium or magnesium chloride that are still effective, but much more plant friendly. In each case, less is more, so only use deicing chemicals in small areas. You can add extra traction and extend the product by mixing it with sand. Try to avoid piling salt-laden snow around trees or shrubs. If it can’t be avoided, make sure to thoroughly water the area in the spring to wash the product out of the soil and the root