As winter arrives in the Midwest, snow and ice quickly cover driveways and walkways, signaling the need for snowblowers, shovels, and salt. Shoveling snow can be physically demanding and even dangerous; dozens of people die each year from the physical stress associated with shoveling snow.

For many, sodium chloride (rock salt) and calcium chloride remain the go-to solutions for dealing with snow and ice on driveways and walkways. It’s common for homeowners, property managers, and road crews to spread a layer of rock salt or calcium chloride on paved surfaces before a snowstorm to prevent buildup. When snow and ice begin to accumulate, rock salt melts the precipitation, keeping surfaces safe for pedestrians and vehicles.

However, while rock salt is effective, it has several drawbacks.

Beware of Products that Can Damage Concrete

Rock salt, along with other ice-melting agents lower the freezing temperature of water, which is usually 32°F, rather than melt ice. Depending on the quantities of salt and water, the freezing point can drop by a few degrees or even below zero. However, if temperatures plummet far enough, the melted snow and ice can refreeze.

This can cause the melted water to seep into concrete pores and cracks, where it then freezes and expands, potentially damaging the concrete. Similar to the way frozen pipes burst, expanding water can crack the concrete, leading to costly repairs or even the need for replacement. Among ice-melting products, rock salt tends to be the most damaging.

Concrete Damage Isn’t the Only Concern

In addition to damaging driveways, rock salt presents another major issue for homeowners to consider: It is highly corrosive. As snow and ice melt, the salt is washed away, flowing into surrounding soil and potentially poisoning plants, trees, and grass. The salt can also splatter onto plants, where it causes salt burn on leaves, buds, and needles. This damage is especially harmful to new growth, as salt dehydrates the foliage, leaving it vulnerable to winter winds and ultimately killing it.

The salt that infiltrates the soil affects plant roots, preventing them from absorbing necessary minerals and nutrients. This results in yellowing or dying leaves and, in the long term, deprives plants of the water they need, creating a drought-like condition for trees, grass, and shrubs.

The Best Alternatives to Rock Salt

When considering plant life, calcium chloride is perhaps better alternative to rock salt. While other options, such as urea or beet juice, can be effective, they may be less available or suitable for every situation compared to calcium chloride.

An affordable and easy-to-find alternative that increases traction on icy surfaces is sand. Although sand won’t melt snow and ice, it helps prevent slipping and is non-toxic to plants. However, sand can wash away over time and alter the composition of surrounding soil, which may eventually affect plant life.

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