When removing ice and snow from your walkways this winter, use some precautions to protect your lawn and landscape plantings, says Dr. J. Robert Nuss, professor of ornamental horticulture in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Sodium can cause soil to become compacted, inhibiting root growth.
A high amount of salt will block nutrients needed by plants and absorbs water, causing drought-like conditions. Sodium and chloride ions can be taken up by plants and can injure leaf margins and the tips of new shoots. Salty water splashed on plants can damage buds, twigs and new leaves. As long as it's used sparingly, garden fertilizer can be a safe alternative for melting ice. Applying too much fertilizer also can harm plants.