The UK is expecting lots of rainy weather this week which means driveways and other areas in your garden are about to become hazardous and slippery once ice begins to form. Ice is dangerous as it can cause sprains, broken bones or even a head injury if you fall on it, not to mention that it can make reversing out of a driveway absolutely nerve-wracking.
Many people throw rock salt around their properly to melt ice, but it can destroy the lawn and cause stone to degrade which makes it more likely for patios or driveways to become cracked. However, Julia Billen, the owner of Warmly Yours, has shared there are more natural alternatives that can melt ice just as efficiently as salt, and they can be found in your kitchen or garden shed. Julia said: “Coffee grounds and fertiliser contain nitrogen, which lowers the melting point of ice, and they can also act as a traction material. Vinegar does the same with acetic acid.”
How to remove ice from driveways and gardens
Fertilisers, especially nitrogen-based urea ones, will lower the freezing point of water which helps ice melt quickly even when it is extremely cold outside.
All you need to do is sprinkle it over the ice in a thin layer, pour some room-temperature water on top of it, and it should dissolve the ice quickly.
It should be noted that too much fertiliser on a lawn or around flowerbeds could cause overfertilisation, but if you use a small amount on soil it should be fine.
Coffee grounds are less effective than fertiliser as it takes longer for the ice to melt, but it will also add a lot of traction to make your garden a lot less slippery.
To use coffee grounds, simply sprinkle them over icy patches in your garden, and then walk over them lightly to press into the ice.
It is best used to avoid falling on the ground but it should be noted that it can take a while for it to completely melt the ice if you do not mix it without another ingredient.
White vinegar is acidic which also helps melt ice at a very fast rate but make sure to mix it with water. It is non-toxic but large amounts of acetic acid can kill a plant, so make sure to dilute equally with water, spray it on the ice, and it should dissolve without harming your garden.
If you are dealing with really thick ice then it can help to try all these methods together to melt it as quick as possible, but just be careful near delicate plants as too much could affect the soil.
All of these items are natural ways to remove ice in cold weather so you can keep your driveway, patio and garden clear without having to spend lots of money this winter.
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