The dangers of de-icing

The British winter can be very harsh on your garden and outdoor vegetation. Added to these "natural" hazards are the de-icing substances that we scatter around during these cold months.

De-icing in your garden is a task which can cause many problems for your plants. Rock salt is probably the biggest problem. Despite the fact that salt is an excellent, economically priced de-icer, it is also very easy to find in local shops.

Noticeable symptoms of damage from salt varies between each individual plant, but most symptoms include yellowing foliage, twig dieback and even  sudden death  in extreme cases.
The effect that salt de-icers have on plants comes from the fact that salt causes dehydration. As the sodium separates from the chloride it works its way in to the plants cells and damages it from the inside.

Throughout the winter months there are ways that you can help to protect your plants from the devastating effects of de-icing. By acting quickly you can help to prevent  sodium chloride from binding all of the plant's nutrients together. Since absorbing and binding water elements is a speciality of salt there isn't an easier way to remove salt than by rinsing it off with water. Using a watering can or another suitable container,  simply rinsing away the salt will stop it from seeping in to the stem cells of the plant.

Although a rinse off with water is an effective way to remove  salt you also need to ensure that the salt does not fall into the root area of the plant as it can also be absorbed through the ground.
However there are other ways of protecting your plants throughout the winter.

Not all de-icers are harmful towards plant life and vegetation. Products such as IceGo have the capability to de-ice your garden whilst leaving no damage behind. Completely friendly towards vegetation, this non corrosive formula effectively dissolves ice and snow on contact. Working as low as -11C this organic solution is the perfect resolution to de-icing and keeping your plants in a healthy condition.

FUZE Products IceGo DeIcer - a range of salt free and safe to use Pellets and Liquid in a wide variety of sizes to suit every requirement. You can buy IceGo today and be one step ahead of the winter by clicking here.

What are your options when it comes to de-icing?

The time is fast approaching when you need to get up that little bit earlier to de-ice your car, and driveway. Although de-icing is a time consuming chore, there are options available to you. Not all de-icers are the same, so are you using the best product for your needs?

Sodium Chloride - More commonly known as salt or rock salt. It is more than likely that you have used rock salt as a de-icer for many years. Since it is one of the most abundant resources in the world you can obtain it at a remarkably cheaper price than any other form of de-icer. Being readily available and easy to use makes it the most desirable option for de-icing and the price makes it one of the most cost effective solutions for de-icing.

Calcium Chloride - Another natural product, like rock salt, calcium chloride is a long established de-icing product which has the capability to melt snow and ice down to -25C. The toxicity of this substance is significantly higher than any of the other de-icers, but the product is set as the benchmark for testing results of other substances. Used in the USA for over 100 years calcium chloride is available in pellet, liquid or flake form.

Acetates - More environmentally friendly than other de-icer products, acetates have few adverse effects. Containing no chlorides, these substances do not cause any damage to vegetation, they do not cause corrosion to the substrates they are used on and they are animal friendly. Available in liquid form they are now widely available to purchase.

Urea - Often used in fertilisers, urea is also another option for your de-icing needs. Considered safe to use around your home and young family, urea can de-ice down to -12C. Urea is usually supplied in pellet form which is clean and easy to apply. Urea is hazard free

FUZE Products Range of DeIcers are available here.