Protect your lawns and driveways by giving one popular product a miss this year
With the temperatures set to plummet across the UK this week, snow and ice could lead many Brits to reach for grit salt in an effort to keep driveways and pathways safe. However, experts are sounding the alarm about the long-term harm grit and harsh chemicals can cause to gardens, driveways and even the environment.
Trevor Knight, a technical garden and driveway specialist at Marshalls Plc, warns that while grit salt may seem like a quick fix for icy surfaces, it could spell disaster for your garden’s greenery and surrounding landscapes. “Salt and harsh chemicals can harm the environment and any grass near or surrounding your driveway due to runoff,” Knight explains. “This can cause grass and leaves to brown or even die.”
Grit is traditionally used on ice to improve traction allowing us to walk and drive safely in icy conditions. When combined with salt it also helps ice to melt by lowering its freezing point.
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“Many de-icing chemicals contain ammonium nitrates and sulphates, which can contribute to paving deterioration,” Knight continued.
The expert suggests that if you need to clear ice from your driveway and surrounding areas, using a natural de-icer such as salt is an efficient and more eco-friendly way to do so.
The expert advice is particularly pertinent as Ladbrokes have slashed odds on this month being the coldest January on record.
Temperatures have already fallen to almost -8C since New Year’s Day. Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: “The Arctic blast hasn’t just made the mercury plummet, with the odds following suit, suggesting that 2025 is set to kick off with the coldest-ever January.”
To help keep your driveway safer over the winter months, the expert also recommends the following steps:
Fill the joints
Filling the joints in your driveway helps prevent ice from seeping in, freezing, and expanding, which can destabilise the pavers and cause cracks or displacement over time.
Mr Knight said: “If your driveway is made from block paving, you must maintain the joints between the blocks to ensure they stay sturdy. When doing so, clean the paving surface and allow it to dry fully. Once dry, scatter your preferred kiln-dried jointing sand across your driveway and use a bristle broom to sweep the sand into the joints.”
Regularly clean your driveway
Cleaning your driveway can improve the longevity of your pavers, reducing the need for replacements or repairs. During the winter season, clean your paving every month or so.
The expert advises doing this by using either a pressure washer or by scrubbing it by hand using warm soapy water and a stiff bristle brush.
When it comes to pressure washing the expert said: “A typical guide is to work from the corners in, holding the pressure washer at a 30-degree angle at a 30-50cm distance and working your way down the paved area. Never use an oscillating head on your pressure washer, as it will leave permanent marks on your paving. You should start on a low-pressure setting then increase if needed to reduce the risks of damage.”
Remove snow manually
If you have seen significant snowfall in your area, Knight recommends using a plastic snow shovel. He warned against using other types of shovel saying: “Using a standard metal gardening shovel or spade can mark your paving if done briskly. Once you’ve cleared the majority of the snow, you can tackle any icy patches using a natural de-icer.”