Missouri Department of Conservation warns of excessive ice-melting salt

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – While ice-melting salt is a standard solution for managing icy surfaces during winter, it can pose significant risks to plants and the environment if not used responsibly.

The Missouri Department of Conservation experts emphasize balancing personal safety with environmental care.

“It can have impacts on your plants, and since we all like our trees and plants, you don’t want to do anything to hurt them,” said Francis Skalicky, “at the same time, you don’t want to do anything that’ll make you slip and fall on the ice.”

The damage caused by ice-melting salt often goes unnoticed until the next growing season. Symptoms of contamination may include discoloration, reduced foliage, or stunted growth. To minimize such effects, experts advise using salt sparingly.

“A little bit of ice melt or rock salt goes a long way,” Skalicky added, “if you put a lot of it down, you’re causing environmental damage and also hurting your budget. The more you use, the less you’ll have for the next ice episode.”

For those seeking environmentally friendly options, some stores offer eco-friendly ice-melting salt.

Additionally, sand or kitty litter can provide traction on icy surfaces without harming nearby plants. These options, however, do not melt ice but can still enhance safety.

Selecting the correct type of ice-melting product for specific surfaces is also crucial.

Superintendent Jeff Dodson of North Wood Public Schools in Dent County says it’s not pretty.

“We used a particular ice melt that was supposed to be OK for concrete,” Dodson said, “it didn’t create issues across the entire pad, but where water pooled, the thin top layer of concrete popped off. Aesthetically, it’s not as nice as it was when the project was completed.”

If you notice signs of salt damage in your plants, applying gypsum to the soil may help mitigate the effects. For more information on gypsum applications and other solutions, click here.

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