IMPORTANT TIPS TO PREVENT & TREAT ICE MELT DAMAGE
Applying Ice Melt to walkways and drives is a necessary and effective way to prevent slips and falls throughout the winter season but it can also cause adverse effects to lawns and landscapes. Following these steps can assist with the prevention and treatment of ice melt damage:
IDENTIFYING ICE MELT THREATS
Ice melt damage occurs when turf and ornamentals become burned by splashed product or when it is dissolved into water runoff and absorbed into the root system. Damaged areas are often located next to the street, sidewalk or driveway where ice melt has been applied regularly throughout the winter season. Continued splashing of ice melt onto turf or ornamentals can increase salt concentration to a toxic level that will result in weaken or dying plants.
- NOTE: Some grasses, foliage and ornamentals exhibit a higher tolerance to ice melt while others, like, shallow-rooted species and evergreens, can be injured very easily. Be sure to protect the weaker plants or do not plant them near areas where ice melt will be applied. Call your state extension office for a listing of resistant species in your area. Ice melt damage may not be detected until spring when plants begin to green-up and grow again.
WAYS TO IDENTIFY ICE MELT DAMAGE/SALT TOXICITY IN TURF AND ORNAMENTALS:
- Plants are delayed in leaf bud breaking and flowering
- The foliage and buds are stunted
- Tips of plants are brown
- Shoot growth is reduced
- Crown thinning and tufting at branch tips
- Foliage prematurely changes colors or losses leaves
- Twig mortality
- In severe cases, invasions by insect borers, crown dieback, weakly pathogenic fungi and plant mortality may occur
THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT HAPPENS TO VEGETATION WITH ICE MELT DAMAGE
When ice melt “burns” vegetation and its roots, it disrupts the natural movement of water in plants from an area of low ionic concentration (salt) within the plant cells to that of higher concentration in soil or on foliar surfaces. During dry periods, when the atmospheric humidity and soil moisture is limited, salt injury is more likely since it cannot be leached through the root system. In Ph. D., Plant Pathologist, Bruce R. Fraedrich’s article, Salt Injury to Landscape Plants: Identification and Treatment, he explains the role in which high levels of ice melt concentration play in a plant:
Recent research indicates that sodium and/or chloride ions themselves may be toxic to plants in quantity. The former element particularly is suspect since, unlike chlorides, which are readily translocated to the leaves where they are shed; sodium is extremely static and will accumulate in soil and plant tissue. High sodium concentration in plant tissues may alter a plant’s mineral nutrition balance and inhibit protein syntheses (Fraedrich,bartlett.com).
To prevent this damage from occurring try following these tips this winter to help avoid buildup of high salt concentration levels:
- Substitute ice melts with sodium chloride to products with calcium chloride because it is much less toxic to plants and just as effective. NOTE: Calcium chloride deicing agents are not for large scale use due to higher cost and can be difficult to store. Only use this on smaller applications, for instance, on areas near your landscape.
- Don’t over salt! Excess product can increase the chance of ice melt bouncing into a lawn. Follow label instructions for proper application.
- Remove ice and snow frequently to prevent access buildup of product on driveways, sidewalks, paths, etc. Try not to distribute ice/snow treated with product onto lawns or gardens.
- Refrain from planting anything near areas that will be exposed to salt.
- Don’t plant plants highly susceptible to salt damage on a downward slope from areas where ice melt is applied.
- Create a barrier between spaces where ice melt will be applied and the yard to prevent salt from entering into the landscape. Try using burlap, landscape fabric, wood, polyethylene, etc. to erect this barrier.
- If plants are being sprayed, lightly brush off ice melt.
- IMPORTANT: Never use ice melt on concrete that is less than 2 years old. Freeze-thaw damage can occur, cause cracks in new driveways, pathway, stairs, etc. Instead try sand or kitty litter; these are less effective but will help prevent slipping.
TREATING SALT INJURED LANDSCAPES
If you recognize salt burn to the lawn and landscape, try these options to treat and correct the damaged area:
- Water heavily to leach salt out, especially in dry conditions
- Apply Gypsum to counteract salt injury. NOTE: When you apply gypsum, it will react with toxic sodium ions to render them unavailable to plants, causing the negatively charged sulfate ions in gypsum to bond with the positive charged sodium ions forming sodium sulfate. The sodium sulfate is highly soluble and can be easily leached through the soil creating a binding agent by leaving the remaining positive charged calcium ions free to bond with negative charged clay molecules, resulting in increased soil aeration and permeability. Gypsum can be applied with a lawn spreader, just like granular fertilizers.
- Reseed grass that is too severely damaged. Water heavily prior to reseeding. NOTE: Tall Fescue is a grass species that is more salt tolerant, check with your local distributor for more details.
- Use fertilizer with low salt indices (Low potash/potassium content, the lower the “K” the lower the salt index.)
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
Reference:
https://www.bartlett.com/resources/Salt-Injury-to-Landscape-Plants.pdf
https://www.spring-green.com/lawn-care-guide/preventing-salt-damage/
https://www.greenviewfertilizer.com/articles/prevent-ice-melt-damage
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Turf Care Supply, LLC, a portfolio company of Platte River Equity, has officially acquired Beaty Fertilizer, the industry respected Tennessee-based manufacturer and blender of custom granular and liquid fertilizers, as well as combination products. This strategic move expands Turf Care’s manufacturing footprint, adds new product capabilities, and enhances overall production capacity. “The partnership with Beaty Fertilizer marks a major milestone in our journey and an important step forward in our mission to grow, innovate and lead in our industry,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “This acquisition is more than just expansion; it’s a powerful opportunity to strengthen our product offerings, broaden our market reach and provide greater value to our customers. By welcoming Beaty into the Turf Care family, we are reinforcing our commitment to excellence and positioning ourselves for an even brighter future.” “We are excited about this next step in the Beaty Fertilizer story. For almost 50 years, our family and our employees have worked hard to serve customers and communities with pride and heart,” said John Beaty, President of Beaty. “Now, we are embracing an opportunity for growth with Turf Care. With our combined know-how and resources, we’ll keep building on what we’ve worked so hard to create and bring even more value to our customers, employees and partners. We truly believe this partnership will keep the Beaty legacy going strong while opening up new doors for growth and innovation.” Tarun Kanthety, Vice President at Platte River, added, “We believe the acquisition of Beaty Fertilizer represents a strategic step in expanding Turf Care’s footprint and product breadth... as it scales and enhances its value proposition to customers.”
Root out Grubs, Before they Attack Yours! White grubs, the immature stage of several scarab beetles—including Japanese beetles, masked chafers, May and June beetles, and green June beetles—are a major threat to turfgrass across the Southeast. These beetles follow a complete metamorphosis (egg, grub, pupa, adult), with most species completing their cycle in one year. Eggs are laid in early summer, grubs hatch within two weeks, and begin feeding on turfgrass roots through the late summer and fall. May and June beetles differ slightly, with a two- to three-year life cycle and prolonged feeding as third-instar grubs. Grubs damage turf by severing roots, causing grass to yellow, wilt, or lift easily from the soil. Feeding is typically concentrated in patches and worsens during hot, dry weather. Wildlife digging for grubs can create further turf destruction. Healthy turf may tolerate 5–10 grubs per square foot, but damage becomes evident as populations rise or turf is under stress. Early detection and timing are essential. Scouting begins in late June, shortly after adult beetle activity peaks. Monitoring plants favored by beetles can signal egg-laying is underway. Treatment is most effective when small grubs are active—typically from mid-July through early August. For professional turfgrass managers, insecticides containing imidacloprid (Merit®), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn®), or trichlorfon (Dylox®) are the most effective tools. The primary months of preventative application of Acelepryn® is from April to end of May and Merit® from April into July - targeting grubs before they hatch. Curative treatments with Dylox® or similar products are applied July through the fall, when young grubs are feeding and most vulnerable. Always follow label directions for optimal application and safety. Timing may vary slightly by regional seasonal needs. Turf Care Supply has a variety of professional TCS Growstar insecticide fertilizers available to protect your turf and prevent grub damage, before it starts. Click on the button below to view products, contact your sales rep for addition TC Growstar products available.
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.