Lowes has everything you need to prepare your home for winter. With a Lowes Money off Coupon from We Are Coupons you can prepare for winter for less. If you live in an area that receives heavy snowfalls, it can be difficult to clear your driveway and garden. You can use a variety of methods to help you clear snow. Some of these include using sand, wood shavings, bird seed, and fertilizer.
Using bird seed
When using bird seed as a way to clear snow and ice, it's important to consider where you put the seeds. Bird seed placed on bare soil or the surface of a frozen body of water is readily visible to birds, but it can also pose a slipping hazard. Because the seeds are round and hard, they can roll under a foot and make the walkway or driveway extremely slippery. If you're worried about leaving the seeds on the ground, try placing them in patio tables or in an area where the snow doesn't accumulate. Regardless of where you place the seeds, never pour them in areas with lawn or gravel.
Another method is to spread ground coffee or sand over the ice. While these substances don't melt the ice, they do offer some traction and don't pollute storm sewers. Another method uses bird seed, but you must remember to dispose of the seeds properly once you're finished.
Many species of birds feed on the ground, so you can encourage them to eat the seeds by clearing the area around the feeders. To clear snow around feeders, you can use a snowshovel or stamp your feet on the snow. Birds will then feed on the fallen seeds. To ensure that there's plenty of food for them, you can also throw extra seeds in the area.
If you have a problem with birds, don't let the bird seed sit on the ground overnight. You should feed only as much as the birds will eat in a day. Otherwise, rodents may invade the feeders and eat the seeds. Leaving unattended, bird feeders are not only messy but can also attract rodents.
If you're serious about attracting birds to your home, you'll also need to ensure that you have a variety of seed types available. You can purchase seed cakes and seed blocks made with molasses or gelatin, which are popular for attracting birds. These types of seeds will last for weeks or even months, depending on weather and location.
Using fertilizer
Using fertilizer to clear snow and icicles from driveways and gardens may be tempting, but it's not the most environmentally friendly way to get rid of ice. In addition to causing runoff problems, fertilizer may damage plants. It can also damage the nests of productive insects.
A common technique for clearing ice is to rake a fertilizer into the ice. The fertilizer will mix into the ice, making it melt faster and thinner. Many homeowners have been using fertilizer to clear snow and ice for years. However, it is important to use fertilizer sparingly, and only a small amount per 100 square feet. Using too much can damage nearby soil and concrete.
If you must use fertilizer to clear snow and ice, make sure that you use it sparingly and carefully. Too much fertilizer will burn roots and plant tissue. You can also use kitty litter, sand, or other low-tech solutions. These solutions can also work but will result in a mess that will need to be removed by hand.
If you're concerned about the chemicals in fertilizer, consider using calcium chloride, a plant-safe ice-melting agent. Calcium chloride is more effective than salt, but only if used in limited temperatures. And because it's liquid, you'll have to be careful not to overuse it, as it may over-fertilize your plants. Another option for clearing snow and ice is to use alfa meal, a grain-like substance. It's widely available at garden and hardware stores.
Another alternative to salt is calcium magnesium acetate. This chemical is a good choice because it's non-chloride-based, is less corrosive to surfaces, and has low toxicity to plants. However, you need to follow instructions on the label to ensure that you're using the right amount. Adding more won't help you clear snow and ice faster, and it could be dangerous for your pets.
