Winter is lovely, building a snowman is one of the most fun activities in your backyard. Snow can cause serious damage on your perfectly green bright grass leading to heavy effects like snow mold; a destructive cold-weather fungus that later leaves grey and a pink spot in your grass come spring.
The snow also can rob your grass of the moisture it needs to thrive by holding the moisture leaving your yard covered in brown patches. Melting snow on your grass can save your lawn, this is how.
Contents
- How to Melt Snow on Grass
- 1. Using hot water
- 2. Coffee ground
- 3. Use Calcium chloride ice melt pellets
- 4. Ground thaw blankets
- 5. Vinegar
- 6. Fertilizers
- Frequently Asked Questions- How to Melt Snow on Grass
- How is snow affecting your grass?
- Does rock salt kill grass?
- Are Urea based fertilizers better than rock salt?
- Where can I get a ground thaw blanket?
- Which method of snow melting is the most effective and accessible?
- How long does it take to melt snow on grass?
- Author
How to Melt Snow on Grass
1. Using hot water
This is one of the simplest and cheapest quick fixes to melt snow. Using hot water alone will not solve the problem since refreezing will occur.
The trick is to boil the water with a proper amount of salt; excess salt will also be toxic to the grass. Snow can quickly melt at 320c, so the water should not be overboiled to cause damage to the grass.
To speed up this process, adding rubbing alcohol to the solution works magic. Immediately you pour the mixture, results are inevitable.
Just make sure you have your shovel to scrap the little leftover to give a more pleasing look to your lawn.
2. Coffee ground
Yes, coffee grounds works wonder; therefore, saving the coffee grounds from your coffee maker can be helpful during winter, exceptionally when the temperature is reasonably mild.
Coffee ground increases heat absorption, which helps to melt the snow. What if their temperatures are low? Worry less since coffee grounds are also slightly acidic, giving them a melting effect on the snow.
Coffee grounds are also not harmful to your grass as compared to rock salt. The problem is getting enough coffee ground.
Instead of throwing away the coffee leftover into the trash, save them up to cut costs during winter.
3. Use Calcium chloride ice melt pellets
Calcium chloride is a hygroscopic deicer meaning it dissolve and begin melting ice very quickly, even under icy conditions.
Hygroscopic deicers will attract moisture from the surface of the ice and the surrounding air, so the snow begins to melt soon. It has also been approved to be safe for vegetation. At shallow temperatures, it is the best option for melting snow on your lawn.
While salt is a grass killer, calcium chloride is the best deicer to prevent winter grass death. Its ability to cause heat-generating reactions leads to quicker snow melting speed, providing reliable performance.
Like other deicers, it can cause damage when over-applied. Hence, consider the proper amount instructed by the manufacturers; it is also more expensive than rock salt. The deicer has proven to be effective to combat the compelling force of Mother Nature during winter.
4. Ground thaw blankets
Just like fire and water, snow and heat don’t go hand in hand.
Simply applying heat to snow is a quick fix. All you need is a source of heat, the solution to this problem.
Spreading the electric blanket on your lawn and turning it on for about 2 hours is easy, no skill, no labour and safe for your yard. Ground thawing blankets are readily available and delivered to your doorstep.
5. Vinegar
Vinegar has acetic acid; hence the acidity melts snow, but you should be careful since the bite can kill your grass.
Improve its action by mixing vinegar with hot water by adding 1 part of white vinegar to 1 amount of hot water. Stir and place the mixture in a spray bottle to spray the mixture on your grass evenly.
You wait for the vinegar to work wonders and have your bright grass free of snow.
6. Fertilizers
Urea is an organic compound and one of the most used fertilizers. Despite Urea being a primary source of macronutrient ingredients in fertilizer, Urea also acts as a deicer.
The fertilizer is a good melter and moderately effective. Like other deicers, Urea used in excess will burn the grass, but you will have bright green grass in the proper amount.
Frequently Asked Questions- How to Melt Snow on Grass
How is snow affecting your grass?
Snow on your grass can cause mold to grow on your lawn, and snow mold is a type of fungus. Hence you will ensure an extra cost to buy preventive fungicide instead of simply getting rid of the snow.
It also kills the grass; bright green grass is pleasing and a symbol of a healthy lawn.
Does rock salt kill grass?
Yes, rock salt in excessive amount rock salt just like the calcium chloride pellets, can damage the leaves of your grass. Following instructions as per the manufactures is vital.
Are Urea based fertilizers better than rock salt?
Urea fertilizer is not a quick ice melter like rock salt, but on the other hand, it gives more nutrients to your grass than rock salt. Both of them have their strength and weakness.
Where can I get a ground thaw blanket?
Ground thaw blankets are readily available on amazon as power blankets in different sizes.
Powerblanket EH0304 high watt density is more effective similar products that suit your taste can also be found on Amazon.
Which method of snow melting is the most effective and accessible?
Using a ground thawing blanket is the easiest and fast method accompanied with minimal harm to the grass. Its only limitation is the cost.
How long does it take to melt snow on grass?
Time for grass to melt varies with the method you will choose to get rid of the snow, for example, a ground thaw blanket can be faster than using urea
Nature is pleasing, but at some point, it can be destructive and devastating. Yet, we have still devised ways of having to enjoy and reducing the harsh effect. For instance, during winter, a snowstorm can cause a lot of damage.
Snow on grass will cause snow mold to spread on your lawn or, worse, grass death. Melting snow on your grass is the only way to save your yard.
