Feed Corn for Slippery Sidewalks

By

Cnm2K

My solution to icy walks and driveways is to throw black sunflower seeds along the route. The seeds act as tiny solar collectors and cause divits in the ice. The birds peck at the seeds breaking up the ice. The shells then act as grit to help prevent one from slipping on the ice. I stock up on black sunflower seed when it is on sale and use it all during the worst of the winter months. The additional benefit is the entertainment factor the birds' and squirrels' show provides my indoor cats.
The feed corn is a great idea, too. It is more difficult for me to get in the city. I have used recycled coffee grounds from Starbucks when seeds are in short supply.

By gidget (Guest Post)

A few more ideas to try:
Coffee grounds
Cat Litter (safer for puppy's paws)
tea grounds
Baking soda (a last resort)

By

Jo Bodey

Granualr fertilizer on paths is a bad idea. When the thaw comes the fertilizer will be washed into stormwater drains and thence into river systems. The wash off from lawns and gardens is bad enough, causing overload of nutrient in waterways and blooms of poisonous blue-green algae, without adding to it.

The feed corn sounds a good idea though!

Regards

Jo

By Mary (Guest Post)

I used fertlizer on my sidewalk and it damaged it so bad. The corn sounds good but, PLEASE, NO FERTLIZER.
thank you
mary