The unlikely £1.50 vegetable you need to pick up now to de-ice your garden – and it won’t harm your decking or grass
Scotland is set to be battered by a 60-hour blizzard with another Arctic blast on the cards for December.
It comes not long after Storm Bert sparked three days of travel disruption for the country, with gusts of up to 75mph.
Weather maps from WXCharts show Scots can expect more flurries to hit from around midday on December 9 with up to seven inches of the white stuff forecast two days later.
Meanwhile, temperatures could dip to lows of -7C.
And Scottish gardeners have been advised how to protect their gardens from the upcoming ice and frost.
According to a recent study by gardening experts Dino Decking, one in five gardeners said that weather conditions are the biggest challenge they face in their outdoor space at this time of year.
But green-fingered novices are being advised to put down their metal shovels when clearing away snow or preparing to de-ice their gardens as they can scratch the surface of your pathway or decking, causing irreparable damage.
Instead, Dino Decking recommends picking up an unlikely vegetable to protect your garden and decking.
Bosses at the gardening firm said: “Although it sounds funny, beet juice is an environmentally friendly alternative to a commonly used rock salt, and won’t harm your decking, garden or grass.
“Because the sugar molecules in beetroots can also lower the freezing temperature of water it’s a great natural solution that even cities in the United States are using to deice their roads.”
And with 500g of fresh beetroot costing as little as £1.50 from Asda, it works out as a cheap hack.
The veg can be cut up into chunks and popped in a blender alongside some water to give a simple beet juice, which can then be transferred to a spray bottle for your garden.
If beetroot isn’t your style, Dino Decking also have six other de-icing tips for your outdoor space.
Sand and coffee grinds
Both sand and coffee grinds (not used at the same time) absorb sunlight, which helps snow and ice to melt.
This works out as a great way to not only remove ice, but to also lessen your chances of falling over.
Vinegar
As with most DIY cleaning solutions, vinegar is a great cupboard staple to use.
Containing citric acid, vinegar helps to melt snow and ice, although you may have to apply it a few times to work.
Hot water
Simply pour boiling water over ice to loosen it and then sweep it off.
This method works best for small patches of ice as larger areas are likely to refreeze before it can be cleared.
Avoid rock salt
Avoid using rock salt or anything with sodium chloride in it, as this can be corrosive to decking and leave the surface damaged.
Magnesium chloride
Using a de-icer that’s gentle on decking is a great idea and magnesium chloride works great in colder temperatures.
Spread evenly across the deck once you’ve tested a small area to make sure it’s compatible with your deck. This should help melt any ice without causing damage.
Alcohol and water
This at home method requires one part rubbing alcohol with two parts water in a spray bottle.
Simply spray the solution on the icy parts of your decking to lower the freezing point of water, which will melt the ice.