How to Prevent Salt Damage on Your Commercial Property
Winter weather brings more than just snow—it brings salt. While essential for keeping walkways and parking lots safe, deicing salts can cause serious damage to your commercial property’s landscaping, hardscapes, and infrastructure. Without proper prevention, salt damage can result in costly repairs and unsightly grounds come spring.
At C. Caramanico & Sons, Inc., we help businesses across the Philadelphia area manage winter weather effectively—protecting commercial landscapes from salt damage while maintaining safety for tenants, customers, and employees.
What Is Salt Damage?
Salt damage occurs when sodium chloride and other deicing chemicals are overapplied or improperly managed. These salts can:
- Burn turfgrass and plant roots
- Kill shrubs, trees, and perennials
- Erode concrete and hardscape surfaces
- Contaminate soil and disrupt drainage
- Increase long-term maintenance costs
For commercial properties, salt damage is a hidden threat that can quietly degrade the appearance and functionality of your outdoor space.
Signs of Salt Damage on Commercial Landscapes
- Brown or scorched grass along sidewalks or curbs
- White salt stains on concrete or pavement
- Leaf burn or dieback on roadside shrubs
- Patchy lawn areas that don’t green up in spring
- Poor plant health in areas near snow piles or treated surfaces
How to Prevent Salt Damage on Your Commercial Property
1. Use Salt Alternatives When Possible
Blends with calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or potassium chloride are gentler on plants and surfaces. Consider switching where possible.
2. Apply Deicers Strategically
More isn’t always better. Pre-treating and using calibrated spreaders reduces overuse while still improving safety.
3. Install Salt-Tolerant Landscaping
Certain grasses and plants hold up better to salt exposure. Our experts can design salt-resistant commercial landscapes that thrive through winter.
4. Use Physical Barriers
Burlap screens, snow fences, and mulch beds can help block salt spray and reduce splash from plows or traffic.
5. Prioritize Drainage
Ensure water from melting snow and salt runoff is directed away from sensitive planting areas to minimize exposure.
6. Consider Liquid Brining
Liquid brining is an advanced snow and ice management method that applies a saltwater solution (usually 23% salt, 77% water) directly to surfaces before a storm. This pre-treatment prevents snow and ice from bonding to pavement, making removal easier and reducing overall salt use.
Benefits of Liquid Brining for Commercial Properties
✅ Reduces Salt Damage – Brining allows for more precise, targeted application, minimizing excess salt that damages turf, plantings, and hardscapes.
✅ Environmentally Friendly – Brining significantly reduces the amount of raw salt needed, cutting down on environmental runoff into soil and stormwater systems.
✅ Improves Safety – Liquid brine begins working on contact, creating a safer surface before snow even starts to fall.
✅ Cost-Effective – Less salt, faster application, and easier post-storm cleanup means lower long-term maintenance costs for your commercial property.
✅ Efficient Application – Liquid brining sticks to surfaces and doesn’t scatter like rock salt, making it more effective and less wasteful.
Protect Your Property with Caramanico
Don’t let salt silently destroy your landscape. C. Caramanico & Sons, Inc. offers advanced liquid brining services, along with traditional snow and ice management, to help reduce salt damage and protect your commercial property. From sidewalks to plant beds, we keep your site safe—and your landscape healthy—all winter long.
Contact us today to discuss winter prep and learn if liquid brining is right for your property.
Properties We Serve: Healthcare Facilities, Schools & Universities, Office Complexes & Businesses, Senior Living Communities, Apartments, Hospitality, Retail Centers, Churches, Golf Courses & Country Clubs, and more!
Service Areas: Chester County, Pennsylvania; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; Bucks County, Pennsylvania; Burlington County, New Jersey; Camden County, New Jersey; Gloucester County, New Jersey; Salem County, New Jersey; New Castle County, Delaware
C. Caramanico & Sons, Inc.’s mission is to build long-lasting relationships with employees, vendors, and clients by providing the highest level of commercial landscaping service in the Greater Philadelphia Region. We have rooted values of safety, quality, and customer satisfaction that will create success for our entire team and customers.