Resist the urge to use de-icing chemicals on icy sidewalks and driveways. Damp sand, spread lightly, will form a gritty, non-slip surface that can be swept up in spring. De-icers often damage nearby grass and shrubbery…. Deborah Brown

(Deborah Brown hails from St. Paul, Minnesota and is a former professor of horticulture at the University of Minnesota. She is also a noted lecturer, radio commentator and Extension horticulturist. She is a Garden Columnist for the Twin Cities Star/Tribune.)