Although late September seems a bit early, why not place your bulk road salt orders now and beat the winter rush? But why are we talking about winter? We just put away our summer planters and pool accessories! Right now, it’s time to prepare for pumpkin season!

Most landscaping professionals and landscaping contractors are preparing their teams for fall projects. However, before we know it, temperatures will begin to drop, and a crisp chill in the air will indicate that winter is approaching quickly, whether we want to accept it or not.

Late summer is the best time to purchase bulk road salt.

It is never too early to order road salt in bulk. Pre-ordering your bulk road salt supply will always benefit your snow management business. There is a greater chance that you will be guaranteed a supply by placing an order ahead of winter’s schedule. One of the consequential mistakes you must avoid is waiting until the snow starts to fall before heading to your supplier to buy de-icing salt. Road salt is in high demand when a winter storm is about to hit. The last thing you want is for your team to be in a rush or hunting for supplies at the last minute. This point alone proves that buying bulk salt before high demand is a wise decision.

How to store bulk road salt

Salt has an infinite lifespan when cared for properly. It is essential to remember that salt attracts and absorbs moisture from its environment. The second it is exposed, the composition of the salt changes. It is advised to store it in a dry place. Not just this, but salt is very corrosive and can corrode certain materials. Improper storage can also leak material into the environment and water systems. We will be discussing the best way to store bulk salt. When purchasing road salt ahead of schedule, be sure to have the proper storage solutions.

Storage Tips

Road salt is not only used to make sure that vehicles are safe and secure. It keeps sidewalks, driveways, and walkways safe from ice and snow.

Here are seven tips for storing road salt:

1. Store bulk road salt in a dry place at room temperature.
2. Small bags of household de-icing salt should be kept in an air-tight container in a well-covered area.
3. Keep the container away from sunlight or heat sources.
4. If you are using bags, make sure that they are tightly sealed and not punctured.
5. Keep the container away from moisture, such as rain, snow, humidity, or dew.
6. Store it in a cool dark place if possible so that it will be preserved for long periods.
7. Bulk road salt should be stored on asphalt or concrete surface. A material skirt should surround the de-icing salt to prevent spills.

How much should you order?

It truly depends on your designated routes. However, as long as you have enough storage space for all the winter supplies, including bulk road salt, you can order as much as you’d like. Any leftovers can be stored for the following year, as de-icing salt does not lose any of its properties.

Suppliers make the best attempt to replenish stockpiles during seasons of heavy demand. They often struggle to keep up with demand during back-to-back winter storms. To avoid large backlogs and waiting times during warehousing, always make sure to keep your warehouses stocked.

How Much Bulk Salt Will Be Needed This Winter?

Making predictions of how much road salt you (or your landscaping business) will need in the future can be challenging. It’s not always straightforward to estimate just how much salt is likely to be required, but these tricks can help you get a general idea.

1. Don’t reduce last year’s salt requirements because you hope for fewer winter storms this year. Keep track of the average needs each year and make the decision based on the numbers of the last couple of years.
2. Make sure to consider new mileage added to your road or street system. This often includes new subdivision streets, highways, and routes acquired from newly developed areas.
3. Winter maintenance operations will improve tremendously with just the right degree of salt usage. The amount of road salt can vary greatly depending on which material is applied—for example, straight road salt, liquid brine, or salt and sand combination.
4. When purchasing de-icing salt, it is essential to consider composition, temperature, and grain size. Understanding each aspect will allow snow and ice management contractors or landscaping professionals to make an effortless decision and deliver a proper application. Therefore, the speed of melting action, composition, and application must be considered.

It is essential to be prepared for blizzards and prolonged cold spells. It’s important not to underestimate what is required.

What’s the sense in ordering early?

Buying road salt in bulk can help you save money and time. High demand during the winter storms will increase the price, and it will also be hard to get drivers to the supply facility on time. You also run the risk of the dreaded out-of-road salt-stock sign. You are always prepared, guaranteed supply, and less stressed when ordering early.

In any industry, it is always best to stay ahead of schedule. The more prepared and organized you are, the more chances you have of avoiding stressful situations. If you stock up on supplies and use the storing tips mentioned above, you are guaranteed to have enough road salt for the whole season and the following year as well.

Beat the winter rush and contact FSI Landscape Supply today!