If you live in a snowy area, you’ve probably heard about ways to prevent being hurt when shoveling snow via proper Cheyenne landscaping. However, people aren’t the only ones that are worried about snow removal. When the white stuff blows in, it can wreak havoc on your landscape as well. There are two methods to get rid of snow: move it or melt it. Let’s look at ways to keep your landscape safe when snow removal.
How to protect your landscape via snow removal
Plows and shovels are intended to use raw power to move enormous volumes of snow. However, they are also capable of causing major harm to landscape features if necessary precautions are not followed. Here are some pointers to keep in mind when shoveling snow during snow removal and landscaping:
- Keep automobiles off your grass. Even if the ground is frozen, the weight of a car, truck, or RV can harm your lawn.
- A big push-broom may be an exceptionally useful tool for securely cleaning snow from smaller portions of brick pavers, such as sidewalks and stone patios. For optimal results, apply it while the snow is still fresh and loose.
- Hire a snow removal service willing to equip their plow with a urethane or rubber blade, or use a skid steer or vehicle equipped with a rotating brush to reduce paver damage in plazas, large parking lots, and other large areas paved with brick.
- Avoid touching ice-encased branches. They are fragile and readily damaged. Wait until the ice has melted before inspecting for damage, then clip broken branches gently and immediately prevent more harm from the wind catching the broken limbs.
- If a snowplow blade breaks up large chunks of sod, put them back in place as quickly as possible.
- Direct snow to relevant sections of your property with a snowblower. Snowblowers are also less likely than plow blades to harm grass and hardscape.
- If possible, avoid accumulating snow in your yard. Although this is not always achievable, high snow mounds stress the grass and leave it prone to fungal infestation. If you must dump snow on your lawn, try breaking it up and spreading it out on bright spring days to facilitate speedier melting.
- Snow should not be piled on or against shrubbery. This can harm branches, cause excessive salt buildup, and stress the plant when it emerges from dormancy in the spring.
- Clear the snow as quickly as possible while it is still pliable. Once it has sat for a while, it frequently hardens and necessitates more severe snow removal attempts, increasing the danger of harm to grass and woody growth.
- Plant trees and beds a safe distance away from the pavement to avoid harm.
- Mark your property during the lawn care and snow removal. The majority of snowplow damage happens due to the driver’s inability to notice what to avoid. Mark the margins of roads, beds, lawns, and so on with sticks or light-reflecting poles before snow accumulates on your property. If someone else is plowing, make sure they are aware of the marks.
How to avoid salt damage to your landscape through Snow Melting
In other cases, employing chemical de-icers to melt snow makes more sense. De-icing agents function by reducing the freezing point of water. In other words, they cause ice and snow to melt even while the weather is still frigid. They are particularly useful for avoiding slip and fall accidents on sidewalks, steps, patios, and other lawn care Cheyenne Wyoming elements.
Rock salt, or sodium chloride, is the most often used de-icer. Salt is a cheap and effective way to melt ice and snow, but it has a cost. Salt-laden runoff may wreak havoc on soil and plant roots, sickening or even killing your plants and trees. Cars’ salty spray can also harm the leaf and flower buds of roadside plants and bushes. Salt washes into ground and surface water, causing environmental damage. By increasing the frequency of the freeze/thaw action, it can cause damage to concrete and masonry. It also leaves an unsightly white residue on your landscaping as well as on your shoes and boots, and it may make your flooring shambles when tracked inside.
While you may be unable to make your property safe for pedestrian traffic without the use of de-icers, you may make efforts to reduce their impact on your environment. Here are a few pointers for making good use of de-icing chemicals:
- Before applying salts, remove as much snow and ice as possible using a shovel. This will reduce your need for de-icers and allow them to operate more efficiently.
- To enhance traction and minimize the quantity of de-icer required, mix salts with sand or cat litter. You could discover that a decent coating of sand is all you need.
- To avoid overuse, follow the guidelines on the product label.
- Use potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and acetate compounds as alternatives to rock salt. While technically salts, they are significantly less hazardous to plants and the environment in general.
- Plant sensitive plants in areas where they are likely to be exposed to salt, such as near streets, sidewalks, and so on. Annuals may be your best bet in these situations.
First and foremost, safety.
Finally, let us return to you! As essential as your plants for xeriscape landscaping is, keeping yourself and your loved ones safe is even more critical. When shoveling or doing other snow removal activities, follow best practices such as working at a moderate pace to avoid overstressing your heart, taking proper safety precautions when operating snow removal machinery, and keeping your back straight and digging with your arms and legs rather than your back. Hiring such a professional is a simple method to keep both you and your landscaping safe this winter!
Of course, there’s no rule requiring you to handle all of the snow removals alone. Throughout the winter, many landscaping specialists in snowy areas provide snow removal services.