Yes, it’s that time of year again – time for snow. Maybe you’re the type of person that loves when the land is blanketed in soft white snow, or maybe you’re the kind of person that puts up with snow just because you have to. Either way, you need to figure out ways to get the snow out of where you don’t want it! Here are some top tips to keep snow around your Philadelphia property under control efficiently, safely, and without breaking the bank!
Put On Your Shoveling Pants
Whether you’re the CEO of a large corporation or a trash collector, you have to dress for the job you do – and that applies to shoveling snow too! You need to make sure you have warm gloves, a good winter coat, shoes with a good grip on slippery surfaces, and a proper shovel. Ergonomic shovels are easy to wield and will help to take some of the pressure off of your back too. Go for a shovel that’s lightweight, and periodically switch the side you’re shoveling on to help even out the load on your body. Don’t reach too far and make sure you use some of those old school basketball moves from middle school gym class and pivot when you turn instead of twisting at the waist. Believe me, your back will thank you for it!
There’s not a hard and fast rule that says you can’t shovel while it’s still snowing. Some very wise people tend to believe that shoveling a thin layer of snow is better than trying to move it all at once, but only you can be the judge of that. You may want to avoid shoveling into the wind, though.
Be Tactical
If you strive to be as efficient in snow removal as you can (you know, maximum removal with minimal effort!), then there are a few things you should be aware of. You have to take into account the type of snow you’re dealing with, because wet snow is much heavier than fluffy snow, and create a plan of attack. When you’re clearing your driveway, you should start from the middle and work your way out so that you don’t end up piling snow back onto areas you’ve already cleared – which can easily happen.
You also shouldn’t create piles of snow where your driveway meets the street. When snow plows come by they’ll just pile the snow up higher and create twice the work for you – which blows any kind of efficient plan right out the frosted window.
A Strategy for Flower Beds
When it snows outside, you should make it work for you. You can do this by using the snow you’re removing from your sidewalks and driveway and to create a sort of ice mulch for your flower beds. It is true that you want to keep snow from piling up too high on your grass, but for flower beds, it can make a nice insulator. You simply need to remember a couple of things if you want to attempt this:
- Watch out for your shrubs – The branches on your trees and shrubs can become brittle in the winter, so toss the snow on with care so you don’t create breakage.
- Don’t use snow from near the street – The snow from the street could be riddled with salt, and that can damage any salt-sensitive plants you may have in your garden.
What About Snowblowers?
If you’re taking a good, hard look at your snow removal situation you may be wondering if plunking down the cash for a snowblower is worth it or not. Well, don’t be too hasty. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get enough snow to warrant the cost of a shiny new snowblower, and if you have a relatively small driveway then it may not be worth messing with at all. Plus, you have to store those suckers all year long, and there’s a good portion of the year when snow will be no threat at all and a snowblower will just take up space.
These tips should have you covered, but if you need help removing snow from your property, Lawn Love provides snow removal services too!
