Snow Safety Tips to Winterize Your Wonderland

Being able to enjoy your yard year round means reducing the risks brought with shutting yourself inside. But when the weather outside has long been frosty, that can be so exhausting. From snow removal and worrying about a snow plow service to protecting your home and having to look into ice dam removal to thinking about how to lose less time when spring does come, it gets to be a lot.

We know that no one likes being exhausted, so we’ve compiled some tips to minimize the exhaustion and help you maximize your landscaping appeal — even in winter. 

1. Make Sure You Don’t Get Snowed In

One of the first things on your list to take care of following snowfall is snow removal. Doing it yourself means even more preparation to make sure you’re doing it safely. If you’re going to be taking care of that snow with a shovel, make sure you’re not overdoing it.

But maybe you don’t have to worry about the physical strain of snow removal because you’ve got your lawn mower decked out with snow removal implements. In either case, you’ll be subjected to the frigid temperatures and possible frostbite. Frostbite can happen in as little as five minutes. That risk increases as the windchill increases. Whenever you’re spending time outside, make sure you’re bundling up adequately with a good face and neck covering, a warm hat, an insulating jacket, quality snow pants and warm shoes.

If you’re not one for DIY snow removal, though, snow plow services are the way to go. 

2. Make Sure to Mind the Snow Up High

Part of your snow removal process should include making sure there’s not too much snow on your roof and in your trees. Living in Minnesota means we’re at the mercy of drastic shifts in temperature, and your roof is no different. This means that snow could be melting one day and then be frozen the next. How that freezing happens and where it ends up can create some real hazards to you and potentially your home. 

One of the hazards created in these conditions are ice dams. Ice dams can rip gutters from your roof, loosen shingles and even cause water to drain into your home. To avoid this damage, you’re going to want to look into ice dam removal right away. 

When you find snow piling up on your tree branches, it might be tempting to catapult the snow right off, but this can damage the tree. If the snow is too heavy on the branch and could cause damage on its own, you’ll want to carefully brush the snow off, starting at the end farthest from the tree. For those places you’ve noticed damage or rotting, the later winter season is a good time to take care of that pruning.

3. Set Your Yard Up For Spring Success

Hibernating animals and grass in the winter have something in common: they’re both lying dormant until spring comes again and they can get back to soaking up the sunshine. What they don’t share, however, is the ability to prepare themselves for the winter. Your yard and plants are going to need to be aerated, fertilized and mulched. This way, your yard and plants will have an extra layer of protection from erosion and loss of water, and they’ll have nutrients to help them grow right away once the snow melts.

It’s also important to be careful with salt and other things used to get rid of ice and snow on walkways and driveways. This is because they can harm plants, grass and trees by drawing water away from their roots. 

With Great Powder Comes Great Responsibility

You can rely on us at Scott’s Lawn Care to keep your yard in the best shape possible no matter the season. Our meticulous care for your yard is sure to keep it in pristine condition and ensure the safest outdoor environment for you and your family. We’re professionals who regularly deal with excessive snowfall so you don’t have to worry about it.

Don’t let Mother Nature get you down. Contact us to keep your yard in pristine condition this winter.