Winter is upon us and it’s time for the snow to come! That means it’s time to start thinking about getting snow off the driveway, walkway, and sidewalk. Now, we never really know if we are going to have a mild or harsh winter in the Midwest, but we can always be prepared. There are several things you can do to be prepared and we are here to help. So, we have compiled a list of tips to help you be better prepared for when it snows this winter. For those of you who want to leave the snow removal to pros, you can Request a Free Estimate here.
Tip #1 – Don’t wait until the day before or day of the first snow to get everything in order.
This tip goes out to those whom many would call “procrastinators”. A surefire way to cause yourself some stress is to wait till the day of snowfall to get everything in order. This is when you find that you have no ice-melt saved from last year, your snow-blower has not been serviced for the upcoming work, and your snow shovel handle is broken.
Make sure to maintain your power equipment with fresh spark plugs, new gas, pull-strings that work, and maybe even a new air filter. Also, make sure your snow shovels are in good condition and you have stocked up enough ice-melt to pre-salt and post-salt.
Tip #2 – Purchase the right equipment or tools to get the job done.
Since you have taken the time to make sure your equipment and tools are in working and ready condition, you might find that it’s time to replace some of them. We stress that you always get what you pay for. Sometimes it’s worth paying the extra money to get a quality product that you can rely on for years to come.
It’s also good to be realistic about what kind of tools and equipment you need. A new snow blower looks really nice, but do you really need it? Take into consideration your health and strength, the amount of snow you will need to remove, and your budget. It makes little sense to spend $700 on a snow blower when you have a small driveway and are perfectly capable of shoveling the snow in 10-15 minutes.
Tip #3 – Pre-salt the driveway, walkway, and sidewalk right before it snows.
This little tip right here will save you a lot of time and energy. If you can get outside even a couple hours before the snow falls, and spread ice-melt on the driveways, walkways, and sidewalk, you could save yourself from having to shovel or remove snow at all. Ice-melt is made by many different companies. For our customers, we always use environmentally safe and pet safe brands. These products will not damage the concrete or grass, and will not harm your pets in ingested.
Tip #4 – Be smart about how you go about removing the snow.
Snow is very heavy when pushing with a snow shovel. Depending on how much snow is on the ground, it may be best to split the driveway 
right up the middle and push from the middle of the driveway over to the edges of the driveway. If you try to push the length of the driveway, you will accumulate too much snow in front of you to be able to continue to move. The shortest route is always the best.
If you are using a snow blower, many people end up blowing snow onto areas that were already cleaned. A good way to make sure this happens is to be aware of where the discharge shoot is aimed. Most snow blowers now come with discharge shoots that can be aimed to blow in many different directions.
Tip #5 – Hire a professional to do the work.
Sometimes there is just not enough time or we are physically unable to do the work. This is where a professional comes in handy. At Vision Landscape, we can take care of all your needs regarding snow removal. We have all the equipment and knowledge to get your driveway, walkway, and sidewalks quickly cleared. Don’t wait till it snows to call us! Call now or Request a Free Estimate here and we will contact you quickly.
