Winter is a magical time with its layers and layers and white snow on the ground, glistening in the mellow, winter sun in all its pristine splendor. it looks beautiful and uplifts the spirit with its freshness. However, with fresh snow comes the unpleasant task of removing it. Snow shoveling is a daunting task and can be a real challenge for most homeowners. Here are some rules of thumb you can follow that are guidelines for residential snow removal.

Here are some things you can do to make the task of snow removal slightly tedious.

1. A lot at stake: You may be familiar with your landscape and may think that you know your driveway like the back of your hand but once it’s under 6 inches of snow, you will have your doubts. Plant stakes or tall poles around walkways, driveways, and sidewalks. This will make    identifying the areas to be shoveled much easier.
2. Shovel it: Get a snow shovel for yourself and make sure it’s the right one for you. Snow shoveling is not an easy task and you need to be fit to undertake it. Do some stretching exercises before you get started. Wear layered clothing so that you can move around without hindrance. Choose an S-shaped shovel if you expect to experience heavy snow. A C-shaped shovel will do for lighter snow.
3. A shovel in time: You may be tempted to stay inside because it is still snowing outside, but this is an error. The longer you wait, the more snow there for you to remove. It is wiser to keep removing the snow so as not to let it accumulate. Keep removing the snow in bouts, so that at no point of time is it at a depth more than 6 inches or so.
4. Blowing in the wind: If you feel you won’t be able to shovel snow this winter because of health issues or other reasons, get yourself a snow blower. It is a good investment. A snow blower can do in minutes what you would take hours to do. These machines come in different powers and are equipped to blow different amounts of snow.
5. Take it with a pinch of salt: Salt is a great way to de-ice. But be careful about how much and how often you use salt. Excessive use of salt could be detrimental to the surfaces that it is used on. Also, it stops working when the temperature dips below 12 degrees Farenheit. So, if you live in an area that experiences very cold temperatures and very high snowfall, you may want to consider Calcium Chloride or Magnesium Chloride.
6. Step by step: Your leaf blower may not be of much use when there is a snowstorm. However, if there is accumulation of light, fluffy snow on steps and the driveway, your leaf blower can do the job of blowing it away. That being said, it is not a substitute for a shovel or a snow blower.
7. Last but not least…

Take precaution while you shovel snow.

• Keep your knees bent.
• When you lift snow, the blade of the shovel should be close to your body.
• Change your hands from time to time, to avoid straining only one side of your body.
• Switch your grip on the handle from overhand to underhand, periodically.
• First, shovel the upper layer. Then go to the bottom layers. The snow will be easier to pick this way.

If you have questions or doubts, contact us at All American Turf Beauty for assistance with residential snow removal.