When the snow starts to fall, the situation you want to avoid most is getting snowed in, so you have to engage in effectively clearing snow from your property in Boulder and Jefferson County. There are several methods you can use throughout the winter months to make sure that your walkways, driveway and the rest of your property do not get buried by the snow.
Make Sure to Protect Your Plants
Before the winter begins and the snow starts to fall, it is a good idea to cover your plants and use stakes to prevent the weight of the snow from harming them. When you cover your plants, you can easily pull the covers off after it snows to shake the snow off in Boulder County. This will help to prevent damage to your plants because the snow and ice will not be allowed to build up on them. Burlap is a good material to use when covering your plants.
Use a Good Snow Melting Solution Before It Snows
Before the white stuff starts to fall from the sky, prepare your driveway and walkways to reduce how much snow can accumulate. This will reduce how much you need to shovel later on. A solution that utilizes a magnesium chloride blend is an effective choice. This type of product usually comes in a liquid form and you only need a sprayer to apply it. Simply spray the walkways and your driveway before the snow starts. For every 1,000 square feet, you will need approximately one gallon of this solution. It will stop ice from forming on concrete and other hard surfaces, as well as melt snow as it falls.
Get a Good Shovel and Shovel Properly
You want to make sure that the shovel you choose is meant for shoveling snow. You want to choose one that has either an aluminum blade or a lightweight plastic blade. A shovel with a nonstick finish is best because the snow will easily dump off of it. Make sure that the shaft is proper for your height, so that you have to bend over less to shovel. When you are shoveling, do not attempt to lift large bunches of snow at a time. It is better to take a little longer to put less stress on your body. Push the snow when you can, instead of lifting it, to avoid overexerting yourself. Make sure you are properly dressed, well hydrated and that you take breaks while shoveling.
When it is snowing heavily, you might consider shoveling more than once so that it is not able to accumulate too much. For example, once two to three inches builds up, head out and shovel this away. This will make the task a lot easier and faster. It will also not exert you as much to shovel smaller amounts at a time in Boulder, Colorado.
Consider a Snow Blower
Shoveling is effective, but it is very hard work. You can make the task of snow removal a bit easier by investing in a snow blower. There are several options that are not terribly expensive that you can consider. You operate this type of machine much like you do a lawn mower, so learning to use it is relatively easy.
Utilize De-Icer and Rock Salt
While accumulating snow is certainly a pain, the ice can be downright dangerous. You want to prevent ice on your property, especially on any stairs or walkways. You can use a de-icer according to the instructions on the product to get rid your yard and property of ice. Rock salt can also help to melt both snow and ice.
Add Some Traction
When you are working outside to remove the snow, you want to make sure that you do not slip and fall. Both sand and kitty litter are good choices for this purpose. They are inexpensive and easy to put down. They will give you some traction while you remove the snow.
You can see that effectively clearing snow from your yard and property is not terribly difficult. This is something you want to keep up with, but if you are attending to snow removal regularly, it is easy to take care of. Do not let it build up too much or it can become a tiring and lengthy task.