Snow Removal Methods
The three main approaches to residential snow removal are manual shoveling, snow blower, and professional service. Manual shoveling works for driveways under 400 square feet and snowfalls under 6 inches. Snow blowers handle larger areas and heavier accumulation. Professional services make sense when time, physical ability, or driveway size make DIY impractical.
Protecting Your Surfaces
The biggest mistake in snow removal is damaging what’s underneath. Metal shovels and plow blades scar asphalt and gouge concrete. Use plastic-edged shovels on walkways. Set plow blades to leave half an inch of snow rather than scraping to bare surface. Apply deicer before storms rather than after to prevent ice bonding. Avoid rock salt on concrete less than one year old.
Protecting Your Lawn
Snow itself doesn’t damage grass. The problems come from where you pile it: salt-laden snow piled on lawn edges kills grass in spring. Snow mold develops under heavy, compacted snow piles that persist into March. Spread out snow piles when possible and avoid dumping plowed snow onto the same lawn area all winter. Mark your lawn edges with stakes before the first snow so plow operators know where the driveway ends.
