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Winter can be an aesthetically beautiful season. But when it comes to the property you own, it can be challenging. This is especially true if you don’t take the necessary steps to ensure everything is ready and prepared for the harsh temperatures, rain, hail, snow, and ice.
The first chore that comes to mind when it comes to snow is – shoveling. But if you want to avoid possible damage/headaches down the road, there is more to do to keep those driveways, pathways, landscaping (and more) safe.
Let it snow.
3 Winter Tools You’ll Need for Property Maintenance
Winter can wreak absolute havoc on different parts of your property. Snow and ice don’t just make everything slippery; they can cause ice dams, water damage, and broken tree branches.
Before the first snow, you must evaluate these potential problem areas and clear any clogs in your gutters and downspouts. You don’t want ice dams, which can damage your roof and foundation and be pretty pricey to repair.
With those preventative steps in mind, let’s look at the necessary tools.
1. Snow Blades
You’ll want to keep your driveway and pathway accessible, so you’ll need snow blades to clean large areas. If you mount a snow blade on a tractor, you can quickly handle even the heaviest snow and prevent it from building up.
A tractor with a snowblade attachment (basically a mini snowplow) is handy if your property is significant because you can keep all pathways open without exhaustion.
If you’re unsure where to buy/acquire these attachments, you can google “snow blade for tractor,” and a few dozen options should appear.
2. Hand Tools
The snow blade won’t be able to reach smaller areas (like entryways, outdoor stairs, tight corners, etc.), so you’ll need to grab some hand tools. Shovels and ice scrapers are ideal; if you choose ergonomic ones, this process will be much easier on your hands and back.
3. De-Icing Products
De-icing products like salt and sand do a great job of preventing ice from building up. Suppose you want something gentler on your surfaces and plants. In that case, you can use beet juice blends, calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), or potassium chloride (which is often called the “safer” salt because it’s less harmful to plants than sodium chloride).
Spread them on walkways and driveways to improve traction and reduce the chance of accidents.
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3 Ways How to Prepare Key Areas of Your Property for Winter
Now that you have your tools ready let’s see what you can do with them. You’ll want to focus on areas that are the most vulnerable to snow and ice.
Here’s how to winter-proof your driveways, entrances, and landscaping. Once you’re done, remember to have a hot cup of cocoa waiting for you!
1. Driveways and Pathways
These are the parts of your property that allow you to move around it, so, of course, you’ll want to keep them clear.
A snowblade (as already mentioned above) will do great here. For extra safety, once you’re done clearing snow and ice, apply a de-icer to reduce the risk of slips and falls. If you have a lot of plants or trees, make sure not to use regular salt but beet juice blends or calcium magnesium acetate.
Winter lasts long, so be prepared to do this regularly, particularly after heavy snowfalls.
2. Entrances and Outdoor Stairs
Entrances and stairs can become dangerous if they’re not properly maintained. If you have difficulty imagining what happens when outdoor stairs get covered in ice, remember poor old Harry slipping and falling outside Kevin’s house in Home Alone.
It doesn’t seem like too much fun, right? First, you’ll need to clear all snow and ice from entrances and stairs as soon as possible. Then, use products like stair treads or heated mats to improve traction on slippery steps and reduce the risk of falls.
Heated mates are especially handy because they continuously melt ice.
3. Protecting the Exterior and Landscaping
Nature has its own repeating cycle, and if you want to keep your landscape out of that cycle (as much as possible), you’ll need to protect and prepare shrubs, trees, flower beds, etc.
The first (and easiest) way to shield the shrubs is to wrap them with burlap wraps. You can also utilize temporary fencing/stakes to protect them from the snow and wind.
Another great way to protect the plants is to apply mulch around their base to insulate the soil, retain water, and protect the roots from the extreme cold.
Also, don’t expect roses to bloom fully during winter, but with a few precautions, your landscaping will bounce back even more vitally in spring.
Conclusion
There are many ways to prepare a property for winter—a lot! We’ve condensed this topic into a short article that encompasses the core basics every property owner should know and do.
Preparing and protecting your property for the cold winter months is an ongoing process. It’s not easy, but it’s not too hard either.
Maintain your property regularly to prevent damage and keep everything safe, and you’ll be able to enjoy winter instead of dreading it.