Winter can be a pretty tough time; you may not need much lawn care and maintenance since most plants are dormant, but your driveway and all other paved surfaces may suffer from snow and ice damage.
First, snow can cover your surfaces for almost 45 inches or more, and when you don’t remove the snow and ice cover, they melt, causing water to seep into any cracks you have on your hardscape features.
When it turns cold again, the water freezes and expands, leading to larger cracks and more damage.
So, to help with the snow problem, here’s what to do:
- Avoid the use of rock salt
We understand spreading salt all over your paved surfaces helps melt snow and ice, but for the sake of your surfaces, avoid it. Salt dries out paved surfaces, especially concrete and bricks. This drying out weakens the surfaces, making them more susceptible to damage.
For de-icing, ditch rock salt, instead use salt alternatives such as vinegar, sugar beet juice, alfalfa meal, kitty litter, and liquid deicers or ice melters made from calcium chloride. They are not harsh.
- Don’t over de-ice
De-icing too much can erode your surfaces. For best results, always get the help of a pro when it comes to snow removal.
- Use a plastic shovel
When it’s time to shovel snow off your hardscape features, it’s best to use a plastic shovel to avoid scratching these surfaces. Or even better, you can use a snow blower.
- Seal your surfaces
Applying a sealant will protect your surfaces from ice damage, effects of salt, UV rays, and any other kind of wear.
- Always clean whenever you can
Especially when the winter cold is drawing to an end, cleaning your paved surfaces and hardscape features will help them stay in good shape.
Need Snow Removal and Seasonal Lawn Care Services in Norwood, MA?
Talk to our experts at C & C Landscape Pros. We offer snow removal and snow plowing services during these gloomy winter months. And our snow removal and seasonal lawn care services also cater for fall cleanup, full-time lawn care, spring cleanup, and more.
If you need our help any time of the year, we’re more than ready to help.