Guide to Snow and Ice Removal

With the first taste of winter hitting the United States this season now is a good time to review some ways to limit the pain and aggravation of removing snow and ice from around your home or at work.

Start with the right equipment and deicers and then use these time-tested removal methods.

1. Before the ground freezes you might want to install tall stakes around plant beds near paths and driveways so that you know where to stop shoveling.

Tip: If your shrubs get loaded down with heavy, wet snow, leave them alone or you’ll do more damage by shaking them off.

2. A liquid magnesium chloride blend can be applied with a garden sprayer a few hours before a storm. This solution can melt snow accumulations of less than 2 inches and keep ice from bonding to hard surfaces. Count on using 1 gallon for every 1,000 square feet.  You can find the solution at home or garden centers.

3. Look for a shovel with a lightweight plastic or aluminum blade coated with a nonstick finish to make unloading the snow easier on your back. Try not to select a shovel with a blade so big that you'll be tempted to overload it. Ergonomic, S-shaped shafts will save your back by requiring less bending. Avoid using metal blades on wood decking. A pusher is a shovel with a C-shaped blade that is handy for clearing lightweight, fluffy snow.

Tip:Professionals recommend shoveling several times, even while it's still snowing, so that snow doesn't get a chance to bond to surfaces. It's also easier to shovel 2 inches of snow than 5 inches of snow. REmove the snow down to the pavement so that sunlight can warm it up and prevent ice from forming.

4. Don't pile snow on foundation walls where snow melt can refreeze and cause cracks to widen or against anything made of wood, which is also susceptible to water damage.

5. For an inexpensive snow melter use rock salt which works at temperatures above 12 degrees F, but is hard on shrubs and grass and can eat away the surface of concrete walkways. Two other salts, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, cost more but are less harsh, but not great for plants, and work at lower temperatures than rock salt. Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride work from 20 to 25 degrees below zero F. Another nonsalt option is a fertilizer called urea. It can be more expensive than any salt and it can be tough to find. Wear gloves when spreading any deicer by hand. For large areas, use a handheld spreader or a push spreader. Don't use a grass spreader since the granules will clog its gears. Store deicers off the floor or in a sealed bucket to keep them dry.

6. Use sand or kitty litter for additional traction on slippery surfaces or steps. Choose play sand over mason's sand, which is too fine. You can also look for alfalfa meal which is a slow-acting fertilizer that also helps melt snow and will help  your yard.

7. A snowblower is fastest way to clear large flat areas. Use one when there's at least 11/2 inches of snow on the ground. Before each use, spray the exit chute with silicone to keep snow from sticking; or you can apply furniture polish. When you're done, let the machine run for a few minutes to dry out and helps prevent internal parts from being damaged by freezing.

Once your walks and driveway is clear you'll have more time left to play with your kids.