As the daylight hours grow shorter, it’s only a matter of time before winter weather makes its first appearance of the season. We all have visions of a winter spent drinking hot chocolate in front of a blazing fire as a fresh blanket of snow creates a winter wonderland outside. Once the snow stops falling, though, it means it’s time to get out there and clear the sidewalks and driveway!
It’s important to be very careful when you approach a physical activity like snow removal that uses muscles and stamina you may not be ready for. Many people manage to injure their backs or even worse when they overexert while shoveling snow.
Your best bet to avoid injury and to really enjoy the winter weather is to let the professionals do the heavy lifting. Hidden Creek Landscaping offers snow removal services that save you the backache, lighten the burden of snow removal, and let you keep enjoying the hot chocolate in front of the fire!
Is there a best approach when it comes to snow removal?
The best tactic when it comes to snow removal is to approach it incrementally. This is the best way to avoid overly strenuous activity. If it’s a light, dryer snow, it’s a good idea to shovel your driveway and walks in different stages throughout the storm.
If you remove an inch or two of snow at a time, you avoid moving the added weight that comes with bigger quantities of snow. Even if you have to do it several times during the storm, you will save yourself the extra exertion of moving bigger volumes.
When you get down to the shoveling, make sure you save your back by remaining aware of the bend in your knees and keeping your back straight. Avoid twisting from side to side, and don’t try to pack your shovel too heavily with snow. When it comes to snow and ice removal, taking it slowly but methodically is your best bet.
Don’t forget to get in front of the warm fire regularly! Frequent breaks are the key to avoiding excessive exhaustion.
While it might feel good to get out in the cool air, if you are elderly it’s best to leave the heavy lifting to the neighborhood kids, or even better, to the pros at Hidden Creek Landscaping. Take it easy and enjoy the snowy landscape from the comfort of your home.
Above all else, stay tuned in with how you are feeling. It is very easy to cause yourself a serious injury by underestimating how physically taxing snow shoveling can be and the extreme strain that snow removal can cause to your system.
Shouldn’t I just use a snowblower?
Snowblowers are a great weapon in the arsenal when it comes to removing large quantities of snow in a short amount of time. Especially if the snow is very wet and heavy, they can be much better than shoveling.
Before the winter sets in for good, give your snowblower a thorough inspection to make sure that all of the parts are in good working condition and ready to tackle the snow.
When using a snowblower, always be sure to use caution to prevent serious injury. Always keep the shields in their proper place and keep your hands and feet away from the moving mechanisms. And be prepared for the exertion – using a snowblower can be more physical than you expect.
As you move down your driveway or sidewalks, watch out for stray objects. If debris gets churned into the snowblower, it could throw objects into the air, not to mention cause serious damage to the machine. The chute must be pointed away from people, vehicles, and buildings to ensure safe operation and avoid injury to people and damage to property.
Is rock salt effective in melting ice?
Rock salt is most effective after you’ve removed the top layers of snow, directly onto paved or concrete surfaces. Once you’ve gone through the effort of removing the snow, throwing down some rock salt will help make sure that driveways and sidewalks don’t become dangerously slippery.
When applying salt, take care that you don’t overshoot the paved surfaces! Rock salt can be deadly to the beautiful plants that you spent all summer cultivating.
How can I get help with snow removal?
Of course! When it comes to strenuous activity like snow removal it’s best to call in the pros. By engaging a snow removal service like those provided by Hidden Creek Landscaping, you’ll save yourself the physical strain, make your life easier, and let you enjoy the snow instead of sweating through it!
Give us a call to learn more about our snow removal services and how they can help you avoid the backache and enjoy the season. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes.
