The Safest Snow Removal – Oakville Winter Landscape Tips
What is the most dangerous thing you do around your home? Believe it or not, snow removal is near the top of the list. Thousands of Canadians suffer from snow related injuries every year. Strained backs from shoveling snow are the most common. Bruised and broken bones happen when homeowners fall on icy drives or walkways. Cardiac problems, including heart attacks, are relatively common from overexertion in freezing weather.
Snow Clearing Services
Throughout Ontario, including Oakville, landscape maintenance companies spend their winters removing snow for homeowners and commercial businesses. It’s the best way to take care of snow removal at your home. Let insured professionals do the work efficiently and promptly. It saves you a lot of time and effort and, most importantly, keeps you safe.
Winter Work Habits
If you are going to shovel your own snow, establish good work habits at the beginning of winter. Dress for the weather, in layers, with gloves, a scarf and hat. Skid resistant boots are a must. Take frequent breaks, every 15 or 20 minutes is not too often, particularly if you feel exhausted, too hot or too cold.
Snow Shovels
Using the right snow shovel can help you avoid low back strains. Ergonomic shovels with bent handles are advertised as the best, but they are not for everyone. Try shovels in the store to see which one has the best feel. A shovel with a metal blade may be heavier, but will last much longer than a flexible, plastic blade.
A shovel with a blade wider than it is tall should be your primary tool. Use it to push, rather than shovel, the snow off of your drive and walks. Keep actual shoveling to a minimum, but when you have to, a scoop shaped shovel is best. Bend your knees and hold the handle close to the scoop.
Deicers
A good deicer will take care of snow and ice up to an inch or so in depth. Granular deicers typically have a mix of ingredients. Look for one with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. These chlorides work better than rock salt, sodium chloride, when the temperatures get far below freezing. They are also less corrosive and less harmful to your landscape plants and lawn.
If you are close to a stream or natural water system, consider using an eco-friendly deicer. Calcium magnesium acetate, CMA, is the most common. Though it may cost a little more money, it lowers the environmental cost of our winter landscape maintenance methods.
Follow the steps above to make your snow clearing chores a little easier. Remember, for the safest and most efficient snow removal, Oakville residents can also turn to The Gardener. They are your year round landscape experts.
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