Minnesota Driveway Snow Removal and Sidewalk Shoveling

Sidewalk Shoveling MN | Driveway Snow Removal

Cold weather has arrived and along with it the snow and ice that Minnesotans are forced to deal with. For years we’ve been using rock salt (sodium chloride) on our sidewalks, driveways, and roads, and we’ve been tolerating the damage these chemicals cause to our landscapes and lawns. Now though, better, more environmentally friendly products have become available.

Help Keep Winter Salt and Sand Out of Local Waterways

Road salt poses one of the larger threats to water quality during the winter. Salt splashed from the road kills nearby vegetation and can leave a border of dead and dying trees and shrubs.  Excess sodium from the most commonly used road salt, sodium chloride, destroys soil structure, which reduces its ability to retain water and increases the amount of erosion.

Both sodium and chloride can also leach into subsurface groundwater supplies, impacting the water we drink. Many cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul included, have begun to experiment with other, less harmful chemicals to keep winter roads ice-free. They are also beginning to apply road salt more methodically, pre-treating major roads before a storm hits and applying only enough salt to keep ice from building up.

Tips for Homeowners

At your home, you can prevent pollution to local lakes and rivers by limiting the amount of salt and deicers you use on your driveways and sidewalks. One teaspoon of salt can contaminate five gallons of water!

As a rule of thumb, if there is a layer of salt remaining on your driveway after the ice melts, you used too much salt. If you do have excess sand or salt, sweep it up and throw it away so that it is not washed into the storm sewer or a nearby lake.

The earlier you shovel after a snowfall, the less likely you are to need salt.

Consider using an anti-icing agent before it snows. It will prevent the snow from bonding with the pavement and speed the melting process.

Fertilizers, leaves, and grass clippings from lawns contribute to phosphorus problems in our lakes and rivers. Homeowners can protect water quality by using lawn fertilizers that do not contain phosphorus—it’s the law in Minnesota. Look for a middle number of zero—and sweeping up grass clippings from streets and sidewalks after mowing and trimming. Minnesota soils are naturally high in phosphorus, so our lawns usually don’t need any extra, but to determine if your lawn is nutrient poor and requires fertilizer.

If your lawn is deficient in some nutrient, remember it is best to fertilize just prior to periods of active growth – this means fall for cool-season northern grasses.

Discuss your fertilizing needs with an experienced Minnesota Lawn Care Service. They will examine your lawn and gardens, assess the health of your plants, measure thatch depth, note any weeds, insects or diseases that might be present, and do a soil analysis.  Based on their findings, they will create a fertilization program to provide the nutrients necessary for your lawn and garden.

More Fertilizer Is NOT Better!

Whatever is not taken up by the plant runs off in the next rain event. Follow package instructions for applying fertilizer. Keep fertilizer off paved surfaces: It’s illegal to spread any fertilizer on hard surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, and driveways. Rain can wash the fertilizer into storm drains eventually leading to a lake or river near you. If you accidentally spill or spread fertilizer on a hard surface, clean it up immediately.

Slow-release fertilizers excellent alternatives to soluble fertilizers (those that break down when they come in contact with water). Slow-release fertilizers are categorized into groups based on how nutrients are released (pellets, chemically altered, or coated). Rather than releasing a quick rush of nutrients, soluble crystal, or granular fertilizers do, these release their nutrients slowly over a longer period and are less likely to create a flush of nutrient-laden runoff pollution.

Snow Plowing, Snow Removal and Ice Management MN

Snow and Ice Management MN

 Did you know?  Salt affects our water.

Any salt that enters a storm drain does not to a waste treatment facility. It goes directly into a local lake or river. Whatever washes off your yard, driveway, sidewalk and street and into a storm sewer will go directly to lakes and rivers. Read more >>

Snow Plowing, Sidewalk Clearing, Ice Control, and Salting MN

Commercial Snow Removal MN | Sidewalks, Driveways & Parking Lots

Winters can be especially challenging when sidewalks are not cleared of snow and ice. Not only is clearing the sidewalks the law in Minnesota, but it is our responsibility to each other during the winter. Many people rely on walking and transit as their primary way to get around. Without a wide, clear path through snow and ice, it is especially difficult for people with disabilities, seniors, and children to walk safely. Read more >>

Snow Removal & Sidewalk Shoveling MN

Maintain Your Property To Prevent Snow Damage

If you find snow-related damage to your home as you are digging out from a snow storm, keep in mind the insurance industry’s approach to paying for water-related damages.  Snow, after all, is just frozen water and insurers have canceled policies, reduced coverage and raised rates to combat the growing numbers of claims paid for water- and moisture-related damage. Insurers also encourage policy holders to do what they can to avoid the need for such claims. Read more >>

MN Commercial Snow Removal and Plowing Company

Commercial Snow Removal Minneapolis MN | Parking Lots | Sidewalks

As residents and business owner’s tire of clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, they are probably not thinking about lawsuits, fines and jail time. But maybe they should. The public’s demand for winter safety and mobility isn’t confined to roadways alone; it also includes pedestrian safety and mobility. Read more >>

Commercial Snow Plowing, Snow Removal and Ice Management MN

Snow Plowing, Snow Removal and Ice Management MN

As a business owner or tenant of a commercial property, you know how important proper snow removal is. Getting snow off your driveways, parking lots, and walkways offers your customers or residents convenience, but also reduces your liability by preventing parking lot accidents and slips and falls. Read more >>

Minnesota Snow Removal Contractor

Snow Removal and Snow Plowing Services MN | Sidewalk Shoveling

The cold weather has arrived for many areas of the country, and some locations have already received their first snow fall. Removing mounds of snow can be a chore. Perhaps your plan is to leave the shovel in the garage this winter and hire a Minnesota snow removal contractor instead. Before you do, the Better Business Bureau recommends the following tips: Read more >>

Snow Removal MN Driveways, Sidewalks, Parking Lots

Snow Plowing, Shoveling, and Snow Removal Services MN

Ice is a hazard which causes many injuries every winter.  Driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and streets all need to be cleared for pedestrian traffic. Every homeowners must take care of their sidewalks and driveways so that anyone who might come to the door can do so safely.  The standards for homeowners is typically less than a business owner, but there are state laws which require homeowners to keep sidewalks clear and safe for people who must walk to the bus or to school. Read more >>

Residential and Commercial Snow Removal MN

Keep Your Driveways, Sidewalks, and Parking Lots Clear This Winter

Snow removal involves removing snow and ice to make your walkways and driveways safer to use. If you are reasonably fit and do not suffer any risk of heart attack then you can do this task yourself, but if you are not used to heavy labor or are approaching your senior years then it is probably better to call in a snow plowing and snow removal company to do snow removal for you.  Read more >>