Winter and Your Organically Cared for Lawn

 

When clearing snow from your driveway and sidewalks, if possible, push or blow excess snow to less visible areas of your lawn.   Snow piled on the lawn will take longer  to thaw and may result in damage to the lawn. 

 

Typically as the snow plow passes a driveway, some snow rolls off the edge of the side-discharge of the plow and into the driveway, particularly if the driveway has already been cleared.  Snow entering the driveway can be reduced by waiting until after the plow has passed before clearing the portion of your driveway closest to the street.  If possible, snow cleared from the driveway entrance should be piled downstream of the direction of the snow plow so that it will not be pushed back into the driveway when the plow passes again.   Snow should not be pushed from your driveway into the street.   

 

Driving or parking on frozen lawns can cause damage to  the lawn as can a snow plow scalping off parts of the lawn.  If motorists or snow plow operators have difficulty knowing where the snow covered road or driveway ends and your lawn begins consider placing visible markers (stakes or reflectors) before the ground freezes at intervals along the edge of the lawn to assist them.  Be sure the markers  do not create a hazard for motorists or impede traffic flow.  The markers will need to be substantial enough to withstand snow rolling off the edge of the side-discharge of the plow. 

 

It is common to see lawn damage along sidewalks and streets were salt has been used as a de-icer.  Consider safer alternatives such as those listed at the following links.  If the links don’t open when you click on them please copy and paste the link  to your URL.

 

http://www.nrdc.org/living/stuff/stuff/safer-de-icers-you-and-your-pets.asp

 

http://www.nrdc.org/living/gettingabout/salty-cities-snow-conditions.asp

 

http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/green-products-services/driveway-ice-environment-55013001