You work all spring and summer to keep your landscape looking its best. Then, fall and winter come along. Don’t worry. You can keep your perfect landscape protected even in the harshest of winters by following a few steps.

Clearing ice and snow from your landscape is as important as clearing from your walkways and driveway. Shovels and snow blowers are great for the walkways and such, but keep them off your lawn. The augers in a snow blower do not see the difference between snow and your lawn. They will literally chop up your well cared for lawn in a heartbeat. The problem with shovels is basically the same. You will have to be extremely careful so that you do not accidentally dig up your yard.

There are a variety of chemical compounds available to melt the ice and snow, but some are not good for your landscape. Talk to the sales associate where you buy your supplies. They should know what is safest for your yard. If not, here is a quick breakdown of the most popular chemicals out there. Calcium chloride works great on ice, but is not so great for vegetation and animals. Sodium chloride, or rock salt, is the cheapest by far, but can damage vegetation. Potassium or magnesium chloride is way more expensive and can be harmful when over applied so use with extreme care. Urea or calcium magnesium acetate are relatively harmless to plants, but are best used to prevent refreezing rather to melt ice.

Most importantly is to remember that eventually the ice and snow will melt. When it does all that water has to go somewhere. Watch your landscape to be sure that the water is draining and not pooling in your yard. If you are using chloride based ice melt, when the water pools it can be corrosive and will destroy your lawn and plants. You can access a myriad of additional tips for winter lawn care at How Stuff Works.

Winter is time that should be enjoyed. A time to marvel at the beauty of winter landscapes and not worry about your own landscape. Keep in mind that the information I’ve given you is by no means a complete check list. There are many things that you can do. I’ve listed and explained only the top ones. Enjoy your winter, remember the tips, and enjoy your beautiful landscape in the spring.

Everyone dreams of that beautiful, sparkling wintry wonderland that comes with the first snowfall. What isn’t included in that dream is the exhausting work which follows when you have to get rid of it because it is everywhere including your landscape. The more traditional methods of snow removal such as shoveling, snow blowers, and salting can damage your hard won landscape, but there are environmental friendly ways to keep your landscape safe from the harshness of winter. Let’s take a quick look at what the traditional methods of snow removal actually do to your landscape.

Snow Shoveling
When you use a snow shovel on your yard you are packing the snow which makes it denser. As the shovel is pushed across your yard you are running the risk of breaking tender roots and ripping up sod. Not at all a safe bet for your landscape come springtime.

Snow Blowers
First off, investing in a snow blower can be expensive with the cost ranging anywhere from $50 to $500. Secondly, when you blow snow off shrubs and plants you could easily be breaking off branches and causing unknown damage to the plant’s systems.

Salting
Salt will definitely melt the snow and ice, but it also leaves behind corrosive properties that flow into the ground damaging the root systems of your plants.

With the dangers posed to your landscape by traditional methods, what is a person to do instead? There are safe, environmentally friendly ways to deal with the snow and ice in your yard. A light snow is nothing to dread since it will work as an insulator and provide water to your plants. However, those heavy snows are a different story. The best ways to deal with snow on your landscape include:

Sweeping
The old broom you use to sweep off the porch is a sure fire method of snow removal. By gently brushing the snow from your plants and shrubs you avoid the breaking and splintering of branches.

Leave the Ice
Trying to remove ice from branches and plants causes more damage to already stressed plants. Your best bet is to patiently wait until it begins to melt.

Stay off the Grass
Walking on snowfall is fun, but it crushes your grass. Remove the snow as it accumulates to avoid stomping your grass to mush.