“You’re right; it would take six weeks. So, I sent them six weeks ago.”
That quote highlights the importance of planning ahead of time, ahead of what most people deem necessary. With that mindset, we want to remind you that the best time to prepare for snow season is not when temperatures start to drop as we reach the middle of fall.
The best time is now, as summer winds down and snow isn’t yet on everyone’s mind. Snow and ice management will be on everyone’s mind once fall is in full swing.
Sure, mid-fall seems like a logical time to get snow and ice service quotes.
The problem is there are only so many insured and licensed providers to go around. Even fewer uphold the standards of SIMA, the nationally recognized Snow and Ice Management Association. Yellowstone Landscape is a proud member of SIMA and has nearly two decades of snow and ice management experience.
It’s been our observation that property managers are glad when they get ahead of everyone else (one of several upsides is the potential for a more budget-friendly contract).
Understanding the Impact of Snow on Properties
In many parts of the country, snowfall is becoming very unpredictable. Unexpected snowstorms have set records over the last few years:
- December 1, 2019: Duluth, Minnesota, tied its record for the largest snow cover on the first day of winter with 22 inches of snow.
- December 17, 2020: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, saw an incredible 32 inches of snow, one of the highest single-day snowfalls in the state.
- In the winter of 2022-2023, Buffalo, New York, hit a record for early snowfall, with 83.3 inches by the end of December, the highest for that month in the city's history.
Climate changes make early preparation ever more critical. Once you’re on a dependable snow and ice management company’s schedule, you can rest easy knowing your community will be well prepared to deal with the effects of an early snowstorm.
Your HOA residents can safely get out of their driveways and navigate streets without worrying about their vehicles getting stuck or sliding into a tree. De-iced sidewalks are as vital for avoiding dangerous slip and fall injuries (statistics below reveal just how often these occur).
Clear roads and walkways are a must for commercial properties, too. You want to protect visitors from ice hazards that could injure them. A single fall could also keep an employee out of work for months—perhaps permanently. Another hassle caused by snow and ice storms is operational disruptions. Employees, vendors, and delivery companies need clear access to your facilities.
Conducting a Pre-Season Property Inspection
When you get ahead of snow and ice management, you have the possibility of a flexible contract. If you aren’t restricted by a zero-tolerance snow and ice policy, your provider may offer more options to fit your budget. That savings opportunity begins with a pre-season property inspection.
Long before the first snow, providers can do the most thorough inspection. That’s because every inch of the property is visible. Snow isn’t concealing property elements. No leaves have even fallen that could cover up objects.
Plus, providers aren’t pressed for time so they aren’t rushed into giving you only one cookie-cutter plan. With a few extra days to finalize the quote, they should be able to offer alternative plans if you request them.
Of course, the enhanced visibility of an early inspection helps providers avoid potential problems when snow removal begins. At Yellowstone Landscape, we walk the property with property managers to check for hazards that could be hidden by snowfall (or leaves). We map the area, noting the following to avoid any damage:
- Decorative elements (statues, fountains)
- Utility boxes and access points
- Water main covers
- Storm drain grates
- Drainage systems
- Irrigation systems
- Manhole covers
- Fire hydrants
- Signage
- Lighting
- Curbs
We also aim to protect your landscape materials from poor drainage. Those issues are in plain sight during the summer and early fall, allowing us to plan to pile snow away from problematic areas. Our teams’ safety is paramount, too, so we check the landscape’s structural integrity before snow equipment is used.
Developing a Snow & Ice Management Plan
Think back to last winter. Were there problem areas on your commercial property that could’ve been managed better? Perhaps past hassles can be avoided by discussing them with your snow and ice management provider now, rather than waiting until they’re warming up the snow plows.
Now’s the best time to discuss remedies to any pain points or areas of concern in your landscape.
Maybe everything went smoothly enough last winter, but a few HOA resident complaints still popped up. These complaints are most often due to homeowners not fully understanding snow and ice management procedures.
They may expect the company to be pushing snow and shoveling walkways during a snowstorm. While preventive de-icing should be part of the plan, snow management providers monitor each winter storm and arrive to clean up once the storm is ending.
That said, consider a tailored contract that designates high-priority sections of your community or commercial property. This way, your provider can start clean-ups at those locations (i.e., elderly residents’ addresses or anyone with mobility issues).
Implementing Effective Snow Removal Techniques
Yellowstone Landscape takes sustainability seriously—during all four seasons. We use the most eco-friendly de-icers available. Our brine mixture is much more cost-effective for clients than traditional solid salts. It can take over 30% more salt product to match the effectiveness of brine.
Our brine mixture starts melting snow and ice on contact. Solid salts don’t become fully effective until meltwater activates them.
As for plowing, shoveling, and snow blowing, caution and experience are critical. A variety of injuries can occur to passersby, vehicles, and equipment operators. Our snow and ice management crews have vast experience and constantly updated safety training.
Not only that, we have a huge workforce with experienced leadership and field management.
This gives us peace of mind knowing our clients are always in good hands. We have capable back-up personnel ready to step up due to extra heavy snowfall or employee absence due to illness.
Not all snow management companies are in that position. The results when your snow and ice provider is short-handed? They might be forced to put an inexperienced driver in a snow plow truck or call in an uninsured subcontractor for your property.
Enhancing Safety Measures for Residents and Employees
Over one million Americans are hurt each year due to falling on ice! People using your property need a safe environment. Furthermore, that staggering statistic is a financial wake-up call to many property owners (Google shows roughly 145,200 annual searches for “slip and fall lawyer").
Next, you have to factor in the potential costs and dangers of car accidents on slippery streets. Remember, wintertime accidents happen in parking lots and neighborhood streets because icy surfaces cause crashes even at low speeds.
It’s crucial to emphasize winter safety measures to your HOA residents, vendors, and staff. A comprehensive landscape plan helps keep your property healthy, vibrant, and safe year-round. Your landscaping provider should stay on top of maintenance that helps prevent falling trees and limbs that only need a nudge from heavy ice. Additionally, they should contact you before a big snowstorm hits. Sitting on their heels waiting for your call is not the right approach for clearing snow and ice efficiently.
Many of the following winter safety tips should be handled by your provider:
- Remove snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs, and entrances as soon as possible
- Apply brine, salt, sand, or pet-friendly de-icers before snowfall (reapply as needed)
- Install anti-slip strips or mats on outdoor stairs and ramps (use sand for immediate traction)
- Keep gutters and downspouts clear to prevent ice formation
- Ensure walkways have proper slope for water runoff
- Install handrails on outdoor staircases (inspect existing handrails)
- Place "Caution: Slippery When Wet" signs in problem areas
- Block dangerous areas with cones
- Spread the word about winter safety (newsletters, flyers, text alerts, social media, and meetings)
- Encourage reporting of hazardous areas
- Designate safe areas for snow piles away from walkways & Ensure piled snow doesn't block sightlines
Selecting the Right Landscaping Solutions
Early preparation for snow season also gives you the chance to revisit plant choices. If last winter took a toll on your plants, consider hardier plant materials. Native plants are adaptable to the local climate in warm and cold months. Varieties with flexible branches that bend but don’t break under snow loads are smart options, too.
Then, there’s mulch for insulating and protecting tree, shrub, and flower roots from frigid temperatures. The mulch should be about three-inches deep for maximum protection and moisture retention.
What about design changes that would alleviate snow removal problems from last year? You can correct drainage problems that allowed dangerous ice build-up in the past. As for snow storage, consider more ideal areas to pile snow, especially if there have been HOA community changes since last year (i.e., new construction).
If your landscape provider performs comprehensive services, you shouldn’t have to worry about weak or damaged tree branches falling due to snow or ice. At Yellowstone Landscape, our full-time arborists keep our clients’ trees strong and healthy all year.
Community Involvement and Education
Do you have a plan in place for getting your community involved with snow season preparation? Planning a few months ahead of time reduces the chance of injuries and resident complaints.
Ask for input at monthly HOA meetings. Request that your snow and ice management provider speak at a meeting so residents know what to expect when snow begins to fall. Also, inform HOA residents about provider procedures inside winter preparedness guides you distribute (personal safety, home and vehicle winterization, etc.).
Winter storm alerts via text message and email are popular among HOA communities today.
These alerts are ideal for adding a reminder that the snow removal company will arrive after the storm, not during. Yellowstone Landscape provides real-time updates to our clients, who then pass the timeline along to their HOA residents.
Conclusion
There are no downsides to planning for snow season as early as possible. You benefit from contract adjustments that can save you money. Providers can do precise property mapping while the weather is ideal and the snow rush hasn’t hit.
Early preparation gives you a wider selection of reliable, experienced snow and ice management companies as well. Wider selection means no worries about lingering icy conditions due to having to settle for a provider with limited staff and de-icing resources.
Even if there’s no Yellowstone Landscape near you (check our map), we suggest choosing a company registered with SIMA. This highly respected organization has the highest standards and helps clarify snow and ice management expectations (examples below).
- Defines expected results from snow and ice management services
- Details of necessary communication between contractors and facility managers
- Includes guidelines on environmental impacts and equipment use
- Offers general information regarding subcontractors
If there is a Yellowstone branch near your HOA community or commercial property, we hope to hear from you soon. Contact us so we can help you maintain safety and efficiency throughout the winter months.
