The first real snowfall always catches someone off guard. Bins are still on the driveway, the car is parked halfway down, and nobody can find the edge of the lawn. A little prep in October or early November makes the whole winter easier on you and on whoever plows your driveway.
Here’s what to do before the snow starts, and what to expect when our operator shows up.
Clear the driveway of anything that doesn’t belong
A plow can’t see what’s under the snow. Anything left on the driveway over the winter is at risk, and so is the equipment.
- Move basketball nets, planters and decorations off the driveway.
- Put away garden hoses, kids’ toys and bikes.
- Bring bins back up after collection day instead of leaving them at the curb.
- Pick up loose stones or edging that has drifted onto the driveway.
If something has to stay near the driveway all winter, let us know so the operator can watch for it.
Driveway markers
Once there’s a foot of snow down, the edge of a driveway is anyone’s guess. Markers are the thin stakes you see along driveways in winter. They show the operator where the pavement ends and the lawn, garden or curb begins.
Every seasonal plan comes with 2 driveway markers, and we install them for you. If you’ve had lawn damage from plowing in the past, markers help prevent it. Leave them in place until the season ends on April 15.
Mark anything else that’s hidden
Low garden walls, interlock borders and landscape lights are easy to miss under snow. If you have something like that near the driveway, let us know so we can watch for it.
Where to park during a snowfall
Parking makes a bigger difference than most people think. A plow can only clear the pavement it can reach. A car in the middle of the driveway means a big patch of snow left around it.
During a snow event, park in the garage if you can. If not, park as close to the garage door as possible, on the side opposite the walkway. If you have more than one vehicle, park them in tandem, one behind the other, instead of side by side. That leaves the operator the widest open stretch of driveway to clear.
Keep cars off the street, too. Street parking slows down town plows and usually means a bigger windrow at the end of your driveway. Many towns also restrict overnight street parking in winter, so check your town’s current rules.
Clearing the garage front
The strip right in front of the garage door is the hardest part of a driveway to plow. The operator can’t push snow into the door, and cars parked close to it limit how much room there is to work.
A few things help. Keep the area in front of the garage free of bins and shoe trays. If you park close to the door, leave a little space between the bumper and the door when you can. If a small amount of snow is left tight against the door or around a parked car, that’s normal for plowing, and it’s usually a quick job with a shovel.
What to expect from an operator stop
Our residential service is an operator stop. That means an operator comes to your home with a plow, clears the driveway, and moves on to the next stop on the route. Here’s how it works with a seasonal residential snow removal plan.
- Dispatch is automatic once 1.75 inches (about 4.4 cm) of snow or more has fallen. You don’t need to call.
- Plowing starts once about 70% of the forecast snow has fallen, so we’re not clearing an inch and leaving you buried by noon.
- During major snowfalls, we come back for return visits.
- The windrow the town plow leaves at the end of the driveway is included.
Don’t move your car while we’re there
This one matters. Please don’t move vehicles while an operator is servicing your driveway. It’s a safety issue for you and for the operator. Wait until the plow has left, then go.
What isn’t included
We plow driveways. We don’t shovel walkways or front steps, and we only offer salting for commercial properties. Plan to handle the walkway yourself or keep a bag of ice melt by the door.
A quick checklist before November
- Driveway cleared of bins, toys, hoses and decorations.
- Markers in, or a seasonal plan booked so we can install them.
- A parking plan for snow days: garage first, then close to the door on the side away from the walkway.
- Your town’s winter parking rules checked.
- A shovel and ice melt by the front door for the walkway.
If you’d rather let someone else handle the driveway this winter, you can register and pay online in a few minutes. If you only want help with the end of the driveway, our windrow only program is there for that. Questions? Call Nathaniel at (905) 296-3589.