Snow Removal Tips for North Shore Driveways and Walkways

Winters here do not mess around. Between lake effect bands and the steady Midwest cold, a North Shore driveway can go from clear to buried fast. A little planning before the first storm makes the whole season safer and easier.

Be ready before the first snow

• Mark the edges of the driveway and walkways with reflective stakes so plows and shovels stay off the grass.
• Stock ice melt early, before the hardware store runs low mid storm.
• Move cars and decide where snow will be piled so it does not block sightlines at the end of the driveway.
• Keep a path to the gas meter, dryer vent, and any outdoor faucets clear.
• Service the snowblower and buy the fuel and shear pins in October, not during the first storm.
• Disconnect hoses and shut off exterior water lines before the first hard freeze.

Go easy on the salt

Salt keeps you safe, but too much of it burns the lawn and shrubs along the driveway and can pit concrete over time. Use it where you need traction, then sweep up the excess once things thaw. In spring, the grass along salted edges often needs a little repair, so plan for it.

Clear early and often

It is easier to clear two inches twice than four inches once. Staying ahead of a storm also keeps snow from packing into ice, which is the stuff that actually causes falls and bonds to the driveway. If a long storm is forecast, plan a pass partway through rather than waiting it out.

Think about where the snow goes

Piling snow matters more than people expect. Avoid dumping it on the same lawn section every storm, since a deep compacted pile stays frozen for weeks after the rest of the yard thaws and reliably produces a dead patch in spring. Keep piles away from evergreens, where the weight splits branches, and out of the corner sightlines where you pull onto the street.

Also keep snow off storm drains and out of the street where local ordinances prohibit it.

Protect the shrubs

Heavy wet snow splays arborvitae and upright junipers permanently. Gently brush snow off with an upward motion using a broom rather than shaking or knocking downward, which snaps frozen branches. For plants right along the plow line, a burlap screen staked in front before winter is cheap insurance against both salt spray and pushed snow.

For a lot of our customers, the simplest answer is to not think about it at all. We handle residential plowing, shoveling, and salting all winter across the North Shore. Line up your service before the season and call or text 224-634-0673 or 224-200-8363.

Ruiz Landscaping serves Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove and the rest of Vernon Hills's surrounding North Shore and Lake County communities.