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Jessica Schwartz
Winter Weather Survey: Were You Prepared?
Were you fully equipped to handle snow and ice management this past winter? Is weather affecting your overall purchasing or planting decisions? These are just some of the questions the Turf and Plow community decided to ask its audience of lawn care and landscaping firms, after record low temperatures, snow and ice, and rolling blackouts blanketed much of the U.S. last month. In fact, on February 18, 73% of the U.S. was covered in snow, according to The Weather Channel. Parts of the southern U.S. that rarely see such conditions over a sustained period were hardest hit. In Texas, residents reported devastating effects on many landscape trees and ornamentals, that while zone-appropriate, could not handle the sustained cold and ice. In other areas, those who perform seasonal snow management, had a bit of a heyday. Discussions were up significantly in February compared to January; and even more dramatically when compared to 2020 figures. All this begged the question: will it affect how you prepare for next year? Next Winter: Equipment Efficiency & Ice Control While the majority of respondents* (62%) felt this past winter’s weather was not unusual for their area, a significant number (38%) said it was. Yet most felt prepared, regardless, with only 10% answering they weren’t equipped to handle the storms. Of that 10%, most were lacking a plow. One person answered, “I only have snowblowers. I wish I had a plow for my mini skid.” Interestingly, while 72% felt this past winter’s weather would not affect ...
Winter Weather: Selling More Than Plowing
We all know that a heavy snowfall can do more than just make roads and sidewalks impassable. For property owners, the weight of the snow, the ice, and the water can cause real damage to roofs, basements, and existing landscape trees and plants. In fact, each cubic foot of drifted, piled or compacted snow contains two to three gallons of water, writes Ken Hellevang, professor at North Dakota State University in “Preventing Snow Melt Water Problems.” That means a 1,000 square foot roof with one foot of snow on top contains about 2,500 gallons of water. A 10-foot high pile of snow, 20-feet in diameter, contains about 2,600 gallons, says Hellevang. This amount of water accumulated in a short period of time (such as during a storm) can begin causing problems immediately and be a real headache for your clients. As a result, this is where your company has an opportunity to upsell a plowing contract. Here are a few recommendations for additional cold weather tasks you can perform for customers to help them and their property survive the winter: In Early Winter Check sump pump discharge hoses. Does your client have a sump pump? Ensure that the discharge line on the property carries the water several feet away to a well-drained spot. Ideally, the line should run down sloped ground to increase drainage and prevent freezing. Check and clean gutters. Clogged gutters mean water isn’t being diverted properly away from the client’s house, a key problem after a storm. ...
Sustainable Winter Management Guidelines
By Phill Sexton From the October 2018 Issue of Facility Executive Sustainability and winter management (snow and ice management) are two terms that have more recently become interconnected. As the expectations, costs, and environmental effects of winter management services increase, facility management executives are looking to more sustainable practices for these exterior services. The additional stresses winter weather causes facility managers are unlike those experienced inside buildings. Cost control, risk management, and rising expectations for near perfect conditions (a.k.a. “black top”, “wet”, “zero tolerance”) are typical challenges. More recently, liability linked to the overuse of de-icing salts (e.g. “rock salt”—sodium chloride) is a challenge facilities face. Multiple research studies have validated that most non-point source chloride contamination of freshwater bodies and aquifers originates from parking and sidewalk surfaces (see Figure 1). Therefore, facility managers need to be prepared for future regulations and liability linked to use of de-icing salts to control slippery winter conditions. Sustainable Winter Management (SWiM™) guidelines are available help facility managers and other stakeholders navigate this winter maintenance landscape. Like LEED which is a synonymous with standards for green buildings, SWiM is a solution developed for establishing standards of practice for responsible snow and ice management. The lack of tested and verified industry standards for winter management operations inspired this author’s two-year thesis research at Harvard University, which focused on a sustainability analysis of the commercial winter management industry. The results of the Harvard research revealed a framework of best practices and solutions interventions that evolved into ...
