Investigating the Impacts of Melting Snow on the Landscape. Read to know more...

Melting Snow
2022-01-05
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Snow and ice, as beautiful as they are, are a nightmare to deal with during our Alberta winters. So, as the weather heats up, it appears like it is the end of it. But not quite, melting snow causes mayhem on your landscape. Here's what you can anticipate and what you can do about it.

The Effects on Your Lawn

As the snow melts, all the pollutants, toxins, and other noxious substances that had been stored beneath the surface are unleashed into your landscape.

Damage Due to Salt

Salt from roadways and pavements may affect your lawn's potential to regenerate from the winter. Aeration, frequent fertilizer application, and a good wash with your garden hose may typically remedy this problem.

Damage Due to a Pet

But salt isn't the only item hiding in the snowbanks. If you have a family dog who relieves themselves on the grass, be prepared to notice some brown spots when the snow melts. These patches are a type of fertilizer burn caused by the nitrogen-rich urea left behind by your pet.

Damage Due to Freezing and Thaw

If we have a very harsh freeze cycle, which is not unheard of in Canada, the snow itself can cause harm to grassroots. Weak, failing grass provides an open invitation to invasive plants. Preventative actions in the autumn are your greatest line of defence against this type of damage, but an effective spring lawn management plan is the next best thing to assisting your yard's recovery.

The Effects On Hardscapes

It's remarkable how much damage a small amount of water can cause, even to something as substantial as a paved sidewalk. The usual freeze/thaw cycles that happen in spring time may do a lot of harm to your hardscaping.

Poured Concrete

Poured concrete hardens into a solid slab, ideal for providing a smooth, firm, flat walking surface. When the snow melts in the early spring, water trickles beneath the slab and gathers in all the nooks and crevices beneath the surface. Temperatures will inevitably decrease again, forcing the water in these locations to freeze and expand. Concrete has numerous advantages, one of which is suppleness, and as a result, these locations just crumble away. Every time there is a freeze/thaw cycle, additional water enters the ever-growing gaps before expanding and inflicting further harm. That's why cracked concrete, sunken or collapsed sections, are so common.

Pavers That Interlock

Interlocking pavers, like poured concrete, are meant to produce a level surface for pathways, driveways, and outdoor living spaces, but they are also subjected to the menace of freeze and thaw. When the soil expands, the connections between interlocking pavers enable for some movement, giving them a significant edge over concrete slabs. This increased freedom has both benefits and drawbacks. The most significant disadvantage is that pavers are susceptible to shifting and heaving, which need care. The advantage is that re-placing a handful of pavers is usually considerably easier than re-paving a whole driveway!

Professional installation is essential for preventing hardscape damage.

Plants and Melting Snow

In the spring, landscaping plants can take a beating, especially if your yard has clay soil or poor grading. Most plants are poisoned by standing water because it prevents oxygen from entering the soil and essentially drowns the roots. Water gathers in lowland areas because clay soil drains slow. Plants in lower portions of the landscape may wind up sitting in pools of melted snow if the lot hasn't been properly graded. Such harsh conditions are not suitable for many plants.

Are you looking for a landscaping company in Edmonton and St Albert? Connect with HML Construction. Our services are fairly priced, but not at the expense of quality or efficiency.

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