Snow and Ice Removal

By:Whitney Gronseth
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

One of the great advantages to living in Colorado is our winter weather. With so much sunshine and milder temperatures, we are not under a snow pack throughout the entire winter. However, our brief yet intense and somewhat frequent storms can create quite a snow and ice headache that must be attended to. In Denver and surrounding areas, there are county and city ordinances that exist on residential snow removal. Most are that the home or property owner has 24 hours after the cessation of a storm to have all sidewalks and access cleared of snow and ice. Ignoring this can cost you. The first time fine for this is $100.00 and successive citations come with a maximum penalty of $1000.00 and 90 days in jail.



Another aspect to all this is ice removal. Ice forms and reforms long after the storm is gone and this to can open you up to serious liability. Property owners, lessors, property managers and landlords all liable for any injury incurred on property that is not correctly and properly maintained. This is called premises liability law. Ice patrol fulfills your obligations as a property owner, lessor, property manager and landlord and makes your property safe and hazard free.



When shoveling your own property keep in mind a few things; Make sure that you clear the whole sidewalk as well as an edging of grass. This way when the snow melts it not only avoids water running onto the sidewalk (which will re-form into ice) but it also directs the water onto your lawn. This is important as your lawn requires watering in the winter too. Don’t apply ice melt during the storm itself. This will also melt the snow as it falls which will just create more ice. Ice melt should be applied after the storm when more snow will not be added to the ice that you are trying to get rid of.



Besides convenience, having a snow removal service frees you from worry and time expended into keeping your property free of snow and ice. At A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC we provide professional and reliable snow removal services to the entire Denver Metro area. Contact us at (303) 433-3750 to schedule your snow removal services today. You can also contact us at www.abtrgarden.com.

Early Denver Snow Storm - White snow blankets Denver this morning.

Early Denver Snow Storm - White snow blankets Denver this morning.

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

The Denver area has been struck by a storm which has many wondering just how much snow will be dropped. Already in parts of Denver there is up to 3-4 inches accumulated. This snow is just the beginning. Everywhere from Arvada & Golden, to Highlands Ranch and Lonetree are covered in white powder. It is important to get this snow removed promptly.



When snow is not removed as it falls or soon there after it can create ice. With cold temperature down in the low 20s ice is sure to be formed. When people or vehicles travel over snow it compacts. Compaction of snow, especially when there has been rain prior to the snow fall, is the beginning of the formation of ice. In Denver, Golden or Lakewood, its not a matter of if, but when ice is going to form.



Anywhere you live across the Denver Metro area ice is an issue which needs to be dealt with. Ice melt is the best solution.




****Ice melt can cause pollution to turf areas and to city storm drainage. Ice melt (Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride), Sand & Salt (Sodium Chloride), and Slicer(clay coated Magnesium Chloride) should be used sparingly, but not as to effect the ability to make the site (Residence, Parking Lot, Building Complex, Apartment Complex, Retail Establishment) safe.


A little goes a long way is the phrase to remember. Yet there are those situations where a lot of ice melt or ice removal materials are needed. Safety is the number one concern and dictates the use of deicing materials. There are situations (bad drainage from storm gutters, clogged storm gutters) which place additional water in major pathways. These issues should be addressed immediately to reduce the chemicals which will need to be used during a Denver snow event.




A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC is still accepting clients, Commercial Snow Removal Contracts & Residential Snow Removal Contract, for snow plowing and snow shoveling. Call or email us today.




(303) 433 - 3750

or
abettergarden@abtrgarden.com

First Snow Storm of the Year! Snow Removal Contracts Still Available.

First Snow Storm of the Year! Snow Removal Contracts Still Available

By:Whitney Gronseth
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

With the first snow fall of the year, many of us have been caught off guard. Snow removal is back breaking labor that is necessary when one has a property. Whether yours is residential or commercial, A Better Garden Maintenance can professionally and quickly remove snow to make access and use of your property easy during this winter season.

Even though the first snow has akready here, it is not too late to get your snow removal contract with A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC. Contact us for both commercial and residential snow removal contracts at (303) 433-3750. You can also contact us at our website at www.abtrgarden.com.

Commercial Snow Removal Denver - Sign up now before the first storm hits.

Commercial Snow Removal Denver - Sign up now before the first storm hits.

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Even with the summer still blasting us with 90 degree days in the Denver area, we need to look forward to being prepared to have the right people in place to remove the snow when it falls. Its a matter of when it will snow, not if it will snow. Small accumulations can be even more hazardous given the right temperatures, shade, traffic, drainage and other situations.


Let us know the issues you have experienced in the past and we can note the potential problems to alleviate any issues this 2009-2010 colorado snow season. We also will meet the property manager, resident or owner onsite to discuss where the snow should be placed or we will make a decision on our professional site evaluation.



We will recommend a tolerance level of the amount of snowfall in inches before you receive service. A standard tolerance for businesses and homes is 1 inch to shovel sidewalks & driveways and 2 inches to plow parking lots. Ice melt is an optional service and is highly recommended to provide a safe environment. Businesses should always have ice melt as well as a combination of slicer and Sand & Salt in the parking lots.


Jonathan Manning leads the snow efforts at A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC. He is a vetran of the past Blizzards and has maintained "No Tolerance" properties in Golden and Arvada. In Golden, the business park was a two building Class A Office Suites. They required a combination of snow shoveling, plowing, bobcat/skidsteer use, slicer application, magnesium chloride application (Caliber), sand & salt, and a variation between ice melt and magnesium chloride flakes dependent upon the temperature. In Arvada, the other property he managed dealt with keeping Ambulances on the road for Pridemark during the 2006 Blizzard.



At A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC we offer commercial snow removal to the Denver Metro area (exclusions apply) snow plowing, snow shoveling, ice melt application,sand & salt application, slicer, and larger equipment as needed. Call us today to setup a contract for the 2009-2010 snow removal season. Serving both commercial snow removal & residential snow removal properties. Call us today (303) 433 - 3750.

Dangers of Salt

Dangers of Salt

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Most people do not consider the impact of using snow and ice removal materials. The makeup of the materials are mainly salts, besides the inert ingredients (clay in slicer, sand with the Sand/salt mix, etc.). These salts (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, & magnesium chloride) which lower the temperature at which ice melts are extremely toxic to your lawn and garden.

Most people have heard about how the Romans dealt with Carthage, the fields were plowed through with salt to utterly destroy them. Well in the same situation we are salting our fields when shoveling snow, if we do not consider where we are storing our snow and ice. The snow and ice which are mixed with salts can cause the same effect.

You may wonder, "How are we destroying our gardens?" To attempt to make this clearer, let me explain. Salts are very attracted to water (hydrophyllic or water loving). Think of how meat used to be stored. The outside was salted to pull water out of the meat. The same is true with soil, the salts we place in our gardens will pull the water out of the soil or at least make it unavailable for plant use. This is because the water has a higher affinity to the salt molecule.

So be careful how much salt (ice melt, slicer and sand & salt) you put down and where you store your snow & ice. Try to push the snow of your main walks, where you have placed lots of ice melt, into the streets or into a rock area which is not utilized for plant growth. Limit the amount of Snow & Ice Removal materials you put down to only what you need for peoples safety. Just as with a lot of things in life, "A little goes a long way.."

Ice Patrol & Blowing Snow

Ice Patrol & Blowing Snow

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Today, I was out performing what is known as "Ice Patrol." Ice patrol is put in effect for a property for the 2 days following a snow event where a sites snow tolerance was triggered. (If the snow event was not triggered services must be requested.) Usually, this just involves checking properties for ice and putting down the appropriate Snow & Ice Materials requested for onsite use. Meaning if you only have a sidewalk put down ice melt as the appropriate snow material, not sand & salt or slicer. And do not use ice melt for a parking lot. Instead use sand & salt for traction and slicer to break through the ice. Some people even request slicer to be put down for all main drive areas. Each site is different and a plan should be made in accordance with the specific needs (north sides, heavily shaded areas, drainage issues, etc.).



Yet today the denver metro winds crusted most all edges and steps with a sheet of snow. I say, "sheet of snow," because the snow was partially melted together and came up in sections or sheets. It made my job a little harder, yet with a snow scoop shovel I got the job done. It is important to recognize that I used a scoop snow shovel, instead of a push snow shovel, since it made it possible to collect the chunks of the snow sheets & ice as I shoveled. I made sure the curb lines/gutters were clear of any snow and ice. I add ice melt to the steps, walks and anywhere there was ice and I then it is time to be off to the next property to repeat.



Remember it is important to always check the sites you maintain. The amount of snow is sure to be different as you move across Greenwood Village, Denver, and Golden.


A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC Website