Winter Storm Preparation for Landscapers and Property Managers
Storm season is here and if you are one of the many landscape or property managers who offer snow plow services, you’ll need to plan for each storm. We have compiled a list of winter storm preparation for landscapers and property managers. By utilizing these tips, your business will have better time management, work more efficiently, and be able to take in more revenue. All of the things we will list are easy to achieve and do not require extra money to complete.
Winter Storm Preparation for Landscapers and Property Managers
A good first step is to create a list of all properties that you are going to be plowing. If you have not been there before it is a good idea to note all of the items that can be potential hazards. Snow will often hide dangerous things such as speed bumps, sidewalk edges, and shrubs. Make sure the rest of your team is aware of these hazards, all of them can easily damage a plow or cause an accident if ran over.
When plowing, try to plan the pattern so that you are driving forward as much as possible. When you have to put the plow truck in reverse, look behind you as snow and other stormy weather can often obscure the view in your mirrors. When plowing near buildings you’ll want to start with the front and locations with overhead doors. Turning the blade down will drag the snow away from the building. After you have the snow cleared near the building, plow down the middle of the lot. Push the snow to the outer edges. If it is a significant snowfall, try to push the bulk of the snow off the lot as much as possible.
You should try to plow downwind whenever possible. Piling the snow downwind will prevent the snow from drifting. With larger storms, it is better to plow often than let the snow pile up. Deep snow that piles up and hardens can become harder to plow as the storm goes on. Speed is also a factor when plowing. For safety reasons, you shouldn’t exceed 40 MPH while carrying a plow and you shouldn’t exceed 14 MPH when plowing.
Pay close attention to the surface you are plowing on. If you are plowing on gravel and dirt, you should lower the plow shoes to prevent the surface away. If you are plowing on concrete or asphalt, raise or remove the plow shoes so that plow scrapes the surface as closely as possible. When you plowing is complete, lower the blade and turn the plow control off. This decreases the stress on the hydraulics and ensures the plow is stored safely.
Check out our other tips on plowing.