How To Melt Snow On Grass

Your grass is the most vulnerable during the winter. And if you’re not careful, it can lead to long-term damage. Throughout this guide, we’ll explain how to melt snow on the grass to preserve the aesthetic value of your lawn.

Step 1 – Determine Your Snow Melting Method

There are multiple ways to melt snow on your lawn. And each of these methods works based on how much snow is currently present. Once you’ve determined your snow melting method, you can get started with clearing your lawn!

Here are some methods that can help:

Hot Water

Hot water is an inexpensive and easy way to melt snow on your lawn. To prepare, create a mixture of 2 oz of rubbing alcohol, 6 drops of liquid soap, and one gallon of hot water. This mixture will ensure that the snow is melted and the grass surrounding it is clean.

The hot water generates heat which melts the snow. Since the rubbing alcohol has a low freezing point, it aids in speeding up the melting process. You can make more of this mixture if you have a large driveway; then you can shovel the rest of the snow.

Dish Soap & Rubbing Alcohol

Did you know that dish soap and rubbing alcohol can melt snow within 15 minutes? If you have heavy snow on your lawn, it might take longer. This is different from hot water as you keep the water at room temperature. Add a mixture of 1.9 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dish soap. Regardless, this is a cost-effective way to get snow off your lawn.

Ice Melter

One issue with using rock salt to melt snow is its toxicity to the plants and soil. Fortunately, there are environmentally friendly options available that are found in hardware stores.

To use it, sprinkle it over your driveway. They prevent re-freezing once the ice melts, allowing your plants to stay safe during the winter.

Snow Blower

If you have more than 6 inches of snow, a snow blower is a good option. Also, it requires less physical labor than a shovel. Depending on your driveway, you can get a gas or electric snowblower.

Electric snow blowers are lightweight, but they can only travel a short distance without having a power source. On the other hand, a gas snow blower can go for extended distances, but it’s heavier than its electric counterpart.

Step 2: Remove Snow From Plants

Your plants are the first things in your garden that will be affected by snow. Here are some ways to remove it immediately.

First, you should start by gently sweeping the snow off your plants. Sweep in an upward motion to ensure that it doesn’t fall in the plant’s roots. When you sweep downwards, you run the risk of damaging the plant’s branches. Don’t shake your plants as the branches are already stressed, so you’ll want to not disturb them.

You’ll want to make sure your plants have a sufficient amount of drainage. While nitrogen-based and CMA fertilizers are viewed as lawn-friendly, they can damage your lawn if left out for too long.

For instance, if you apply more of it continuously, you’ll have to increase its amount on your grass. Secondly, it’s a good idea to drain your soil regularly as it prevents problems in the long term.

Step 3: Rinse the Soil

After you’ve melted the snow on your lawn, you must rinse out the soil. Giving your yard a bath during the winter might seem like a silly idea, but it’s effective at removing salt from your soil’s top layer.

If you have the proper drainage, water your soil at least 1 hr a week during the spring. This will wash out the excess fertilizer or salt and prepare your lawn’s soil for warmer temperatures.

Step 4: Prevent the Snow From Damaging Your Grass

Even after you’ve applied snow melting products on your grass, you have to ensure that your grass isn’t affected by it in the long term.

First, you can tie up your plants before the snow touches the grass. This will prevent the branches from becoming damaged by the snow. Tie the plants in a cone shape to prevent the snow from entering the sides of the plant.

You’ll also want to prevent you or other people from stepping on the grass. During the winter season, the snow makes the grass fragile and easily uprooted. Reducing the total foot traffic will keep your grass firmly rooted and help the snow melt faster.

Go outdoors assess the damage to your lawn. The cracked branches can recover if you tie them securely in place. Prune your broken branches immediately to prevent disease and injury. Ragged tears are prone to infection, so make sure to use clean cuts to get rid of damaged wood.

You’ll have an efficient way to melt snow on grass by following these steps. When melting the snow, always take a careful look at the grass to ensure it’s not damaged. That way, you can ensure that your grass will remain healthy when the spring season arrives.

How Does Snow Affect My Lawn?

While snow can temporarily protect your lawn from the cold, that snow will turn to ice after an extended period. As a result, the grass will freeze and the roots will begin to die. So melting snow is a great way to increase the longevity of your lawn.

Snow Mold

Also, your grass can become affected by snow mold. Snow mold is a fungus that appears underneath the snow. You won’t know the snow mold damage until the snow melts or when the weather starts to warm up.

If lawn debris or leaves are on your lawn after the first snowstorm, then you’re at risk of having snow mold. All of these components combined with the snow moisture might create unwanted pink and gray spots on your grass during springtime.

Grass Discoloration

Snow can cause for your grass to change colors once the winter season is over. If the grass is at a yellowish color, chances are the snow has deeply affected its roots. Prevent this by melting the snow early and protecting your plants from any damage.