The holidays are nearly here. It’s time for family visits, lights, and a late‑night flyover from the big guy in red. He and his reindeer are pros at winter travel, but a few simple steps can make your property safer, healthier, and festive for their arrival and your winter.
Clear paths
Fresh snow compacts into ice fast. Keep up with shovelling or snow blowing on walkways and driveways. Try to avoid building tall piles of snow on your lawn, since it can smother grass, collect salt, and turn into ice mounds that linger into spring. Clear paths so family, friends, and reindeer have a safe route.
Mountainview Tip: Use tall stakes to mark path edges and garden beds. They’ll help protect plants and landscaping from accidental shovel or snowblower damage during snow clearing.
Add traction, gently
Ice is tricky for everyone, reindeer included. Spread a de‑icer, but try not to overuse it and sweep up excess so it doesn’t wash into your lawn or garden beds.
Plant protection
Wildlife is hungry, and winds are harsh. Give your plants some protection by:
- Slipping hardware cloth or mesh around young tree trunks and tender shrubs.
- Shaking off heavy snow after a wet snowfall. Gently brush snow from evergreen branches to prevent bending or breakage. Don’t knock off ice, let it melt naturally to avoid cracking wood.
Light the without flattening the lawn
Guide the way for Santa and his reindeer with some holiday cheer while keeping weight off grass:
- Try to avoid placing Christmas inflatables and heavy décor directly on lawn areas.
- Move items weekly if they must sit on snow‑covered grass. It helps avoid long‑term bare patches.
Walk where it’s safe
Frozen or frosty grass is fragile. Encourage everyone, Santa included, to use the cleared paths rather than cutting across the yard. Repeated shortcuts also compress snow into ice, leading to thin or bare spots come spring.
Keep up with snow and ice as weather swings
The season can bring freeze‑thaw swings. After a thaw, re‑clear paths, re‑spread sand, check mesh guards are secure, and lift any décor that has sunk into soft snow.
By following these simple steps, your place will be safe, welcoming, and ready for Santa and his reindeer. Now it’s time to sit back, soak up the holiday magic, and enjoy the season.
