Protecting Your Roof and Yard After a Late Winter Storm

This winter has broken snowfall and cold-temperature records throughout the Pacific Northwest. Depending on where you live, you might still be digging out. While we all look forward to spring, here are a few things you can do to protect your house and yard from winter’s overstayed welcome.

Watch for Ice Dams

If you’ve seen icicles forming from your gutters and roof, then you may have the beginning of ice dams. If left untreated, these long chunks of ice can create pools of water on your roof during warmer days. Then that water will freeze at night, pulling up shingles and causing roof damage. The water can even come inside your home, damaging drywall and ceilings. Plus, the weight can crack your gutter system, and if any of those chunks of ice fall, they could hurt someone down below.

One of the best ways to prevent ice dams is to remove deep snow from your roof on a daily basis, if needed. A snow rake is a great option. These tools allow you to pull the snow down from the safety of the ground.

Already have ice dams? Removing the ice could help reduce harm to your home. However, it’s important to be careful. You don’t want to get hurt or damage any of your shingles or roof in the process. Hiring a roofing company that specializes in ice dam removal may be advisable.

Stay Off the Lawn

It’s impossible to keep the kids out of the yard when there are snow forts to be made. But if you can, try to limit time on the lawn. As the snow melts, you may notice some dead patches that will need repair in early spring.

Protecting Your Plants and Bulbs

For insights into cleaning, watering and sheltering your yard in early spring, check out our article March Gardening and How to Thwart Deer. Have bulbs trying to come up through the snow? Not sure if they’ll make it? Try these quick tips.

Use mulch. Dig your plants out of the snow and give them a healthy dose of mulch. Best of all, you can leave the mulch there in spring.

Give them cover at night. If you can, give your bulbs and other plants in danger of dying a little cover or greenhouse. Be sure the cover cannot be crushed by new snow. Some covers include plastic milk jugs (cut in half), or an unused flower pot turned upside down.

Brave the Snow at Coastal

You’ll find what you need to protect your plants and garden, fertilize your yard (once the snow melts), and plenty of advice to keep winter from ruining your roof at your Northwest owned and operated Coastal. Stop by and check out our full selection of workwear to keep you warm in just about any weather, along with hats, gloves, and insulated boots.