Getting your driveway and walkways ready before the first snowfall

Before the first snowfall, it's worth marking driveway edges and any obstacles — irrigation heads, low retaining walls — so plow or shovel work doesn't catch them by surprise once everything's under snow.

Ice melt on hand before you need it matters more than people think; running out during the first storm of the season means driving to a store on bad roads instead of just using what's already in the garage.

If you use a snow service, confirm the plan and trigger depth ahead of time rather than during the first storm, when everyone is calling at once.

Walkways deserve their own plan separate from the driveway — they ice differently and are usually where slip injuries happen, so keeping them clear is as much a safety item as a convenience one.