Before The First Storm

A Few Things We’ve Learned About Michigan Winters & Commercial Properties

After enough Michigan winters, you start noticing the same patterns.

A property that seems manageable after the first snowfall can become difficult by February if snow piles block visibility, drainage paths, sidewalks, or parking flow. Areas that hold water during spring and fall often become recurring ice problems once temperatures begin freezing overnight.

At Crooked Tree Nursery & Landscaping, a lot of winter planning conversations start long before snow is in the forecast.

“Most winter issues usually start before winter,” says Eddie Louch of Crooked Tree Nursery & Landscaping. “Drainage, traffic flow, visibility, where snow gets stacked — those are the things that tend to create the biggest problems once storms start coming back-to-back.”

Kyle Rutkowski, who oversees landscape design and operations, says many commercial properties simply function differently in winter than owners expect.

“A property may look fine during summer,” Kyle explains, “but once snow starts piling up, you quickly realize where people actually walk, where water freezes, where visibility gets blocked, and where access becomes difficult.”

A few things commercial properties often review before winter:

• where snow should be stacked
• which entrances need priority clearing
• how early crews or tenants arrive
• areas with recurring ice buildup
• visibility concerns near drives or exits
• whether sidewalks drain properly after melting

Different property types also tend to have different priorities. Apartment communities, medical offices, industrial facilities, churches, retail centers, and office properties often require different approaches depending on traffic flow and operating hours.

Another thing many businesses don’t realize until winter arrives is how much response times are affected by route density and travel distance during larger storms. Established local routes often make service more consistent during back-to-back weather events.

Many Mid-Michigan businesses choose to secure winter service contracts early simply to avoid scrambling once the first major storm arrives.