SNOW & WINTER · BISMARCK, ND
Snow and Winter FAQ for Bismarck, ND
Bismarck averages about 50.5 inches of snow a year, and January lows average about 2°F. Winter here comes with its own rules, its own yard damage and its own to-do list. These are the snow and winter questions Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln homeowners ask most, with short answers based on City of Bismarck and City of Mandan rules, NDSU Extension and other university research.
CITY ORDINANCES
Snow Rules
Winter essentials
Know the rules before the first storm.
Sidewalk deadlines, snow disposal rules, ice melt temperatures and sprinkler freeze protection are the numbers worth keeping close.
How long do I have to clear my sidewalk in Bismarck?
24 hours after the snow stops. City Ordinance 10-03-04 requires owners or tenants to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk, including crosswalk areas on corner lots. If you don’t, the city can clear it and charge the property. See Bismarck snow rules for homeowners.
Can I push snow into the street in Bismarck?
No. Bismarck doesn’t allow snow from private property to be moved onto a street, alley or public right-of-way, or across the street onto the boulevard. Fines can reach $1,000, and the rule applies to snow contractors too.
Who has to clear the sidewalk, the owner or the renter?
The ordinance puts it on owners and/or tenants. Many leases spell out who does it, so check yours. If nobody clears it, the city can bill the property.
Why did the plow block my driveway?
City plows leave a ridge of snow, called a windrow, as they clear the street. Windrows are normal and allowed. Clearing it is up to you, and you can’t push it back into the street.
What happens during a snow emergency in Bismarck?
Parking and stopping are banned on posted snow emergency routes, and cars left there can be towed at the owner’s expense. The emergency lasts until Public Works announces it’s over.
Do I have to clear around my mailbox and fire hydrant?
Yes. The City of Bismarck asks homeowners to clear around their mailbox and to clear hydrants 6 inches below all caps and 3 to 4 feet around them, so firefighters can reach them fast.
Will the city replace a mailbox the plow hit?
Only if the mailbox was placed to city rules, 36 to 48 inches behind the curb face, and was actually hit by a city vehicle. Mailboxes are otherwise the owner’s responsibility.
Are Mandan’s snow rules different?
A little. Mandan also requires sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours. But Mandan allows snow on the unpaved part of the boulevard, just not on a sidewalk, driveway apron, or the paved part of a street or alley. See landscaping in Mandan.
SNOW & ICE
Snow Removal and Ice Melt
How much snow does Bismarck get?
About 50.5 inches in an average year, based on NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals. December is the snowiest month at about 10.1 inches, and March averages about 8.5 inches. The record is 101.6 inches in the winter of 1996 to 1997.
When does snow season start in Bismarck?
Snow can start in October, which averages 2.5 inches in Bismarck. The heaviest months are November through March, and April still averages 4.6 inches.
Which ice melt works best in a Bismarck winter?
It depends on the temperature. Iowa State University Extension says rock salt works down to about 15°F, magnesium chloride to about -13°F, calcium magnesium acetate to about -15°F and calcium chloride to about -20°F. With January lows around 2°F, rock salt alone often isn’t enough.
Does ice melt hurt my lawn and shrubs?
It can. Salt that builds up in the soil keeps roots from taking up water, which leads to scorched leaves, twig dieback and brown evergreen needles. Shovel first, use less salt, keep salty snow off beds and water those areas heavily in spring.
Can I use sand instead of clearing ice?
Yes, when the ice can’t be removed. Bismarck’s sidewalk ordinance allows sand to make the sidewalk safe for people walking.
Where should I pile snow in my yard?
On your own lawn, away from shrubs, young trees and the edges of beds. Spread piles out through the winter instead of building one giant mound, which helps cut down on snow mold in spring.
How much does snow removal cost in Bismarck?
About $40 to $100 per visit for a home driveway, depending on size, based on HomeBlue’s Bismarck estimates. A two-car driveway 40 feet long runs about $70 to $80 per visit. See snow removal in Bismarck.
BEFORE THE FREEZE
Getting Ready for Winter
When should I blow out my sprinklers in Bismarck?
Before the first hard freeze, when temperatures drop to about 28°F or lower. In Bismarck, that’s usually late September through mid-October. See when to blow out your sprinklers.
What part of a sprinkler system freezes first?
The backflow preventer. It sits above ground with water inside, so it’s exposed to the cold before buried pipes and valves.
Can I blow out my sprinklers with a garage air compressor?
Usually not. Rain Bird recommends a large compressor that delivers 185 cfm or more, and Weathermatic says volume should never be lower than 50 cfm. Most garage compressors put out much less, which can leave water in the lines.
How short should I cut my grass for winter?
About 2 inches for the final mow. Keep mowing until the grass stops growing, then make that last cut. It helps prevent snow mold.
When is the last time to fertilize my lawn before winter?
Around Labor Day, before September 15. NDSU says late-fall nitrogen makes gray snow mold worse under long snow cover.
Should I cut back perennials in the fall?
Not all of them. NDSU’s horticulturist leaves perennial stems standing to trap snow, which insulates the plants. Cut back anything diseased, and remove the rest in spring.
When should I put in driveway stakes?
Before the ground freezes. Mark driveway edges, curbing and sprinkler heads near the drive so snow blowers and plows stay off the lawn and don’t break heads. See the fall yard checklist for Bismarck.
COLD-WEATHER CARE
Trees and Shrubs in Winter
Should I water my trees in the fall?
Yes, especially evergreens and young trees. Give them a deep soak every week or two in October if it’s dry, until the ground freezes. NDSU notes that fall watering is key to cutting winter injury on evergreens.
Should I water evergreens in winter?
Only when it’s above 40°F, the ground isn’t frozen and there’s no snow cover, and do it at midday so the water soaks in before night. In Bismarck, most evergreen watering needs to happen in fall.
What is winter burn on evergreens?
Brown or bleached foliage caused by drying out in winter. Sun and wind pull water from the needles while the ground is frozen, so the roots can’t replace it. It shows up most on the south, southwest and windward sides. See evergreen winter burn.
How do I protect my trees from rabbits in winter?
Wrap the trunk with a cylinder of 1/4-inch hardware cloth or a white plastic tree guard. Set it about 6 inches from the trunk, bury the bottom 2 to 3 inches, and make it 18 to 24 inches taller than the deepest snow you expect. See protecting trees from rabbits and deer.
When should I put tree guards on?
In October, before the ground freezes, so you can bury the bottom of the mesh. In areas with deer, put buck rub guards up by mid-August.
Should I pull mulch away from trees for winter?
Yes. Pull mulch at least 6 inches back from the trunk before snow falls. Iowa State Extension notes that mulch against bark hides voles while they chew.
SPRING RECOVERY
Lawn Damage After Winter
What does snow mold look like?
Round, matted patches of straw-colored or gray grass that show up as the snow melts, sometimes with gray or pink fuzzy growth. Gray snow mold patches are usually 1 to 3 feet across. Pink snow mold patches are usually under 8 inches. See snow mold and vole damage.
Will my lawn recover from snow mold?
Usually, yes. Gray snow mold normally kills only the leaves, and the grass regrows from the crowns. Rake the matted spots once the lawn is dry enough to walk on, then reseed any that stay bare.
What are the winding dead trails in my lawn after winter?
Vole trails. Voles feed on grass under the snow all winter and leave criss-crossing runways of dead grass. The University of Minnesota Extension says vole damage to lawns is rarely permanent. Rake out the dead grass and reseed spots that stay bare.
Why is the grass along my sidewalk dead every spring?
Usually salt. Ice melt and salty plowed snow build up in the strip along walks and driveways. Soak those areas once the ground thaws to flush the salt down, and reseed with a mix that has more fine fescue, which handles salt better than bluegrass.
When can I turn my sprinklers back on in spring?
Usually around mid-May in Bismarck, after the risk of a hard freeze has passed. The last spring frost averages around May 12 to 14.
Bismarck Landscape
Get Ready Before the First Storm
If your question isn’t here, or you’d like help with snow removal, blowouts or winter tree protection, call Bismarck Landscape at (701) 299-0740.
You can also see our other contact options or the main Bismarck landscaping FAQ.