Speaking of snow fence

alg · Mar 7, 2014

How far from a drive way would the snow fence have to be.?

Al

Greg K · Mar 7, 2014

I would think 50-100 feet at the closest would do a good job. Too far and it won't worn, too close and it all drifts where you don't want it.

Bob in SD · Mar 7, 2014

I forget where I looked this up, but I was told that the drift is about 30-35 times the height of the fence. So, you would want a 4 foot fence to be 120 or so feet from the road.

This is NOT what I do. My snow fence (4 ft height) is maybe 40 feet from the driveway. I have deep (4 ft) drifts for about 20 feet of that. Some years it gets much closer, some years it's all back by the fence. If it "fills up", I move it back next year. Once I have it in the right place, I plant the red-twigs, unless they'll be in the way.

I'm in eastern SD, with lots of wind. This year I'm getting worse drifts in the driveway, but mainly where I left gaps in the fence --gaps that didn't cause problems in the past. The real tall drift by the house must be due to wind coming around both sides, I notice is swirls there when I'm blowing snow.

RLA · Mar 7, 2014

That 50 + feet sounds about right. Another thing
that works instead of a fence is.. Cut a path
with a snow blower about 50+ feet along the
drive. That ditch if conditions are right will
create a snow fence for you..

RWK in WI · Mar 7, 2014

There are two ways we used to set snow fence.
Putting the bottom of the fence on the ground would slow the wind there and dump the snow there or just after it.
Holding the bottom of the fence a foot or more off the ground would allow the wind to blow under it and then slow down and dump the snow down wind. If I remember right the dump would be 40 to 100 feet from the fence.
Depending on the location we did some of each.

Wile E · Mar 7, 2014

I know this quite well.
Many years ago I had a similar situation.
I have a row of pine trees on the south side of my driveway. The wind came in from the NW and dumped snow 3-4 feet deep on the north side of the trees, or basically right in my driveway.
A snow fence should be 20-30 feet from the driveway. Too close and it will just pile up on the driveway, Too far and the wind could just blow a partial drift of snow on the driveway.
Now, if you just bought a new snow thrower for your tractor, (a rear 3 point thrower) then do not get a fence and then you can try out your new tractor driven snow thrower with deep snow.

alg · Mar 7, 2014

Thanks guys, next year it's snow fence for my drive.

Wheat Farmer · Mar 7, 2014

We put them at 60 feet. Try something then change it if needed. We also us more than one row in wide open areas. Open area on highway 285 Colo. They stack it so high it has to be a long way back.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 7, 2014

We have 800' of wind swept driveway, from my experience, a 4' tall fence, 20-30' from the driveway is about perfect. Your winds might be higher, and exposure might be different, so that is the minimum, that I would recommend.

paul · Mar 7, 2014

My 6 rows of corn filled up, so now the snow bank dune hits the driveway.

I'd go a good distance, 100 feet, little more. I'd be what, 24 rows away plus a little, that would be more than 75 feet. I have trouble,e when I'm closer.

Paul

2SteveWI · Mar 7, 2014

Read in a municipal magazine that a rule of thumb was to setback 13 times the height of the fence. Seems to work about right. Steve

Dr. Walt · Mar 8, 2014

Sorry but this isn't going to be of much help. I use my snow fencing as "regular" fencing, so it's only 10 feet from my driveway (hey, I like the picket fence look). Besides, I live in the Southern Nevada desert where the most snow we've ever gotten was only 2" deep with no drifting. LOL !

Speaking of snow fence

alg

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Greg K

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Bob in SD

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RLA

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RWK in WI

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Wile E

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alg

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Wheat Farmer

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Anonymous-0

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paul

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2SteveWI

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Dr. Walt

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