Social Graces: Here’s what to do when neighbors shovel snow into your yard

Q: What should you do if your neighbor shovels snow and puts it in your yard?

A: Before you assume your neighbor is an abominable snowman, take a deep breath and give him the benefit of the doubt. Is it possible he didn’t realize it was your property? Was he so intent on clearing the snow he didn’t notice it was being deposited on your property?

Take a moment to have a conversation with him to get an idea of his thinking. You could make a joke and say something like, “Thanks for the extra snow. That will make for an impressive snowman.” If his response is less than friendly, it would be acceptable to ask nicely that he shovel the snow elsewhere.

Again, humor is your friend. “Whoa, I knew I was going to get a good workout removing the snow from my yard. How about aiming that shovel in another direction? I wouldn’t want to have a heart attack clearing the extra that’s been deposited.”

Or, if the snow isn’t impeding your egress and ingress, perhaps it’s best to let it go. Snow melts. Icy neighbor relationships are slow to thaw.

— Arden Clise, etiquette expert and author of “Spinach in Your Boss’s Teeth: Etiquette Essentials for Professional Success”

A: Nobody likes extra snow, unless you’re the protagonist of a Hallmark holiday movie. It creates liability issues and is an all-around nuisance. As a lifelong Midwesterner, I’ve seen my fair share of neighbors who do properly shovel their homes and those who don’t. But, when a neighbor shovels snow into your yard? Baby, we’ve got a problem on our hands.

The first option would be to kindly ask your neighbor to dump her snow elsewhere. A quick chat when you’re both outside or even a text message will squash the beef.

If the issue persists, you should check local ordinances. Depending on where you live, it could be illegal to dump snow onto private property. The result? A hefty fine. In the case that you’re in the mood to snitch on your neighbor, this could be a good alternative to a friendly confrontation.

What if all attempts fail? The next best solution is to have some fun and build snow people out of all the extra snow in your yard. Make them look extra creepy, staring directly at your neighbor’s house. This will make her feel a little shame every time she looks into the literal stone-cold eyes of a melting snow person ominously smiling back. Even better, it does the job of clearing that annoying snow.

— Phillipe Thao, professional snow hater

hgreenspan@chicagotribune.com