Michigan Landlord responsibilities? Clearing snow? Mowing?

This is NOT a grey area at all. It is a house, so the tenant clears the snow.

The tenant has to use a safe method though, one that does not cause damage. Anything throwing rocks around is not acceptable. I can't believe any sane person would even want this method.

It sounds like you have a lazy tenant. If their problem is clearing snow makes them late they need to start clearing the snow earlier, they are simply not allowing themselves reasonable time to clear it.

First, do you live in a house or in an apartment? If you live in a house or duplex (side by side) the lawn and snow removal is probably the tenants alone. For an apartment building it is usually the landlord's responsibility. However, the lease will likely prevail if it says specifically who does those things. I know of nothing that would force a landlord to have the lot plowed by a specific time. They have to contract with someone and it may be on availability. I have found that having the plowing done early is not always a good idea as plowing the lot when cars are parked there, may actually plow the cars in deeper and you may hav eto dig out your spot so you can get out. When you come home (after the plow had been by early, you will find others have parked in your cleaned place where you dug yourself out and you may be in places where the plog dug in there and you may have to dig to get in as well. It may be easier to drive out before it is plowed and then if it is plowed, it will be easier to drive back in at night so long as it didn't snow again or that plowing was done late. If the landlord does clean walks they must take reasonable care. Yet there is not necessarily a duty to plow. That should be in your lease.

As to mowing, if you have your own yard, then you usually have to mow but if there are common areas or common lawns, then the landlord usually has that mowed. if there are hallways that are common areas the landlord should clean that area.