If you are thinking about winter as the time for you to sit back and forget about Landscaping, then you may be in for a big surprise. Neglecting your outdoor property needs during winter can affect it come spring. To avoid this from happening, here are a few tips on what you can do on the arrival of Fall frosts. Along with keeping your property ground healthy, you can assemble a winter landscape that not only boasts beauty, but also offers plenty of opportunities to bundle up and get out and garden.
Knowing which plants will survive during winter in your zone from the US Department of Agriculture. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map Stocking up your yard with plants can ensure a year round outdoor show, that will fill your landscape with color, textural interest and sculptural beauty. Along with evergreens, you can fill your property with eye catching trees and also draft winter shrubs to infuse frosty scenes with cherry colors.
Watching out to make sure that no one walks or drives on your lawn which could possibly kill grass crowns and create bare spots. Also make sure you don't toss salt-laden (which has a high salt content that can harm the grass and lead to bare spots) accidentally on the lawn areas beside walks and drives when taking care of icy conditions.
Keep raking all year long to avoid debris build up. When built up plant debris mixes with snow, the conducive environment will start growing mold and fungus, particularly where leaves have accumulated - all bad news for the next seasons lawn.
Tying up your loosely branched evergreens and boxwoods will prevent snow damage. Make sure you don’t use a broom or snow shovel to knock the snow off shrubs, as the limbs may be frozen and extremely fragile. Even the lightest poke at a shrub in such weather can result in substantial damage.
Covering thick barked trees in sunny areas with a light colored wrapping helps control frost and prevents sun scald.
Prune Trees: Now that the leaves are gone, it’s easy to spot damaged branches. Remove these for a healthier, stronger tree come spring.
Protect Against Road Salt by covering evergreen shrubs and small trees near high-traffic areas. Don’t over-apply road salt near tree roots unless it’s necessary to eliminate safety hazards.
Mulching your garden and tree beds will act as an excellent insulator and can help to protect roots against frost. If you have the storage space, the leaves you raked up in the fall will be perfect to use as mulch by the winter—and they’re completely organic (and free!). Mulch your planting beds at a depth of 1.5 – 2 inches keeps the roots of your plants warm and protected. As you mulch, be certain not to cover the trunk of any shrub or tree trunks. Mulch holds moisture and can cause trunk and root rot if it is spread too heavily around the base of plantings. For a finished look, contour the mulch by patting it down and compacting it with the back of a pitchfork or rake.
Using outdoor lighting can look especially beautiful in winter, even past the holiday season. Consider subtle tones to bring warmth to winter landscaping, or try lighting up walkways and driveways with attractive ground lanterns.
Making sure that all your water systems are properly winterized, including irrigation systems. Make certain all water spigots are turned off and covered. If you have leftover organic chemicals, store them away for winter in a place they cannot freeze.
Give us a call today (508) 359-6082 or contact us through the website if you need any help with your lawn maintenance or landscaping projects. We provide complete residential, commercial, municipal and athletic field, maintenance, construction and full irrigation services including installations in Dover, Medfield, Norwood, Needham, Sherborn, Weston and throughout New England.
