We hear the warnings every fall that winter is quickly approaching. How do we prepare for winter? Perhaps by getting the warmer clothes out of storage, buying a new coat, or planning a weekend on the slopes or enjoying other outdoor activities. We prepare for winter with our schedules and our clothing, but how prepared are our lawns and gardens for winter?
Even if you haven’t thought about winterizing your lawn yet, don’t worry, there’s still time. Keep reading to find out some simple things that you can do on your own and with the help of your landscaping company to prepare your lawn for winter and protect it for the months to come.
Regularly rake your leaves. We all know what happens when fallen leaves cover healthy grass for extended periods of time. Compound the leaf cover with cooler, darker weather, and we have increased risk factors for trouble. Since fungus and mildew thrive in cool, dark environments, when grass gets trapped under the weight of dead leaves, it will most likely become diseased or infected and can easily die from lack of access to sunlight and nutrients. All this can be easily avoided by keeping up with autumn raking. It is helpful to call in landscaping experts to regularly help with raking especially if you have a large property or more than just one or two of trees. Don’t let something as simple as not raking leaves permanently damage your lawn!
Don’t stop mowing too soon. Many people feel the first chill in the air and think, “Finally I can justify not mowing anymore!” Don’t fall prey to this myth! Grass still needs to be trimmed in the cooler months because even during the coldest months, grass doesn’t stop growing; it just slows down. This means that you should continue to have your lawn mowed through the fall, and then you can go longer periods between mowing in the winter. Adaptations should be made as the weather changes, though. As the temperatures start to get colder, talk to your lawn care expert about gradually lowering the mower blade. Shorter grass allows the remaining sunlight full access to the grass’s crown, and keeping your lawn happy and healthy even as the days become colder and darker. Experts agree that your lawn will be healthier and greener in the spring if you continue having your lawn trimmed through the autumn and even the winter months.
Prune the healthy; purge the unhealthy. If spring is the time to clean out the inside of your house, fall is the perfect time to prune and purge your yard! Trim back healthy plants, giving them a chance to rest during the winter and grow stronger and fuller in the spring. If you see diseased or unhealthy plants, or if you have parasitic weeds or vines growing around healthy trees and plants, now is the time to purge. Not sure which plants are healthy and which ones should go? Questions about how to best prune healthy plants? Rather than take a chance on losing healthy plants or keeping diseased plants in your yard, call in professional landscapers for a consultation.
Protect delicate plants and flowers from the elements. There are many ways to protect your plants from the elements. Mulching is one of the most common ways to insulate delicate bulbs and roots. Landscapers can advise on the right mulch materials, as well as how much mulch to put down. Other ways of protecting your lawn can more creative like wrapping plants in burlap or putting potted plants inside of another insulated pot.
Concerns about winterizing are common. No one wants to lose the gorgeous lawn they worked all summer for. Heffner Landscaping understands the anxiety that end-of-summer lawncare can cause. We would love to help you get ready for the next season by doing a winter-weather consult with you. Contact us to get your yard ready for winter!