When the temperatures start getting low, it means that winter is close. As soon as there are indications that fall is coming to a close, you should put on your gloves and get the appropriate tools to start winterizing your landscape. After, all, you do not want snow to mess up all your hard work.

Preparing in advance will lessen the landscaping work required in spring too. So, when you take note of the drop in temperatures, make a point of covering your garden. Below are some useful tips on how to prepare your landscape for winter.


Assess your Garden

Before embarking on any preparations, find out which plants thrived well and those that didn’t during the previous season. Fall is the fitting time of year to either move or get rid of plants that are not looking healthy. It is also the time to plant bare root shrubs, trees, and plant bulbs.

Also, go to your yard and check if it is missing fall bloom. In case it is, go ahead and plant some late flowering plants.


Landscape Clean-up

First, get rid of all the weeds from your garden. If your trees have any diseased leaves, remove them too. Refrain from pruning your plants during fall as it will only encourage new growth when winter is on its way. Dig up non-hardy bulbs and let them dry under the sun before storing them in a cool and dry place.

Dig up a compost pit where you should dispose dried cuttings and leaves. These will make very good manure for the next season. Do not throw in any diseased leaves as they will give you more problems in your next crop.


Aerate the Soil

If you aerate the soil while the vegetation is still green, your crops will be full of vitality in spring. Let the soil get some breathing space as it gets into the cold season. During fall and summer, break up hard and dry soil to allow water and nutrients to seep through to the roots. In the dry winter period, water your lawn by hand to encourage the grass to green-up.

Winter tends to be harsh on trees and shrubs, which is why you should water them adequately before the cold weather starts.


Spread Mulch

Go for fall mulching as opposed to spring mulching as it will help protect the plant roots while retaining moisture during winter. Put at least 2 to3 inches of fresh mulch around all your trees and shrubs. To avoid using mulch that is full of disease pores, buy the hardwood shredded type. Usually, dump mulch is made from trees that died from diseases, and they tend to carry illnesses like leaf spot. To avoid getting diseased plants, keep away from such cheap mulch.

Mulch will protect your plants from erratic temperature changes in the soil. Protecting plants from the intense cold will help stop soil erosion. However, do not mulch too early as it will encourage diseases and pests; wait until the first frost when the ground starts freezing.

Move plants that are growing in containers indoors. If they happen to be too heavy to carry, cover the containers with a wrap and mulch the soil adequately.


Wrap Delicate Shrub

When snow becomes strong and is accompanied by high winds, your treasured shrubs can get split. If you value them, it is prudent to shield your landscape from these winter elements. You can do this in these ways:

  • Cover small plants with overturned plastic pots
  • Wrap small shrubs in burlap
  • Encircle delicate trees with shredded leaves

Cut Back Perennials

Most perennials require cutting back to around 6-8 inches above the ground. However, some will still look great during the cold season. If you cannot decide whether to cut or not, just leave them and see whether you will want to have them when the next winter arrives. Also, some perennial plant seed heads serve as a source of food for birds during the winter season. Most of these perennials look untidy during the cold season and, therefore, you should eliminate them if you wish for a well-manicured garden.


Time to Fertilize Trees

As the temperatures go down, soils tend to cool down too, becoming uniformly moist. Trees and shrubs also start growing in the fall, which makes this the perfect season to fertilize trees. Fertilizing in fall will bring up the productivity of soil through increased nutrients and encouraged root growth. Such trees are more likely to survive the winter with fewer dead branches. They will also multiply in spring.


Ensure You Blow Out

Ensure you winterize your sprinkler system before winter comes, and freezing starts. This will reduce the costs associated with repairs. Let professionals remove all the water from your home system using compressed air. This will prevent any chance of freezing and damage that occurs in the winter.

Cover the backflow preventer properly to protect from any hard freezes that could burst pipes and flood your basement. Always consult a landscaping expert if you don’t know what to do.

With the above tips, your landscape will remain lush, green, and healthy in winter and you will be ready to welcome the spring with endless bloom.