Winter is fast approaching, and to protect your landscaping, there are a few tasks you’ll want to tackle to winterize your lawn and gardens. Winterizing is a straightforward method that will help prepare your landscaping for the cold and pave the way for next year’s blooming season. You’ll want to make sure to winterize before an unforeseen temperature decline, which can kill or harm your trees, plants, shrubs, and gardens. November is a great month to start winterizing. Begin with the following tips to gear up your outdoor space to brave the approaching season.
Prep Your Soil
Healthy soil is key to healthy landscaping. To help guarantee no harmful elements in your garden, remove all plant debris, weeds, and non-perennials within the garden and flower beds. Dead plants invite pests, diseases, and bacteria, which can build up and harm healthy plants. It’s also a good idea to test the pH levels in your soil. Depending on the results, you may need to treat your soil to neutralize the pH level.
Weed Once More & Finish with Fertilizer
Before winter comes, take the time to weed your landscaping. Weeds compete with your healthy plants for nutrients in the soil. Removing weeds helps healthy plants thrive during the harshest time of year when nutrients are more scarce. Once your weeds are gone, fertilize the remaining plants with a fertilizer specifically designed for winter. Winter fertilizers contain more potassium which helps plants survive the harsh climate of winter.
Make Your Plant Beds Cozy
To foster much-needed warmth in your flower beds during the winter, consider covering your beds with burlap. For potted plants, you can carefully wrap blankets around the plants to protect them from deep freezes. Remember to pull these coverings off once the threat of frost has passed so that your plants will get enough natural light and not overheat.
Once you’ve removed any weeds and debris, you can safely mulch your beds as well. You may assume that mulch keeps your plants heated underground as they await winter to pass. Instead, mulch keeps your plants cold in the winter. It builds a shield that separates the soil from the changing climate, keeping the soil’s temperature consistent throughout the season. Without consistent soil temperature, your plants would begin to grow untimely throughout a random heat spell, or they’ll endure an unhealthy cycle of thawing and refreezing. Organic material, like wood chips or chopped mulch, offers your garden glorious winter insulation, retains water, deters weeds, and adds organic matter and nutrients into the soil. Once spring arrives in a few months, your plants will have lots of nutrients to rev up their new growth –– all because of your mulch.
With a few simple steps, you can prep your landscaping to make a comeback in the warmer months. If you have any questions about winterizing your landscaping, feel free to reach out. The team at Shreckhise Shrubbery and Landscaping is here to help. Stop by or give us a call!