Winter is just around the corner. You may need to take effective measures to prevent the frost and snow from damaging your landscape. While most winter landscape maintenance steps involve clearing the space, nurturing it, and planning enhanced growth in spring, landscapes may require some more care. Aerating, fertilizing, and mulching the soil, pruning the shrubs and trees, and preventing the loss of water may help your landscape stay protected in the frost season.
Let us shed some light on effective winter care and maintenance of your landscape.
Do not stop raking
Most gardeners rake their lawns in fall to prevent the accumulation of leaves and other plant debris. However, it is best to continue raking even in winter to prevent the frost and snow from mixing with the debris. Too much accumulation of snow and plant debris can create a lucrative environment for mold and fungus.
So whenever the weather is favorable, set up a raking routine to keep your landscape in proper condition during the cold season.
Mulch the landscape
Mulching is one of the best ways to protect the soil and the plants against frost. It acts as a natural insulator to frost and snow, preventing excessive damage to the plants. The landscape professionals at Allen Outdoor Solutions suggest that you may use the rakes leaves for mulching the soil. Being organic, they can provide adequate nutrients to the plants throughout the season. Besides, mulching also prevents weed growth.
Fertilize the soil
You should put fertilizers rich in phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen in the soil before the first freeze to keep it nutritious and healthy for the plants. It will enhance growth during spring, as the plants will take those fertilizers up readily. Besides, fertilizing the soil in winter will also help reduce your workload in spring.
Prune the plants
Pruning your plants in early winter leaves their wounds exposed for a longer time. Hence, you may prune the plants in late winter to help them recover quickly in spring. It is easy to identify issues when there is less growth around. Removing dead leaves and dying branches can also help the plants utilize limited resources effectively during winter.
Post-storm caring
If there is a storm in winter, you may need to take a walk around the yard after it passes to assess the damages. If snow piles up on the branches, you need to shake it off. Otherwise, it can weigh down the branches, causing them to snap. However, in the case of ice storms, you need to let the ice melt naturally to prevent damaging the branches. You may also think of tying weak branches together to stop them from falling off under the weight of snow.
Before winter sets in, you should also cut the grass short and apply anti-transpirants to prevent excess evaporation from the leaves. Sometimes, the elements in melting snow and frost can remove water from the roots of the plants, thus resulting in massive damage. Too much salt in the soil can also cause the same effect. Hence, you should flush them out and aerate the soil before frosting.
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