How to Maintain Your Landscaping During Winter
Winter weather can leave your landscaping looking drab and boring, but when it’s maintained properly, it will rebound in spring, giving your yard beautiful pops of color as soon as the growing season starts. Unfortunately, many homeowners end up neglecting their yards and landscaping during the winter and, when they do, their yards will struggle to come back and recover. The best way to set your yard up for a successful growing season is to give it a little TLC during the winter. Here are a few tips to help.
Wrap Young Trees
Younger, less-established trees have trouble withstanding the cold temperatures without suffering damage. That’s why it’s always a good idea to wrap their trunks with burlap or other breathable wrapping materials. This will help insulate the tree from the cold weather while still letting it breathe. Avoid using plastic, tarps, or other non-breathable materials as these can stifle the tree and cause damage to the trunk. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, consider hiring a tree care specialist and let them wrap your trees for you.
Pick Up Holiday Decorations
Though it’s tempting to leave holiday decorations out until the weather is nice, doing so can hurt your landscaping. Heavy lawn ornaments can compress the roots of your grass and may lead to dead spots in your lawn when the growing season starts. Lights left in trees can damage the tree’s ability to produce new growth and may strain smaller limbs. Rather than leaving your holiday decorations out, pick them up after the holidays.
Be Mindful of Your Ice Melt
Ice melt may be a convenient way to keep your walkways and driveway free of ice, but it can hurt your plants if you’re not careful. Most ice melt is made of materials that, when washed away by melting snow or rain, can change the pH levels in your soil. That change can make it harder for your trees, shrubs, and other plants to grow well in the spring. Instead of buying the first ice melt you find, look for one that’s plant safe. Plant-safe ice melts change soil pH levels less dramatically, making it easier for your plants to recover and thrive.
Watch for Heavy Snow
Snow collects on your trees’ branches. This is normal, but when it’s heavy and wet, it can put strain on those branches and lead to premature breakage. Get in the habit of watching for heavy snowfall. If you see limbs starting to droop or sag under the weight, use a soft-bristled broom to gently brush the snow away. Avoid shaking the branches as this can cause them to break under the weight of the snow.
Keep Your Trees Looking Great This Winter
Keeping your landscaping looking great year-round means giving it a little extra attention to them during the winter months. As long as you follow these tips, you’ll set your landscaping up for a successful spring growing season. If you’re worried about your trees or want some additional help getting them ready for winter, contact Root Tree Service.
Go Back Wrap Young Trees
Younger, less-established trees have trouble withstanding the cold temperatures without suffering damage. That’s why it’s always a good idea to wrap their trunks with burlap or other breathable wrapping materials. This will help insulate the tree from the cold weather while still letting it breathe. Avoid using plastic, tarps, or other non-breathable materials as these can stifle the tree and cause damage to the trunk. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, consider hiring a tree care specialist and let them wrap your trees for you.
Pick Up Holiday Decorations
Though it’s tempting to leave holiday decorations out until the weather is nice, doing so can hurt your landscaping. Heavy lawn ornaments can compress the roots of your grass and may lead to dead spots in your lawn when the growing season starts. Lights left in trees can damage the tree’s ability to produce new growth and may strain smaller limbs. Rather than leaving your holiday decorations out, pick them up after the holidays.
Be Mindful of Your Ice Melt
Ice melt may be a convenient way to keep your walkways and driveway free of ice, but it can hurt your plants if you’re not careful. Most ice melt is made of materials that, when washed away by melting snow or rain, can change the pH levels in your soil. That change can make it harder for your trees, shrubs, and other plants to grow well in the spring. Instead of buying the first ice melt you find, look for one that’s plant safe. Plant-safe ice melts change soil pH levels less dramatically, making it easier for your plants to recover and thrive.
Watch for Heavy Snow
Snow collects on your trees’ branches. This is normal, but when it’s heavy and wet, it can put strain on those branches and lead to premature breakage. Get in the habit of watching for heavy snowfall. If you see limbs starting to droop or sag under the weight, use a soft-bristled broom to gently brush the snow away. Avoid shaking the branches as this can cause them to break under the weight of the snow.
Keep Your Trees Looking Great This Winter
Keeping your landscaping looking great year-round means giving it a little extra attention to them during the winter months. As long as you follow these tips, you’ll set your landscaping up for a successful spring growing season. If you’re worried about your trees or want some additional help getting them ready for winter, contact Root Tree Service.