Preparing Your Landscape for Winter

The weather conditions during the winter can often make landscape maintenance challenging. It’s important that you properly prepare your property for the winter. This will help to preserve the beauty of your landscape and ensure a long-lasting investment. After all the hard work you have put into your landscape, it is key that you take precautionary steps to ensure a healthy yard and durable landscape.

Winterize Your Lawn

The winter can often present a threat to a healthy and flourishing yard in the springtime. There are a few things that you can do for your lawn before the temperature drops and snow begins to fall. You should have a complete maintenance schedule for your lawn all year long. This schedule should include:

• Mowing
• Fertilizing
• Raking
• Mulching
• Pest and weed prevention
• Aeration

Once the temperature drops you should aim to mow your lawn once every 10-14 days, and it should be kept at the minimum length. Raking regularly will help to eliminate clutter on your lawn, that might otherwise smother the grass. The short height will also help to reduce any fungal growth in the grass. Aeration is most ideal for your lawn before the winter, as it allows the soil to open-up before the snow falls.

During the fall, plants absorb as much sunlight, water and nutrients as possible to prepare for winter. This means that any pesticide will also be absorbed quickly and are quite often more effective. There are also certain fertilization techniques that can be implemented into your annual maintenance plan to help prepare your lawn for winter.

Perennial plants should be cut back and pruned near the end of fall. Any loose branches that may cause damage should be trimmed, and deadwood removed from trees. To learn more about specific techniques and care that your lawn might benefit from, contact the experts at Legends Landscape today.

Outdoor Furniture

As the temperature begins to drop, you and your loved ones might be less motivated to spend time lounging outside. You should aim to properly put your outdoor furniture away before the first snowfall. Factors like snow and ice can make it difficult to clean and maneuver furniture, not to mention the winter elements can even cause physical damage to your furniture.

Start by completely cleaning and drying your outdoor furniture. Once they are clean, properly secure them and store them in a neutral environment that will offer optimal protection, like a shed, garage or basement. While you are putting your outdoor furniture away, this might be a good time to take out winter items, such as shovels, snow brushes, winter accessories, salt or snow blowers.

Legends Landscape sells a large variety of winter products for sale.

Backyard Features

Water features can often endure severe damage if they aren’t properly prepared for the winter months. Depending on the water feature that you have, you should make sure that it is properly cleaned, debris are cleared, and any pumps are removed. If you are unsure what needs to be cared for before the winter, contact Legends Landscape for assistance.

Although fire pits can be used in the winter, most wish to put them away for the winter to protect against the elements. Your fire pit should be cleaned and dried entirely, and then covered with a durable vinyl cover. All gas valves should also be turned off, while not in use for an extended period of time.

Exterior lighting can help to ensure safety during the winter. Check all exterior lighting to make sure they are in good condition. If you don’t have exterior lighting, you can request an estimate from Legends Landscape to get started.

Ask an Expert

If you have any questions regarding your landscape winter preparation, or would like the help of a professional, contact Legends Landscape today. Our team of professionals will be able to give you an expert opinion and can help you to properly protect your property.