|
As the weather cools off, people are busy with the start of school, shopping for winter clothes, and planning holiday get-togethers, but one thing that mustn't be neglected is preparing the yard for winter weather. Just as in the hot summer months, there are special preparations that need to be made to keep your yard healthy during the winter. If you don't plan ahead, you may find yourself with dead and dying grass, broken irrigation pipes, and a host of other woes.
 Caring for Your Lawn
When it comes to your lawn, it's important to realize that the winter months actually are a time of growth, even though the blades of grass do not appear to be growing. During the colder months, the roots of your grass continue to grow, so you should fertilize at least twice through the colder months. It is usually suggested to fertilize and reseed once toward the beginning of autumn, and then again at the end. Doing so will encourage the grass to continue to grow and help to maintain lawn health. Using a professional mulching lawn mower once a month can also help to keep the tips of grass blades from fraying and decaying. You can also use the resulting mulch to fertilize and insulate your lawn.
Caring for Your Irrigation and Hardscaping
Most yards now include a sprinkler system, and very often hardscaping—rock walls, concrete patios or the like. These aspects of your yard also require attention in preparation for dropping temperatures. Although most experts recommend draining any irrigation equipment prior to winter to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting, if you choose not to do so, it is important to insulate pipes as much as possible to prevent this damage. You may want to call a professional out to inspect the system and give recommendations. With regard to hardscaping, be aware that extreme cold temperatures can cause shifting and even cracking. Try to remove any snow or ice build-up that occurs as in a timely fashion. You may want to consider installing a drainage system in these areas to allow for water run off (away from the house) when snow and ice melts during warmer days.
Caring for Your Trees and Plants
Caring for trees and plants in the winter is especially important, and not just for their health. Ice that builds up on tree limbs can cause them to break and fall, often resulting in costly property damage. Pruning tree limbs that are weak or diseased can help, as well as removing limbs near power lines and your driveway. Pruning plants is also a good preventative measure, because many plants can be damaged beyond repair by the cold. Prune plants and shrubs after leaves change colors, and be mindful of delicate plants that may need to be wrapped in insulation to protect them during the winter. You may also want to spread mulch around the base of trees and plants to provide insulation, as well as prevent water evaporation.
No matter how elaborate or simple your landscape is, these tips are essential to finding your yard in good repair when spring comes around. Take steps now to prepare your yard for winter and you'll avoid expense and hassle down the road.
Photo credits: Slippery when snowy by James Lee/flickr; Native! Grasses! by black/flickr
Casey Stevens is an experienced landscaper who specializes in making over family yards that incorporate kid-friendly and environmental-conscious choices. If you're interested in a landscape business, check out the listings for a used dump truck or maybe you could use a box truck for your next project.
Comment on this article or submit your tip to CreativeHomemaking.com.
Click here for a printer friendly version of this page.
Follow me on Pinterest.
Receive new article links via Twitter!
Follow Creative Homemaking on Facebook!
Recommend this article to a friend!
Search our article archives.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
FamilyStickers.com offers one of the largest selections of family stickers, family car decals, and stick family stickers. These easy to apply vinyl window family car stickers are available in several themes and sizes or customized to your request.
|
