Protecting your landscape is important when temperatures start to drop to keep it healthy and looking good. Damage to plants, damage to irrigation systems, and damage to soil quality can occur with frost. Here are a few strategic schemes you can implement in order to protect your garden from the cold effects of weather.
Protecting Plants and Shrubs
Frost can be very damaging to tender plants. The good thing is you can cover them with frost cloths or horticultural fleece so they can get some insulation. Covers should extend to the ground to help trap warmth and keep off direct contact with foliage so as not to condense buildup. If you’re dealing with potted plants, move them indoors or shelter them from freezing temperatures.
Mulching Garden Beds
If you plant at the end of autumn or early winter, applying a thick layer of mulch around your plants will help regulate soil temperature and keep them moist during colder months. Organic materials such as shredded leaves, straw, or wood chips are insulations that protect plant roots from freezing. Furthermore, mulch prevents weed formation and, as it breaks down, helps add nutrients to the soil, feeding healthier plants next spring.
Winterizing Irrigation Systems
Water left in irrigation systems can freeze and crack pipes. Drain and store garden hoses and turn off water at outdoor faucets to prevent this. If you have automatic irrigation systems, turn off the main water supply near the street, then go to the house and open each valve to drain the remaining water. For areas with very extreme winters, using an air compressor to blow out residual water in the system prevents it from locking up during that cold season.
Pruning and Cleaning Up
Prune dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs before the first frost. This will help to slow the spread of disease and lessen the chance of damage from heavy snow. Also, cleaning up fallen leaves and other plant debris from the garden beds reduces the habitat for pests and disease, creating a healthier garden in the spring.
Expert Yearround Landscape Maintenance With Dave’s Landscape
Getting your landscape ready for frost is a key step in the prepping process to ensure its health. Mulching garden beds, winterizing irrigation systems, keeping the beds clean, and protecting weak plants are formidable cold-weather defenses. Taking these proactive measures will ensure that your garden emerges from winter with health and good looks to match when it returns to warmer temperatures.
If you are looking to have your landscape cared for throughout the year, our team can give it the attention it deserves. Dave’s Landscape provides superior landscape maintenance services throughout the entire year, so your landscape is protected and beautiful in harsh winters and warm springs. Contact us today to keep your landscape looking beautiful all year!