As we transition into winter, the chill in the air and the shorter days serve as a clear signal that it's time to prepare your yard for the colder months ahead. This preparation not only protects your plants but also ensures that your landscape can burst back to life come spring. With a few simple and effective steps, you can keep your yard looking tidy and healthy while getting ready for the holidays. Let’s explore nine essential tips to winterize your yard.
1. Mulch for Winter Protection
Mulch is one of the most effective methods to shield your garden from the harshness of winter. A solid layer of mulch helps to insulate the soil, keeping it warm and preventing freezing temperatures from affecting your plants. Here in the PNW where our winters are dominated by rain, soil erosion can be a problem. Mulch helps keep soil in place, while holding down winter weeds and feeding the soil, making your yard look gorgeous!
Use organic materials like wood chips or a mix of compost bark. Aim for a 3-4 inch layer of mulch throughout your beds, avoiding covering the crowns of plants.
2. Thin Shrubs and Trees
Pruning is best done in the winter when shrubs and trees are dormant. Thinning out overgrown shrubs and trees is key to preventing damage during heavy snowfall or ice storms.
Removing any dead, dying or diseased branches, improves the overall plant health and enhances air circulation. For larger trees, it may be wise to hire a professional for extensive work. For smaller plants, grabbing your pruning shears to trim any unruly growth can help maintain their shape and resilience against winter weather.
3. Tidy Up Landscapes and Gardens
As winter approaches, take time to walk through your yard and tidy up areas that may have accumulated debris. Clearing away dead leaves, spent flowers, and any clutter is essential for keeping your garden neat and helps prevent the spread of some pests and fungal diseases.
Make it a priority to remove annuals if you haven't done so already. By being diligent about tidying up, you not only enhance the visual appeal of your yard but also promote the overall health of your remaining plants as they prepare to go dormant.
4. Prepare Containers and Pots
Container gardening can be a challenge in winter due to the vulnerability of plants in pots. Their root systems are more exposed to freezing temperatures, which can damage your cherished plants.
Consider moving pots to a sheltered area, like a garage or shed, or grouping them together in a sunny spot outside. If your plants are hardy, wrap pots to add insulation. Elevate posts on feet or bricks to prevent them from sitting in water and freezing. For sensitive plants, it’s best to bring them indoors. Store terracotta and ceramic pots indoors to prevent cracking from freezing temperatures.
5. Lawn Care Before Winter
A healthy lawn in spring begins with proper care in the fall. As we gear up for the final weeks of lawn care services before winter arrives, we want to check in on your properties. Is there any extra help you need? With the leaves falling fast and Thanksgiving approaching, now is the perfect time for a leaf cleanup. We will pause lawn care in mid-December. Please reach out to get on the schedule for any extra services.
Mow your grass one last time. Leave the lawn clippings where possible to decompose and provide nutrients. If you haven't aerated your lawn yet, do so to allow water and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil. Fertilizing with a winterizer mix can also promote root growth, setting the stage for a lush lawn in spring.
6. Winterize Water Features and Irrigation Systems
Before the first freeze hits, it’s essential to pay attention to your water features and irrigation systems. For fountains and ponds, shut off and drain pumps. You may also want to cover the pond with a net to keep leaves and debris at bay.
For pump irrigation systems, drain the pump and intake line and drain the valves. For underground irrigation systems attached to a city water line, turn off the double-check valve, and you're done. At NFD, we don't believe it's necessary to blow out your irrigation lines. Our ground doesn't freeze 12" down.
7. Protect Vulnerable Plants
Not all plants handle winter well, so it’s important to identify any delicate species in your yard.
Consider covering perennial plants that lack hardiness with a layer of mulch. For potted plants, moving them indoors or to a more sheltered area can significantly improve their chances of surviving the winter. Insulated blankets can also be wrapped around sensitive plants for added protection during severe weather.
8. Prepare Garden Tools and Equipment
If you aren't avidly gardening in the colder months, clean and service your gardening tools to prevent rust and deterioration. Wipe down all tools with oil to prevent rust, sharpen blades, and store them in a dry place. For larger equipment, such as lawnmowers, washing and storing them properly until spring will keep them in optimal condition for when you need them next.
9. Reflect and Plan
As you winterize your landscape, take time to reflect on your gardening experiences from the past year. Consider what worked well and what did not, and start planning for Spring. Winter is the best time to get your new design in place for the early Spring installation.
Creating a list of changes to incorporate, new plants to try, or creative landscaping ideas will set the stage for a successful spring. This reflective process not only helps improve your gardening skills but also fosters excitement for the next growing season.
Embrace Winter Preparations
As winter draws near, it’s essential to give your landscape the care it deserves. Following these nine tips will not only keep your yard tidy, it will also create a protected environment for your plants throughout the colder months.
Take pride in the efforts you’ve made as you gather with family this holiday season, knowing that you’ve laid a strong foundation for a thriving garden next spring. Embrace the transition of seasons and the rewards of your winter preparations will be evident as your outdoor space flourishes in warmer weather.
Contact us for help with your yard
With all of this said, we would love to do all of these things for you! Please let us know. Lawn care routes pause for the winter in mid-December and return in mid-March. Reach out to schedule special projects, horticulture maintenance, or landscape clean-ups. Since the ground doesn't freeze in most areas of the PNW, Autumn, and Winter are still a great time to plant. Nancy Fritz Designs remains open for you year-round.
*Please note our two-week annual holiday closure is December 23rd through January 5th. Returning on Monday, January 6, 2025.
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