You’ve raked, mulched, fertilized, and put those beds to rest, but landscape care doesn’t stop on December 21. Here are a few tips on how to keep caring for your landscape through the cold months.
- After a storm, gently brush built-up snow from your shrubs and small trees. However, if they’re covered in ice, leave them be – even a gentle brush could seriously damage a frozen shrub. Alternatively, you can wrap, tie, or shelter your more delicate shrubs before the snow hits to avoid this problem entirely.
- Environmentally friendly deicers, like Clearlane by Cargill, are an effective, lower impact alternative to salting.
- If you do salt, avoid hitting plants, grasses, exposed soils or nearby bodies of water, all of which salt can severely damage.
- Avoid walking on your lawn during the winter, especially if it’s frozen. Ice-covered grass breaks easily, and you’ll see the damage in the spring.
- Early winter (before the snow) or late winter can be a great time to prune shrubs and trees. No foliage exposes the structure of the branches, making pruning easier. Doing it earlier in the winter can also be safer, reducing damage and possibly avoid dangerous situations.
- If you’re going to be shoveling, get the right shovel. A smaller, plastic blade with an s-shaped handle helps you move snow more easily, without straining your back.
- While we’re on the subject of snow removal, check out this guide to snow blower safety by Toro.
- Check any drainage systems you have in your landscape before the snow falls for clogs and other damage. Proper drainage throughout the winter months is important for keeping your landscape intact and keeping your environmental impact low.
Keep these in mind as the weather turns colder and the white stuff starts falling, and you’ll be glad you kept up on care in the spring.