Helpful Landscaping Tips For Those Winter Months
In winter, it is all the more important to take care of your landscaping. Deem it as essential to keep your landscaping well protected during the dormant months so that they return vibrant and healthy during the spring. This will leave you with a nice and neat, well-tended and maintained winter landscape design.
Landscaping during winter
Fixtures at your landscape require special care and attention so that they remain protected from the cold weather just like plants. This is because winter landscapes are not made up of only plants, but also of many other elements. Here's a closer look at the most common elements.
Pipes, hoses and valves
Make sure to turn off all the valves supplying water to your yard to avoid flooding of water from burst hoses.
Never leave any interior or exterior water pipes dripping, as the temperatures in a valley don’t drop so low for a very long time periods.
Always disconnect all the hoses and pipes, and drain them completely when not in use.
Wrapping the irrigation pipes that are exposed, with insulated faucet socks, pipe insulation, or an old towel and duct tape can help them from freezing completely.
Do not seal or obstruct any of the ports of the irrigation backflow device. Instead, insulate it by using an old towel to drape it and cover it with a bucket or any other protective covering near the ground.
Learn how to turn off the irrigation backflow device as well to prevent any damages.
Regulate the heater to at least 55 degrees to protect the houseplants as well as the pipes whenever you are away.
You should always know how to shut off all the water valves as well as its source from where its coming, as this allows to prevent any damages from burst lines or leaks.
Flooring and drainage
Bricks and concrete totter and can set unevenly due to temperature fluctuation and change in the level of humidity. Keep them free from water build up and other debris to reduce the chances of damages caused by winters.
Provide proper drainage to your landscape if you had noticed accumulation of water or ice last winter. Adding channels of small gravel drainage along the sides of a walkway or fixing a dripping gutter on the steps are some simple measures against winter damage.
Pools, spas and water tubs
If you have a pool or an artificial pond, it is essential to call the professional pool cleaning company to winterize it. You should drain all the water and cover the pool to keep away from the leaves.
Choose a cover for your pool that is very strong, as in winter it is common for deer and any other wildlife to walk over them.
Check if the heater and pump are functioning properly for your hot tubs and spas, as water tends to freeze in the pipes, pumps or in the tub itself that may lead to irreparable damages.
Always check for any water and air leaks that might need repairs.
Pool and spa jets should be directed upwards to reduce the freezing of water at the surface.
Always run the jet pumps and the filtration pumps continuously during winters.
Store all the accessories away in a clean and dry area.
Protecting plants
Add a layer of protective mulch over the soil around all the plants to retain the moisture within so you do not need to water them so often.
To prevent the damage to your new plants from wind or burning of young leaves, water them deeply and add mulch to provide some insulation.
Pruning encourages healthy growth in plants mainly during spring. Prune summer blooming shrubs in the dormant season and prune the spring blooming shrubs after flowering.
It is recommended to prune leaves when they turn and indicate that the plant is in dormant stage.
Some shrubs require to be wrapped with burlap to protect them from frost.
Trees and lawn
Branches from the trees can cause costly damages and can pull gutters down if they are hanging over the roofs. Hence, it is essential to remove the tree limbs away from the roofs and from the power lines near your house.
Consult with a professional arborist when planning to prune trees, as they will know how to remove the branches safely without damaging the tree.
Pruning trees is recommended during early autumn or late spring.
Feeding your lawn during early autumn will give the roots a boost before the arrival of winter.
As grass stops growing in the fall, its roots grow deeper to prepare for winter.
The above mentioned tips are pretty easy to follow. If you already have a nice landscape design in your home, you should pay attention to these tips so that your house looks beautiful all throughout the year!
