When it comes to the matter of gardening, there are few processes as important as learning to properly winterize your lawn. Given that the brisk winter air and fiercely frigid precipitation can easily wreak havoc on an array of plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables, preparing your garden for winter is an all but imperative act for those who plan to maintain viable soil once the brutally cold season has ended. With that said, the following is an overview of tips and tricks to help anyone with a garden to prepare for the winter months.
Clear Out Blackened Stems
One of the first things you should do in order to winterize your garden is to clear out the blackened stems. The blackened stems of foliage, as well as vegetables, can harbor disease pathogens and insect eggs into the next season, which can ultimately be highly detrimental to your garden.
Spread New Mulch
Next, given the fact that the mulch you put out to protect your garden over the summer months has most likely become seriously decomposed, it is vital that you spread a new layer to protect your garden throughout the winter. By spreading a thicker layer of mulch to prepare for the colder months, you are helping to stabilize the temperature of your soil while helping to preserve it in its frozen state, over the winter.
Perennials in Particular
Protecting one of the most common garden plants—perennials—can prove to be quite a task. In addition to the aforementioned tips, you will also need to compost dead plant debris in order to create an organic soil conditioner (after removing all questionable materials). Lastly, to deter rodents, once the soil has frozen, add a six inch layer of the organic materials to act as winter mulch.
Toughen up Your Planted Trees
Another common element of gardens, are young trees, which will also need to be prepared for the winter. This can be handled by wrapping trunks and stems with wire or any other tree guarding product. In addition, trees such as evergreens should be shielded with burlap screens in order to protect them from drying out.
Remember the Roses
Plants such as roses will also require special care and preparation. A high maintenance plant, the winter care for roses actually begins in late summer. Fertilizing efforts should be ceased by this time in order to avoid stimulating new, tender growth, as they would die off when the winter cold hits. You must also remove the old mulch, replacing it with fresh mulch, at the first sign of frost for the winter season. The roses should be watered well if it has been an especially dry summer, and once the ground freezes, more mulch will need to be added. Finally, for areas where there isn’t enough snow to cover the bush, build a mound of mulch and add a layer after each freeze to make the mound higher.
Overall, by following these tips you are well on your way to winterizing your garden and lawn! Be sure to contact our team today if you have any questions about these tips what so ever. We are also here to help every step of the way. Check out are Snow Plowing & De-Icing Services for all of your winter needs!
