As the colder months approach, it’s easy to put off yard maintenance until spring, when everything starts blooming again. However, giving your yard the care it needs before winter sets in can save you time, effort, and even money in the long run. Winterizing your yard ensures that your landscape stays healthy and can withstand the colder temperatures. By following these four tips for yard winterizing, you’ll be setting your yard up for success come spring.
Clean Up Your Lawn: Rake, Mow, and Weed
The first step in yard winterizing is a thorough lawn cleanup. Start by raking fallen leaves, which can form a wet mat that blocks sunlight and encourages fungal growth. While some homeowners leave a layer of leaves on the lawn to provide organic mulch, too much can do more harm than good. Rake up excess leaves and compost them to avoid suffocating the grass.
After cleaning up the leaves, mow your lawn one last time. Set your mower blade to a lower setting—about 2 to 2.5 inches is ideal. Cutting the grass too short could stress it, but leaving it too long can invite pests and diseases. The key is to keep it at a moderate length that helps it remain healthy over the winter months.
Lastly, make sure to pull out any lingering weeds. Weeds left to their own devices will return with a vengeance in the spring, sapping nutrients from your lawn and making it harder to maintain a healthy landscape.
Aerate and Fertilize
Yard winterizing isn’t complete without aerating your soil. Aerating breaks up compacted soil and allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the root system. This process can be done with an aeration machine or manually with a spiked tool, and it’s especially important if your lawn has heavy foot traffic or clay-based soil. Aeration also reduces water runoff and promotes healthier growth when temperatures rise again.
Once your lawn is aerated, apply a winter fertilizer that’s rich in potassium. This nutrient strengthens the grass roots and helps it store up energy for the winter months. A well-fertilized lawn is better equipped to withstand freezing temperatures and will green up faster when spring arrives.
Choose a slow-release fertilizer specifically designed for fall or winter use. The nutrients will gradually feed your lawn throughout the cold season, supporting a stronger, more resilient landscape when growth picks up again.
Protect Your Trees, Shrubs, and Flower Beds
Winterizing your yard isn’t just about the grass. Trees, shrubs, and flower beds need some attention too. For young trees, consider wrapping the trunks with burlap or tree wraps to protect them from frost, wind, and potential damage from animals. Mulch around the base of trees and shrubs to insulate the roots and retain moisture. Just make sure the mulch is a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Perennial plants in your flower beds should be pruned back after the first frost. Cut them down to about 6 inches above the ground to prevent diseases from overwintering in the dead foliage. For more delicate plants, consider adding a layer of mulch or covering them with a frost blanket to provide extra protection.
If you have potted plants that aren’t cold-hardy, now is the time to move them indoors or to a sheltered area like a garage or basement. Taking care of your trees, shrubs, and plants during winter will result in a healthier, more vibrant landscape come spring.
Drain and Store Hoses, Sprinklers, and Outdoor Furniture
One of the most overlooked aspects of yard winterizing is preparing your outdoor equipment for the colder months. Frozen water can expand and cause hoses and sprinklers to crack, so make sure to drain them thoroughly before storing them away. If you have an irrigation system, it’s essential to blow out the lines with compressed air to prevent freezing and expensive damage.
Outdoor furniture can also suffer during the winter if not properly cared for. Clean and store cushions, umbrellas, and other fabric items in a dry, covered area. Metal and wooden furniture should either be stored indoors or covered with weather-resistant materials to prevent rust and warping from snow or rain.
By taking the time to drain and store your outdoor equipment, you’ll avoid costly repairs or replacements in the spring.
Winterizing Your Yard with The Narrow Lane
Winterizing your yard may seem like a lot of work, but it’s an essential step for ensuring that your landscape remains healthy and beautiful. A clean lawn, aerated soil, protected plants, and properly stored equipment all contribute to a more manageable yard in the spring. With these four tips, your yard will not only survive the winter but thrive in the months to come. So, before the first frost hits, contact The Narrow Lane to help you winterize your yard and enjoy the benefits when warmer weather returns.