Winter is undoubtedly a harsh season not only for landscaping property owners but for community managers as well. The snow, ice, and salt all can really make it hard to maintain your property, even for the toughest home owners and most persistent community managers. But do not give up yet! Here are some winter landscaping ideas to ensure that your land continues to look great and to put you on track for success when spring finally arrives.
Pressure Washing Lawn: One way to make sure that all of the snow that melts off your driveway doesn’t find its way onto your freshly landscaped lawn is to simply pressure wash it all away. While this might sound like a dangerous prospect, it can actually be quite easy. The first step is to make sure that you have the proper equipment. A snow blower or even a snow plow can help with this process, as can an old-fashioned garden hose. Simply apply the pressure washing lawn treatment (use water from a spray bottle, rather than paint thinner) onto the driveway and leave it to soak.
Rotate Your Plants. While you will still want to plant those perennials that are best suited to the cold months, you can also rotate your annuals for the better part of the winter. While some perennial plants do better in the winter months, such as alpine and evergreen species of shrubs, you can rotate your annuals to ensure that they are getting the necessary sun they need to grow strong and healthy. Rotating your landscaping planting beds also allows you to get more out of your landscape planting area. If you’re planning to use your landscaping area for dual purpose, this is especially important. You can plant annuals to screen out your driveway and then turn around and plant annuals to add much needed color to your landscaping in the spring.
Get Rid Of Your Trees. The biggest threat to your landscaping in the winter is definitely your trees. They will either die from the cold or just not survive at all. If you can’t seem to rid your yard of dead trees, try to pull them all down to a nearby location, taking care to leave behind a ladder to climb up and remove the tree stump. There are mulching materials available that can be applied to provide an even better covering and protection against winter rains.
Keep Your Lawn Green. Yes, winter is the perfect time to fertilize your lawn. It gives you a chance to completely cover your lawn in fertilizer, thereby giving it a healthy, gorgeous look throughout the entire season. Be sure to apply the fertilizer at least a month prior to the first frost. This will ensure that your lawn has ample time to recover from the cold and stay lush, green, and beautiful all winter long.
Change Up The Planting Area. This tip is especially for those who chose to plant their flower garden or trees in the fall and have them sit pretty and natural all through the winter. If you haven’t already moved your plants away from the trees and shrubs, do so now. Then clear the area of any overhanging trees and shrubs. A great place to put your newly relocated plants is along a curb. This will give them a greater opportunity to get the sun they crave and will also keep them somewhat protected from wind damage.
Planting Your Vegetables And Flowers In Spring. Even though it sounds counterintuitive, it’s actually a good idea to plant your vegetables and flowers in the colder months. This will allow them to have a chance to acclimate to the warmer weather and growing conditions before the spring planting season comes. They’ll also be ready for the huge planting rush that takes place in April, when homeowners can come out and take care of their landscaping needs all by themselves.
Covering Up With Ornamental Grasses. In the winter, most people opt to utilize some type of covering to camouflage their shrubs and plants. This can range from a layer of grass to a lush turf. While a turf might be nice to have for landscaping purposes, many choose to use grasses and shrubs. Mulch is an ideal option for those who live in colder climates as it provides a shield against the sun, but it will also help provide greenery to the area and keep pests like deer from destroying your greenery.