Winter mulching

Landscaping Tips to Prepare for Winter

In harsh winters, your garden can take a real beating. Many plants can’t survive the cold weather and your lawn may suffer as the ground starts to freeze. You don’t want all your hard work from spring and summer to go to waste, so there are certain measures you should take to prepare for the cold spells of winter. You’re unlikely to want to get out into the garden much when the cold weather hits, so it’s a good idea to start this preparation well in advance.

Rake and aerate your lawn

Debris covering your lawn can block the sunlight from getting to it and lead to problems such as moss and fungus. This can especially be a problem throughout and at the end of fall with all the dead leaves on the ground. Rake your lawn of any debris and then aerate it by spiking holes into the lawn to improve drainage.

Spreading mulch over your soil can help to retain its moisture and keep the roots of your plants warm over winter. Mulching the base of your trees and shrubs, and spreading a thin layer of mulch over flower beds, helps to protect them from the cold weather and frost that could damage them. You can buy mulch made from materials such as bark, or you can repurpose the fall leaves that you clear from your lawn, shredding them into an organic mulch.

Investing in cold-hardy plants

Perennials such as Peony and Coneflower are equipped to deal with harsh winters and grow back year after year. If you’re planning some planting before we experience cold weather, then plants like these are a good option. Find out which perennials can survive harsh winters.

Dig up bulbs

If you have any bulbs that are made for summer blooming and are unlikely to survive the colder season, then you should dig these up and bring them inside. Make sure you brush the dirt off the bulbs after digging them up, and then store them in cool, dry conditions where they can breathe – don’t seal them off.

Prune dormant plants

Plants that are dormant throughout winter can be prone to mold and fire blight. To help prevent these issues, you should prune any dormant plants so that they maintain their condition for spring.

A frosty winter doesn’t have to mean the death of your garden if you follow these tips and get prepared. If you need any landscaping supplies to help you prepare for winter, then Stratford Landscape Supply has you covered. We supply cities in North Carolina including Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville. Get in touch to find out more.