Prepping your garden for winter
It may be hard to accept since summer feels like just yesterday, but the turning of leaves and chilling of temperatures means winter is on its way. Now is the time to start preparing your garden for winter survival. To give your garden and grass the best chance possible at a healthy spring, it all starts in how you treat it in the fall.
Clean Up Time
You’ve heard of spring cleaning? Well this is fall cleaning! Now is the best time to remove weeds around your yard and prevent them from spreading seeds that will sprout into next year’s round of weeds. It’s also time to remove any perennials that have died off and either compost them or add them to the roughage around your garden. Give your turf frequent water and be sure to mow it every three weeks as you would in the summer.
Fertilize
Now is the time to invest in a good lawn fertilizer. Keeping the turf healthy will give it the best fighting chance to thrive over winter and into spring. Unsure about what nutrient mix is best for your lawn? Ask the lawn care pros at Hansen – we’d be happy to offer a recommendation.
Plant New Colours
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year, so why not accent the beauty by adding some fall colours to your garden? While you are digging up the pesky weeds that are trying to take over your garden, plant a splash of fall colours with annuals that are sure to bring your garden some new and beautiful life. This is also the ideal time to plant bulbs for next year’s springtime bloom.
Rake the Leaves
This may be a cumbersome task depending on the size of your property, but raking the leaves and removing them from your lawn is imperative for healthy turf come spring. You don’t want to smother your grass. Save the collected leaves and shred them for mulch, it’s a great way to reuse seemingly useless yard waste.
Wrap Your More Vulnerable Trees and Shrubs
Some trees have exceptionally thin bark and it cracks under pressure in the cold. By using proper paper tree wrap you will help preserve the trunk and the health of the tree over the winter. Some trees will also need to be covered in burlap to keep them from overexposure to the hard winter elements.
Mulch Your Garden
Mulch is the greatest thing you can put in your garden as it helps prevent over drying and it helps to seal in moisture. Add a fresh layer of either mulch or shredded leaves to your garden and give it the extra leg up it needs to survive winter and retain moisture.
If you’d rather relax with a pumpkin spice latté, hire a lawn care company to take care of all the winter prep responsibilities, including mowing, weeding, fertilizing, aeration, mulching, and more.