Preparing Your Landscape For Winter

There are a number of things to prepare your landscape for winter. Though a lot of the plants in your garden will be dormant soon they are still growing. So, to prepare for winter and perform some things that will give your garden a boost now for a great spring let’s talk about what will have the largest impact.

Fertilize- During winter months the fertilizer you choose can make a huge difference. Plants that go dormant like perennials and shrubs that loose their leaves won’t need nitrogen being that there are no green leaves to green up. So, look for fertilizers blended to be used in winter months that are low in nitrogen but higher in phosphorus and potassium. When looking at a bag of fertilizer the three numbers represent in order Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Find the fertilizers and gardening supplies you need here! Yardiac.com - The Ultimate Garden Center

Pruning- Some plants can be pruned going into winter however we avoid a lot of winter pruning of evergreens. This is especially true in areas that are prone to freezing temperatures. Too late of pruning on evergreen shrubs can sometimes cause them to flush with new growth which is tender and can get burned by a freeze. If you have questions of what to prune when a good resource is your local county agricultural extension office.
Once a freeze has occurred most of your perennials will need the dead growth cleaned up. This is not really necessary for the health of the plant as much for aesthetic reasons. Also enough can't be said about quality pruning equipment. Don't settle on cheap tools, your results will be well worth the money invested. Because You're Serious About Your Yard - Find The Tools You Need Here

Mulching- Mulching is one of the most beneficial things that can be done on the winter. You should keep a 3” layer applied consistently throughout the year for the overall health of your landscape. The benefits are many. Mulch helps suppress weeds, holds moisture, adds organic matter to the soil as the mulch breaks down and insulates the root zone during the winter months.

We hope that this information is helpful in preparing your landscape for winter.