Do you have landscaping you need to protect over the winter months? With the wind, snow accumulation, and dry, icy temperatures, winter can take its toll on your garden and landscaping. Now’s the time to prepare your lawn, shrubs, and trees for winter’s arrival.

RELATED: Building a fall facility maintenance checklist that ticks all the boxes

There are a few key things you can do to save your landscaping and encourage its survival for spring.

Looking after your lawn

First, cut your grass short and remove any leaves or debris. It might be tempting to leave these to compost under the snow, but they can cause mould or fungal disease if left through the winter.

You can get a headstart on spring by applying a winterizing fertilizer to your lawn before winter comes. It’s the perfect time to apply it because fall’s morning dew helps the lawn to absorb it faster, encouraging the grass to grow more stamina to survive the winter.

Setting your shrubs up for success

Wrapping delicate shrubs and hedges will help protect them against wind and heavy snow or ice. Use a breathable material like burlap so they don’t get smothered. You might also want to install temporary snow fencing to help keep snow drifts away from the bottom of your bushes. This will provide a barrier for your landscaping from blowing snow.

As the weather changes and their food supply becomes scarce, deer, rabbits, mice, and more may also be an issue. If this is a risk in your area, install deer netting or use a spray to keep your shrubs from becoming food. You may also want to wrap the bottom 60cm  of your shrubs or trees to protect the bark and discourage attention from wildlife.

Taking care of your trees

Ensuring that your trees are well-watered in the fall will help to keep those roots strong and the soil from drying out throughout the winter. While snow at the base of your tree will keep it insulated, it isn’t guaranteed consistently. Prepare your trees by adding mulch to the base to moderate soil temperature, keep the soil moist, and prevent the roots from freezing.

Winter’s conditions can be tough on your landscaping, so you want to prepare it as much as you can to eliminate issues in the winter and additional expenses for your property in the spring.