Preparing your Yard for the Winter Season

 Tip #1. MOWING. Don’t set a final cutting date, well there are some grasses that stop growing in warmer climates, the mainstay grasses that are mostly used for lawns will still continue to slowly grow as the temperature gets cooler. It is beneficial to maintain a 10-14 day mowing schedule until to ground freezes.

Tip #2. AERATION. Aeration is important because it creates a healthy environment for the roots of the grasses. You can use the coring style to aerate your lawn or the slicing method this is completely up to you as they both get the job done!

Tip #3. FERTILIZATION. When it comes to fertilization you should be doing it every 45 days throughout the growing season which is from March until November. With each fertilizer application there is a different goal in mind and different fertilizer required. From the early Spring application that has a higher amount of nitrogen so the grass gets a quick green up along with pre-emergence weed control all the way to the final application of the year which has a lower level of nitrogen so we aren’t promoting too much growth, it also has a greater amount of potassium to help the roots of the grasses get ready to survive the harsh winters.

Tip#4. Perennial Plants. People spend so much money, time and effort to make their yards look beautiful! My thought is to let these plants flourish and grow until the very as close to winter as possible! This also helps them store up lots of energy to survive the harsh climate in the winter! When the time comes though to cut them back or remove them from you landscape be sure to use a sharp well maintained pruners. This will help so you don’t damage the plant or cut them in a way that may hurt the re growth next spring!

Tip#5. Tree & Woody Perennials. This is the perfect time to remove any dead wood from trees and woody perennials you have in your landscaped yard. Doing this will promote a healthier plant and a more vigorous plant when it wakes up from winter months. Some woody perennials do well pruning them back before winter and some prefer to be pruned in the spring. I would check with your local garden center to get precise information and advice for the plants grown in your garden.

I hope everyone stays warm during this winter season! Be sure to take great care of your lawns, trees and plants so you can enjoy them in the spring and summer to come!