As the weather begins to turn colder, it’s time to prepare your landscape for winter. Just like you store the patio furniture, clean out the gutters, mow your lawn, and perform several other outdoor preparation tasks, you need to do the same for your landscape. At JPJ Landscaping LLC, we recommend you follow these four steps to protect your landscape before the snow begins to fall.
1. Spread Fertilizer
Both cool-season and warm-season grasses require a different fertilizing strategy. For cool-season grasses, add a winter fertilizer, as this will encourage the grassroots to grow sturdy and strong. Once frost arrives, warm-season lawns tend to turn yellowish-brown in color. To keep them green all winter long, we recommend you overseed your lawn with ryegrass.
2. Empty the Irrigation System
If the irrigation system is not emptied before winter strikes, the constant freezing and thawing can cause damage to the sprinklers. Begin by draining and blowing out the irrigation system. Then remove and drain all hoses, putting away all hose nozzles, sprayers, and wands. Be sure to store them in a place that will not freeze, like the garage or basement.
3. Secure Shrubs
Protect your shrubs so they will last through the cold winter season. Use burlap to wrap shrubs, especially if they’re close to the road. Burlap can protect against any salt left by snowplows. You can also use a frame that will cover the shrub but not touch it, ensuring its integrity. The frame should go all the way to the ground to keep the soil around the shrub warm.
4. Use Leaves as Fertilizer
Mulched leaves are the perfect fertilizer for your lawn over the winter months. Once you’ve mowed or mulched the leaves, keep a thin layer of this natural fertilizer on your lawn. Over the winter season, the leaves will break down adding their nutrients back into the soil.
Trust the Landscaping Experts
If you’d like to hand over this outdoor task to a professional, call JPJ today at (317) 519-3731 and request a free estimate. We serve the entire Indianapolis area with all of our lawn care services, including mowing, mulching, aeration, seasonal maintenance, leaf removal, and tree removal.
Source: Forney, Julie Martins. “Get Your House and Yard Ready for Winter.” Web article. DIY Network. The Discovery Family of Networks. Web. 19 Oct. 2021.