You have invested much in the hardscaping and the plants around your property, and you don’t want winter to damage or destroy them. It only takes a bit of work and maybe the help of professionals to protect them. Here are some winter tips.
Start Early
When it comes to protecting your hardscaping, you need to start well before winter sets in. Clean your hardscaping, and sweep away all debris. Then, have a professional inspect your hardscaping. They’ll be able to repair or replace any loose pavers. They can sweep sand in between the joints and apply sealant and waterproofing to protect them from snow and ice. They’ll also make sure that water drains away from your pavement.
A professional can drain fountains and other water features, too, as ice can damage their components as well. If you have a koi pond, you might want to add a heater for the fish.
Hardscaping Care in Winter
During the winter, make sure that all snow is swept away while it’s still fresh. Professionals typically use a snowblower or a shovel. Be conservative with salt for de-icing, as it can burn your plants. Some professionals use chemicals other than rock salt, which can be gentler.
Protecting Plants in Winter
One easy way to protect plants is to bring tender potted plants inside, whether into your house or into a greenhouse. Apply a layer of mulch to plants in the garden. Mulch keeps the roots warm and keeps the soil from going through freeze-thaw cycles. These cycles can pull shallow roots out of the ground. Make sure to keep the mulch away from the crown of the plant. This is where the roots meet the trunk or the main stem. Applying mulch there can cause root rot.
If you’ve recently planted some saplings, fill in any lacunae in the soil where the tree was planted. This prevents frigid air from reaching the roots. If you’re worried that in-ground plants and saplings can’t tolerate the cold well, wrap them in burlap or frost fabric. Give the plants a good drink of water if the weather’s been droughty or if there’s going to be a hard freeze during the night. Soil that’s been watered holds on to heat. You or a professional can also prune trees to protect their branches from cracking beneath snow and ice.
Let Us Help You Protect Your Property
Winter can damage the plants and hardscaping you’ve put so much work into. The good news is we can help your hardscaping and plants get through winter unscathed. If you need help with your Lawrence Township, NJ, yard, don’t wait to call our professionals at Princeton Turf Care.
