Fall is officially here, which means winter is right around the corner. If you haven’t started preparing yet, now is the best time to start getting your garden and landscaping ready for the chillier seasons. Once the temperatures start to drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the ground will begin to freeze and your plants will start to go into hibernation mode. That said, to help you get your landscaping supplies ready, here are six ways you can get your yard ready for the colder months.
1. Finish planting now
If you’re looking to get in some last-minute gardening, now is the time to do it. Many gardeners choose to plant perennials like hardy garden mums during the fall because it gives them just enough time to root before the first frost. Garden mums can give your landscaping some beautiful fall colors and, once spring arrives next year, they can help to make your landscaping that much more vibrant. This might come in handy if you plan to sell your home in 2021 as landscaping can raise property value by as much as 12%. Just make sure to finish up your planting ASAP. If you wait too long, the ground might be too cold for your flowers or shrubs to take root.
2. Lay on the slow-release fertilizer
With the first frost just up ahead, you’ll want to make sure that your shrubs and trees are well-protected with slow-release fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizer will help your trees and shrubs stay strong during the chilly seasons so they’ll be able to fend off pests and disease. Slow-release fertilizers are great for the winter months because they provide your plants with a steady amount of nutrients over a period of time. What’s more, because slow-release fertilizer is often organic and natural, they help to add nutrients to the surrounding soil as it decomposes.
3. Rake up the leaves
If you’re new to landscaping, you may not know the importance of leaf removal. It turns out that raking leaves into piles every fall isn’t just to let your kids jump in them. When too many wet leaves are piled in your yard during the colder seasons, they can kill your turf. Fortunately, you can actually recycle the leaves in your yard by breaking them down into mulch. This can help to transform your leaves from turf killers to nutrient providers.
4. Mulch your plants
Mulch helps to insulate the soil around your plants during fall and winter while also helping to reduce weed germination. However, you mustn’t accidentally overdo it with the mulch. While it’s true that mulching helps to add essential elements back into your soil, too much mulch can end up harming your plants. Stick to two-to-four inches of mulch around your plants and make sure to leave enough space between the mulch and the plant itself.
5. Get your prune on
Pruning is an essential part of landscaping. Just be sure to prune your trees and plants once they’ve officially gone dormant. This way, it’ll be easier for you to tell which of the plant’s branches and stems need to be removed without impacting the growth of the rest of the plant. What’s more, because trees are more susceptible to illness during the winter season, you’ll be helping to reduce that risk by eliminating dead or decaying branches so you don’t need to worry about transmitting the disease to the rest of the tree.
6. Take it easy with watering
As the weather begins to cool down, you’ll want to reduce the number of times you water your plants. Water your trees and plants a few times throughout the week when the weather is warm and dry. If your area gets more than an inch of precipitation throughout the week, you don’t need to water your plants. Once temperatures dip down into the 30s, avoid watering to prevent freezing the roots of your plants.
Need landscaping supplies for your yard?
It’s good to have the right landscaping supplies on hand to protect your garden and landscaping during the fall and winter seasons. If you don’t have the landscaping supplies you need like mulch, landscaping rocks, pavers and stone, Gateway Home and Garden Center has you covered. We offer many types of landscaping materials and landscaping supplies to help you get your project done from start to finish. For more information about our landscape supplies or to learn more about how to prepare your yard for the colder weather, contact Gateway Home and Garden Center today.