The Importance of a Winter Landscape Plan

winter landscape plan
Winter branches by Shandi-lee Cox

Cooler winter weather is not the time to put your landscape maintenance on hold. A winter landscape plan can not only keep on your property looking beautiful; it will keep your trees and plants healthy (saving you money).

Since St. Augustine and other turf grasses are dormant in the winter months, you might think that winter is the time to take a break from landscaping. Quite the opposite, the winter months are the best time to prepare your property for spring.

There are still a few reasons to develop a winter landscape plan.

Sun Exposure

California and the Rocky Mountain states can expect the weather to be sunny during much of the winter. Trees and shrubs on the south and west side of buildings are extremely vulnerable with cold and sun exposure. Even in Texas, bright sunlight reflecting off of the large windows of office buildings can burn turf, trees and plants.

Plants near parking lots and streetscapes are especially susceptible to drying out and feeling the stress of cold, dry and sun exposed winter weather.

Winter Landscaping Tasks

Seasonal Plants Care

Cut back dormant perennials such as lantana and salvia after the first freeze. Other spring perennials such as coneflowers, garden phlox, foxgloves, and coreopsis can be divided. This should have been done in early fall to allow time for their roots to become established before winter. Most plants should be divided every three to five years.

Trim back tropical plants such as cannas, banana and elephant ears after their foliage freezes down.

Prepare ornamental roses for winter weather

After the first frost, thoroughly water the soil around your rose bushes. Once the ground freezes the bush has to take care of itself, so give it a good soaking going into winter.

Bulbs, corms rhizomes, and tubers

This is the time to dig and divide overcrowded bulbs. You should also replant perennials such as Iris and daylily.

Plant pre-chilled tulip and hyacinth bulbs (late December/early January). Plant daffodil and grape hyacinth immediately after purchase. These and other bulbs require soil temperatures to reach 45 to 55 degrees before planting. With the recent winter weather, the ground might still be too warm to plant bulbs.

Cool Season Plants

Plant pansies, flowering kale and cabbage, dianthus, cyclamen, violas and other cool season annuals.

Apply fertilizer to pansies and other color season plants to promote strong growth, if needed.

Mulching

In multi-season regions, proper plant health year round is especially important. For example, mulch not only looks good, but it is valuable in holding moisture in the soil and protecting trees during the winter.

Mulching preserves moisture better than rock or turf. It retains moisture up to 400% better than other ground coverings. Adding a 3-5 inch layer of mulch can help trees by improving absorption, preventing soil compaction, keeping the soil cool in summer, protecting in winter and improving aeration.

Landscaping experts believe without winter watering, landscape preservation and nourishment approximately 30% of the trees, shrubs and other plant life can be damaged or destroyed during a harsh dry winter.

Having a winter landscape plan that is customized for your particular property can increase the survival rate of your plants, trees and shrubs. When you consider replacement costs of plants and trees, you will see the value of a proactive approach to winterizing your landscape.

 

Is your property ready for winter? Contact Terracare Associates to find out how you protect and preservation the beauty and health of the plants on your property.

This is part 1 of a 3 part series on the benefits of winterizing and preserving your landscape:

Part 1: The Importance of Winterizing Your Landscape

Part 2: Why Your Property Need a Winter Watering Program

Part 3: Landscape Preservation: How Integrated Pest Management Can Save You Money

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Terracare Associates [TCA] is a recognized leader in outdoor maintenance in the Western United States – with 30 years of experience. During all seasons, our certified and experienced staff improves landscapes, parks, roadways and infrastructure for beautiful, safe and sustainable outdoor environments.

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