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How To Safely Protect Your Landscaping This Winter
posted at 2019-01-02
There's nothing like spending time in your garden or on your when the weather is nice. But when the seasons turn, harsh winter weather makes your landscaping particularly susceptible. It takes special care to protect.
Snow and ice can threaten your garden, trees, and other outdoor fixtures. Luckily, there are a few ways to keep your plants healthy and remove slippery ice without harming the environment. After all, when the snow finally melts, wouldn't it be nice to see your landscaping bounce back quickly?
1. Shelter plants to prevent damage from frost
Freezing weather and frosts may sweep through your area and harm your plants, but that doesn't mean you can't help your garden survive. Focus on this if your landscaping includes shrubs and trees that bloom in spring, or tender bulbs and annuals that thrive in warm seasons.
Collect any frost-tender plants in containers and store bulbs in a cool, dry place. Large shrubs and trees benefit from burlap, fabric or commercial frost cloths wrapped and draped to the ground to retain warmth. Your small sprouts simply need an inverted flower pot or bucket.
2. Remove ice from your deck with deicers
Clearing your deck of snow and ice after a blizzard can often feel overwhelming. But you can depend on more than just your shovel to do the job. Certain decking materials like composite boards will scratch if you attack icy buildup with a shovel's sharp edge, so make use of deicer to help you protect your home's exterior features.
Visit your local home improvement store and search for a product containing calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is more eco-friendly than road salt and won't harm the surface of your deck. Plus, it leaves behind only a white residue that's easy to clean with water and mild soap. Being selective about your deicer can make maintenance simpler without the heavy environmental impact.
3. Trim branched to preserve your trees health
Your trees are not only beautiful, but they can help you cut down on your home's energy usage. Therefore, you will want to give them some extra care. Heavy snow accumulation on branches can weigh them down and break them. Before the temperature drops (or now), trim your trees to keep them healthy. Look for limbs that are dead or dying and tend to them with pruning shears.
Do a little research on the best ways to maintain optimal the health of your particular trees. You want to assess and address any weak branches you find before they crack, so cut carefully to keep the tree's nutrients intact. If you're thoughtful, your trees can thrive even after a long winter.
Think twice about ice
Landscaping is a part of a home's value and beauty, but winter can wreak havoc on your home's exterior. That being said, there are a few steps you can take to guard against the effects of ice and snow. Shelter your plants to prevent damage from frost, trim your trees to keep them healthy and look for ways to remove ice without harming the environment.
Categories: General
