To ensure a beautiful lawn and landscaped yard in the spring, here are some suggestions for what to do now:
- What is the pH Level of your soil, time to test it, as it is key to a healthy lawn to avoid it thinning out. Treat any acidic patches you see with lime products. Areas with too much alkaline can be corrected with a sulfur treatment.
- Weed removal because they compete for the nutrients in your lawn.
- Spread fertilizers that contain a higher potassium content; they are ideal for protecting lawns and strengthening plants that would otherwise suffer under stress due to weather. Use a spreader, applying the fertilizer evenly over the grass. Don’t over fertilize as it can burn the lawn.
- Aerate the lawn before the first freeze to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach down into the roots.
- Spread cool-weather grass seed during the day when the temperature is warmer, ideally between 60-70°F.
- Protect your plants, especially if they are calling for a harsh winter. You can help Insulate the topsoil by adding mulch. Mulch around trees, plants, and shrubs to add extra protection. Adding a 2” layer of mulch will reduce water loss and help maintain uniform soil temperature around the roots.
- Cover flower and vegetable beds with burlap or by planting a cover crop.
- Repot any small plants and tender bulbs and bring them indoors, if feasible, to survive. Many varieties of bulbs need the cold weather to bloom in the spring.
- Use your leaf blower and/or rake and clean up any leaves and debris. Vigorous raking is good for the lawn, if you have had problems previously with thatching, as it will free thatch build-up.
- Cut grass shorter to protect new growth and to minimize the lawn serving as a feeding ground for pests.
- Tie branches together that may be susceptible to snow loads. Remove snow from low branches by gently brushing it off the trees instead of the shaking limbs, which can cause them to break. Any limbs that may break from snow or ice should be removed, as it can damage the trees are make them more prone to disease.
- Once it begins to snow, be careful with salting your driveway and walkways, as it can damage to the landscaping. To minimize salt damage to your trees and plants, get rid of extra salt by flushing out the soil with plenty of water.
Landscaping is more than just installation, planting, and construction. It also includes lawn and landscape maintenance as well as snow management. Mountain Road Landscaping offers a range of yard maintenance services to our customers after we have completed the design and installation of their dream outdoor living spaces throughout the Lehigh Valley and Pocono area.
Happy Holidays and Happy & Healthy New Year from Justin Fallenstein and Your Friends at Mountain Landscaping!
