It can be quite frustrating to spend all summer perfecting your lawn and landscape only to have them ruined a few months later by the winter elements. The good news, though, is that there are steps that you can take to keep your lawn protected against whatever the winter season happens to throw its way. In this article, we'll take a look at a number of helpful tips that you can use to ensure that your lawn and landscape survive the winter and still look great once spring rolls around.

Fertilize and Aerate Before the First Freeze

Aerating your lawn during the fall helps ensure that water and nutrients will still be able to reach the roots of your grass when the soil becomes dry and compacted during the winter months. It's also a good idea to fertilize your lawn sometime before the first freeze. While your lawn won't utilize the fertilizer during its dormant stage throughout the winter months, it will begin to draw on the nutrients that you've provided as soon as the weather starts to warm again, making fall fertilization a great way to help your lawn grow back healthy and strong come spring.

Prune Shrubs

The late dormant season is the best time for pruning since the wounds that you create on your shrubs will only be exposed for a short time before new growth heals them in the spring. While pruning won't necessarily make your shrubs any better positioned to survive the winter, it is the best time of year to perform this important task.

Continue Watering

Watering your trees and shrubs may not seem quite as important during the cold months of winter as it does during the summer. However, the winter months are actually some of the driest months of the year in many parts of the country. While it won't be necessary to water your lawn while it is dormant during the winter, you will want to continue watering any larger vegetation such as trees or shrubs.

Fall Weed Control

Spraying for perennial weeds such as thistles and dandelions is much more effective when done in the winter before these weeds sprout than it is when done in the summer once they've reached maturation. To keep your lawn from being flooded with weeds once it grows back during the spring, consider spraying herbicide during the dormant season.

Apply Mulch

Adding mulch around the base of your trees and shrubs is an important step for preventing corrosion and water loss. It is especially important during the winter months for these purposes as well as the purpose of helping maintain a uniform soil temperature around the roots of your plants. Sometime before the first freeze, apply a two-inch layer of mulch around all of your larger plants to keep their roots protected throughout the winter.

Rake Away Leaves and Debris

If you allow leaves and debris to pile up on your lawn during the winter, it could end up stunting the growth of new grass once the weather starts to warm. Be vigilant about keeping your lawn well raked and free of debris in order to ensure that your lawn grows back healthy and luscious come spring.

Keep Your Lawn and Landscape Protected All Winter Long

The cold months of winter can be hard on the grass, trees, and shrubbery that make up your landscape. By following the tips outlined above, you will be able to keep your lawn protected all winter long and create the optimum conditions for healthy new growth once winter is over.

Want some assistance in preparing your lawn and landscape for winter? Give us a call at 501-513-7573. We would be happy to help!