Prepare Your Yard for Winter
We’re in the countdown to winter. At Landscape East & West, that means we’re busy prepping yards around the region before the first rains fall and the temperatures drop below freezing. Our decades of experience have taught us that the rain tends to start full force around the second week of October, so it’s time to clear out dead plants, plant winter gardens, prune, and winterize your irrigation system. You can tackle many of the fall maintenance items for your landscape, or you can contact us to do the hard work for you. Then, you can spend your weekend watching the Ducks and Beavers or just watching the leaves fall.
Here’s what we address when protecting your landscape from winter weather and preparing it for a beautiful spring:
Clean Up the Garden
Those bright sunflowers, sweet smelling roses, and scores of tomatoes are a distant memory, but the stems and stalks that held them are still out there. It’s time to clear out dead and dying annuals that have finished their growing season and cut back perennials that won’t survive winter’s cold temperature. As long as we’re digging in the beds, we’ll also remove weeds, which will give us one less thing to do in the spring.
Mulch and Protect Soil
While red, yellow, and orange leaves look beautiful clinging to the trees, once they hit the ground it’s time to get out the rake. Leaves can be collected and composted for future use as soil enrichment or can be spread as mulch around plants, trees, and shrubs. We recommend a 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch to insulate soil, prevent erosion, and retain moisture while reducing the risk of soil compaction from heavy rains.
However, we offer a bit of caution. While leaving some leaf buildup around plants as mulch is good, too many leaves can become the perfect site for mold and disease to build during the wet winter months. If you have a lot of leaves, removal is still the best bet.
Prune Selectively
It might seem like fall is a good time to give everything a good pruning. As long as you’re removing dead plants, why not get rid of those flowerless branches? Heavy pruning this time of year is a mistake as it can encourage new growth on many plants and trees making them more vulnerable to cold weather.
Instead, save the big chop for early spring. However, fall is a good time to remove dead and damaged branches from trees and shrubs to prevent breakage during heavy rain, wind, or snow. Our arborists can determine what should stay and what can go.
Water Management
Winterizing your irrigation system now will help keep it in good working order so it’s ready for spring. We aim to have systems winterized between the 3rd week of October and the 1st of December so irrigation will be shut down before any frost.
And don’t neglect any water features. Fountains and ponds should be cleared of debris and cleaned. The pumps should also be cleaned to prevent any dirt and algae buildup from sitting all winter and clogging the system. Consider emptying the water from smaller fountains or ponds to prevent freezing and cracking.
Lawn Care
First, enjoy the fact you can shut down your irrigation system for a while and see a decrease in your water bill. That grass will be receiving plenty of water in the coming months. However to ensure it’s lush when it returns, now is the time to aerate and fertilize.
Aerating will help the lawn absorb water, and fertilizer will give it the nutrients it needs. Cut the grass shorter than usual on the last few passes of the mower to reduce the chance of snow mold and other fungal issues. Our lawn care service includes winter preparation to get you through the season and be ready for spring green.
Protect Sensitive Plants
You just can’t predict the weather anymore and while we don’t anticipate frost until December, surprise cold snaps happen. If you have sensitive plants, like young trees or shrubs, have burlap or frost cloths ready to wrap them and keep them safe from damaging frost and cold wind.
Similarly, potted plants that can’t handle colder temperatures should be moved into a greenhouse or inside. Some potted plants will do just fine if left alone in a garage for the winter. They’ll go dormant and sprout new growth when the weather starts to warm.
Plant Winter-Hardy Vegetables
Some might argue that the best crops of the season are gone come winter, but we’d argue fall planting brings its own great bounty. Now is a great time to plant winter-hardy vegetables like kale, spinach, garlic, carrots, broccoli, and beets. You may not need your big sun hat for now, but keep the trowel and garden shoes ready. You can have a year-round edible garden.
Prepare Hardscapes
We believe the most beautiful landscapes feature a mix of healthy plants, trees, and lawns. We also add hardscapes to bring together the different zones in the yard and provide a solid foundation for outdoor living. Just like the greenery and soil, hardscapes need some attention before winter hits as well. Patios and walkways should be cleaned and power washed to prevent moss and algae from growing during the damp months. Fences and gates, as well as lighting should be inspected for damage. Make repairs now to prevent further problems from howling winds, snow, and heavy rain.
Taking these steps will help ensure that your landscape is protected and ready to thrive come springtime in Portland’s often rainy and cool winter climate. Contact our team for a free consultation to see how we can help.
