Walking in a winter wonderland is always a lovely sign of the season, but snow, ice, and other wintery weather can cause problems for the trees, shrubs, and bushes on your property. Keeping a watchful eye across your property is essential to ensure you don’t have a major emergency to deal with this winter.
How to Protect Trees in Winter (Shrubs and Bushes too!)
It is essential to consider what types of maintenance must be done to help your trees, shrubs, and bushes thrive throughout the winter months. There are a few items that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Routinely Inspect for Damage
Most days, we admire our yard as we head to and from the car or step out on our front porch. We check out the trees, the plants, and the lawn. In the winter, we may even get to enjoy seeing a blanket of snow across everything. It is extremely important to inspect each individual tree, shrub, and bush for damage to ensure they do not cause issues that will affect your home or property.
Prune When Trees and Shrubs are Dormant
The best time to prune trees and shrubs is when they are dormant in the winter. This prevents undue stress as well as new growth that will ultimately die off in freezing temperatures. Winter tree pruning and winter shrub pruning also reduces diseases while setting them up to thrive in the Spring.
Check for Insects and Diseases
Unfortunately, trees and shrubs are susceptible to insects and diseases at all times of the year. This can turn into a major issue because infections or infestations can spread across your property to other trees, shrubs, bushes, or plants. If you notice insects or signs of disease, call professional landscapers to help you identify the problem and decide on the best course of action.
Mulch in the Winter
There are many benefits of mulch, and unlike common belief, mulching in the winter is one of the best times to do it. Protecting the roots from freezing temperatures, reducing weeds, and locking in moisture are just a few of the great benefits of fresh mulch in the winter.
Remember to Water on Dry Days
On cold, dry days, water loss can be especially critical. The lack of water can cause drying conditions leading to injury, winter burn, or winter desiccation when the amount of water lost is more than the roots are taking in. Ensure you are watering consistently when there have been several dry days. It may seem different than a summer drought, but lack of water can cause lasting issues.
For more tips or help with caring for your trees, shrubs, bushes, and landscape, call our expert team at Hometown Landscape at 301-490-5577. We can schedule a consultation to discuss important winter maintenance for your property.