People familiar with how to get their yards ready for winter understand that, a lot of preparation—besides raking leaves—goes into making sure their plants and vegetation last until spring. Keep reading to find out some of the steps you need to take before the freezing temperatures hit.
Wrap Thin-Bark Tree Trunks
Trees with thin bark are more exposed to the weather conditions. When sap freezes overnight, it can cause the bark to split, which will undoubtedly lead to the tree dying before spring. To prevent this, wrap these types of trees with paper tree wrap. The wrap should start about an inch below the soil and go up to about the first branch. This added layer of protection and insulation is a must during the winter months.
Cover Your Garden
Before the first frost sets in, you’ll want to cover your garden with a cold frame or hoop house. Even one night below freezing could be enough to kill a plant permanently, so you’ll want to do this sooner rather than later. Covering cold-tolerant plants such as carrots also isn’t a bad idea, because as temperatures drop and stay below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, even resilient plants will be tested.
Take Summer Bulbs Inside
Summer bulbs such as dahlia, gladiolus, and canna are beautiful plants in any yard in the summer, but their fragility means they can’t stay outside and survive the winter. You’ll want to dig up any tender bulbs in your yard and bring them indoors. Having houseplants for January will be nice—and having healthy bulbs come spring will be even better.
Rake the Lawn
Grass will suffocate when trapped beneath layers of leaves, branches, and dead fruit, so you’ll want to rake up the debris on your lawn. However, if you mow over the leaves, you can leave some of the leftover leaf mulch on your grass to protect your soil.
Protect Your Roses
To prepare your rose bushes for the winter, first cut your roses to make the main branches about 12 to 18 inches long. Then, you’ll want to cover them with rose cones so that they have protection against the cold temperatures, harsh winds, and snow soon to come.
Now that you know how to get your yard ready for winter, if you need assistance with any seasonal preparation, Cook Inlet Property Management’s lawn service in Anchorage is here to help.
