Winter Landscape Care 101
Winter is approaching! This is the time of year that you especially need to prepare your landscape for. If you’re cold, that means your yard also is! Today, we’re covering all the information you’ll need to best prepare your outdoor living space for this winter. Let’s get into it —
craft a maintenance plan
Crafting a maintenance plan is key. When it comes to maintaining your landscape, you’ll find that there are tons of tasks that can be done and it can quickly become overwhelming. To make it simple for you, we encourage you to do a couple of landscape checks per week to keep an eye out for any abnormalities, as plants struggle more this time of year. This will allow you to manage your landscape with ease and efficiency and will also help aid those plants that need the extra support and love this winter. GPL is always here to help!
mulch, always
Mulch acts as a shield for your winter landscape; it can protect plants from freezing temperatures. It’s problematic for plants to be in a constant state of freeze and thaw as temperatures fluctuate. This can ultimately result in the heaving of your landscape altogether. To combat this stressful cycle, we’d recommend placing about three inches of mulch around the base of your plants to create a makeshift barrier from harsh winter weather.
*Another material we’d recommend outside of mulch is burlap since it is effective, yet light, airy, and breathable.
understanding your zone is key
Knowing what plants thrive in your zone is key. It can be tempting to add in a plant from a zone that requires different care, but we want to save you a headache AND heartache. Although aesthetics are a priority to us and many of you, sometimes, certain plants just can’t happen unless they are in a controlled environment. We recommend learning more about your zone and sticking to what works. Fo reference, the Bay Area is Zone 9b. If you are a reader from a different area, here is a good resource to find your growing zone from the USDA Planting Zone Map.
don’t stop watering
As we mentioned in our first tip, your plant care will shift throughout each season. During the winter, you might assume that you’ll need to put a stop to watering altogether. This couldn’t be further from the truth! They still need hydration, just not as much. We recommend doing some research for specific plants if you feel uncertain. Just because a plant is dormant, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need water! Plants need water year round to stay alive.
PRUNING IS NECESSARY
We understand the fear of pruning your plants - why give them a trim after you’ve been trying to make them grow?! Just like our hair, a trim is never a bad thing. In fact, pruning can promote health for your plants and overall landscape. Of course, it’s not necessary to excessively clip. As you inspect your plant, you will notice dead foliage that can be removed to make space for fresh, healthy growth.
*NOTE: You don’t want to prune a plant you’re expecting to flower in the spring. Do a bit of research to be safe. Our rule of thumb is to simply remove any dead and falling leaves.
If you have any questions about your winter landscape, you can reach us at gpl@goldenpalmlandscape.com. Want to work with us? Click the link below!