When you think of landscaping maintenance, you probably picture a garden on a sunny day, with birds chirping and butterflies fluttering about. And bees. There are always bees. What you don’t think about is a lifeless flower bed that’s covered in snow, with no sunlight or insects to be found. The majority of landscaping lies dormant in the winter months, therefore the act of landscaping takes a back seat. Your garden will look nice again in a few months, so you should just leave it alone until then, right?
Wrong!
In reality, landscaping and lawn care is a year-round task. The steps involved change throughout the year, but there’s still plenty to be done in the winter to prepare for a vibrant spring. Grab your coat and gloves and check out some of this winter landscaping advice!
Preparing Your Lawn and Garden for Winter
We know, we know. The window of opportunity for this one has already passed, but winter landscaping strategies don’t drastically change year-to-year. Tuck this information away for fall 2025.
Before the start of winter, prepping your lawn and garden to withstand harsh conditions is vital. There are two big things you can do to get them ready:
- Fertilizing and aerating: Slow-release fertilizers provide essential nutrients during this season of dormancy. Lay down a layer to keep the soil and its contents healthy. Additionally, aerating the lawn before the first frost hits allows nutrients to penetrate roots and provides an overall improvement for soil drainage.
- Mulching garden beds: Plant roots could benefit from a bit of insulation. Provide it to them by laying down a layer of mulch on your garden beds. This will protect them from fluctuations in temperature and help them retain moisture.
Protecting Trees and Shrubs
Many of your trees and shrubs may lose their leaves, but don’t take that as a cue to leave them be until spring. In fact, now is the time to take extra care of them. Here’s how you can mitigate threats from frost and heavy snow:
- Wrap Them Up: Using burlap or specialized tree wraps, you can shield delicate trunks and branches from the chill and frost brought on by winter.
- Prune Them: Even trees can benefit from a good trim! If there are dead or weak branches, they should be pruned to mitigate the risk of them breaking under the added weight of snow and ice. In addition, pruning works wonders for the overall health of the tree or shrub when the weather gets warmer.
Winter Maintenance Tips for Hardscapes
Don’t forget to give a little love to your hardscapes! They may be made of stronger stuff, but they’re still susceptible to the threats winter introduces. If there’s a snowfall or ice storm, clear the snow and ice off of it when the inclement weather has passed. And please use a plastic shovel. Metal tips may damage the stone you’re so proud of.
Additionally, de-ice with care. Make sure you use materials that are safe for landscaping. One such recommendation is calcium magnesium acetate, which is less harmful to plants than your average salt.
Landscaping Maintenance During Winter
We’ve covered trees and shrubs—literally—but there’s more to landscaping maintenance. Don’t forget about the little guys! Smaller plants can maintain their vitality until spring, given they have a little help from you. If you want to maintain color and vibrancy in your garden, incorporate hardy winter plants like winterberry holly and evergreen shrubs. When it comes to watering, do it sparingly. It’s possible to overwater, as frozen soil can trap moisture and damage roots.
Preparing for Spring
During this frigid “down time,” you have plenty of time to prepare for the busy gardening season that follows. Use the season to plan projects and lay the foundation for what’s to come.
- Planning projects: Put your creativity to work with garden planning! Designing garden beds, pathways, and patio installations ahead of time will help the final result fulfill your true landscaping and lawn care vision.
- Foundation for Spring: Clearing debris and addressing soil health may not seem like the most enticing way to satisfy your green thumb—especially in the throes of winter—but they’re necessary for maintaining the vitality of your garden overall. If you want a robust landscape come spring, give it a helping hand now!
Landscaping Maintenance Today Helps Your Garden Tomorrow
It may not be as exciting as digging your hands into the soil on a warm spring day, but landscaping maintenance is essential for your garden’s health. By taking care of it—fertilizing, covering plants, maintaining hardscapes, and more—you’re setting the stage for a happy, healthy landscape when the birds start to sing and the flowers start to bloom.
Need a little more advice for your landscaping and lawncare? Our dedicated team knows the ins and outs of landscaping maintenance. Reach out and let’s chat about it! We’re your go-to source of supplies that will contribute to a healthy outdoor space for you—from soil to decorative stone.